WARRI — Ijaw of the three Warri Local Government Areas of Delta State yesterday explained that their withdrawal from the peace accord signed with the Itsekiri ethnic group was based on the conviction that the state government in an attempt to avoid the accommodation of Ijaw demands for ward delineation and creation of separate local government councils wanted to force peace down on the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic groups.
According to the Ijaw, the state government's refusal to allow the two ethnic groups discuss the contentious issues on legitimate voters' registration, ward delineation and creation of separate local government councils led to the breakdown of the peace accord.
In a position paper issued yesterday by the Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group (WIPMG), and signed by Apostle Clement Tonfawei, Chief Ayebi Anthony and Apostle Monday Toruosei, the Ijaw warned against continued attempt by the state government to threaten and intimidate the leaders that withdrew from the accord and those opposed to it, saying it is unethical and an insult on the Ijaw people.
"We, in its entirety, put our weight behind the bold and steps taken by the leaders of the Ijaw delegation to withdraw their support and signature to the purported peace accord signed recently by the Ijaw and Itsekiri leaders on the Warri crisis. As we know that the only panacea to peace in Warri is legitimate voters' registration exercise after an equitable and legitimate ward delineation to reflect the 1991 operational census figure projection that put the Ijaws in the majority.
“That is why the three Ijaw leaders of the peace delegation who withdrew their support and signature agreed that the solution to the Warri crisis is in the hand of the state government and that no group or organizations should have anything to do with those individuals that are trying to force peace on Warri."
On the riot act by the state government to Ijaw leaders opposed to the accord, they warned that in the interest of maintaining the existing peace, the state government should desist from further threats.
“We are calling on the public and government to disregard the statement credited to the Commissioner that the three Ijaw leaders withdrew under duress."
