URHOBO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WASHINGTON, DC, PEACE SUMMIT
ON
WARRI CRISIS:

Agenda Proposed
By
Urhobo Delegation


In compliance with agreement reached among the Conveners and the leadership of the three ethnic delegations, this agenda was submitted to the Conveners on June 30, 1999.

A. Remote and Immediate Causes of the Crisis

1. Role of Government

(a) The Change of the title of the Itsekiri king from the Olu of Itsekiri to the Olu of Warri by the Action Group Government of Western Nigeria in 1952

(b) The 1978 Land Use Decree promulgated by General Obasanjo Military Government

(c) The 1984 Action of General Babaginda Military Government to allocate 5% of local government revenue to traditional rulers in Nigeria

(d) Federal Government Interference in State and Local Governments Affairs

(i) Creation of Local Government Areas (LGA)

(ii) Location of State Capitals

(iii) Location of Local Government Capitals

(e) Environmental Policy and the Degradation of the ecosystem
 
(i) Oil spillage

(ii) Flaring of gas and emission from Warri refinery

(iii) Destruction of farmland and fish ponds

(iv) Health hazards


2. The Ijaw - Itsekiri Conflict
 

(a) The Ijaw Viewpoint
 

(b) The Itsekiri Viewpoint
 

(c) Common grounds and Differences
 

3. The Status of Warri

(a) Ijaw Position

(b) Itsekiri Position

(c) Urhobo Position

(d) Common grounds and Differences

4. Disturbances in the Area

(a) Youth unemployment

(b) Proliferation of arms

(c) Source of funding for the Ijaw - Itsekiri conflict
 

A. Solutions to the Crisis

1. Reversal of the Olu's title to the Olu of Itsekiri as it was before 1952

2. Repeal of the Land Use Decree

3. Repeal of the Federal Government mandatory allocation of 5% revenue to traditional rulers and Substitution of State and Local Government stipends

4. Community involvement in issues concerning the common health and the environment crisis in the Niger Delta

5. Setting up of a panel by the state government to investigate the source of funding for the Ijaw - Itsekiri conflict and bringing all those responsible to book

6. Tri-ethnicity of Warri: Creation of local government councils to accommodate the yearnings of the indigenous communities for self determination.

7. Design of a Marshall-type Plan for the immediate development of the western Niger Delta.
 

(a) Youth employment and education

(b) Scholarship funds to train youth for jobs in the oil/gas industry


8. Setting up of a program for clean-up and restoration of all polluted land and waterways.

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