Itsekiri insist on Okerenghigho for Maritime University

Itsekiri leaders have reiterated their call on the Federal Government to relocate the Maritime University currently sited in Okerenkoko to Okerenghigho in Omadino, insisting that the relocation is imperative in view of a subsisting, valid court judgement.
The call is coming on the heels of a sharp disagreement between Ijaw and Itsekiri leaders at the Senate last Wednesday during a hearing on a bill for the establishment of the university, sponsored by Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta South).
Speaking on behalf of Omadino Community and Itsekiri people, Edward Ekpoko noted that his people support the establishment of the university, but they have issues with the location.
His words: “The Itsekiri people are not opposed to the establishment of the Maritime University. There are three issues that brought us here. The first is the issue of the land. The land is owned by Itsekiri people and supervised by the Olu of Warri. A judgement was given in favour of the Itsekiri.
“This issue has been settled by the judiciary. It was first settled in 1951. In 1975, they appealed the case and it was dismissed by the Supreme Court. We must follow the law. We cannot see the law and do the opposite. The name of the place should be changed to Okerenghigho and not Okerenkoko.
“Omadino is an Itsekiri Community and spans the three local Governments of Itsekiri land, namely, Warri South, Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta State. The people of Omadino Community and indeed every Niger-Deltan welcome infrastructural and economic development of the Niger Delta area. The establishment of a Maritime University is therefore one of such developments we cherish.
“What is however worrisome to us about the Maritime University is the change in the name of its location and site from Okerenghigho to Okerenkoko as shown in the Senate Public Notice and various publications by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu.
“The location or site of the Maritime University of Nigeria is at Okerenghigho in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. It is Okerenghigho that is illegally, wrongly and erroneously being referred to as Okerenkoko.”
But the Ijaw spokesman at the hearing, Chief Fedude Zimughan countered and accused Itsekiri representatives of obtaining a ‘black market’ court judgment.
His words: “They got a black market judgment and it cannot stand. The judgment has been set aside. We have filed a brief. It will be prejudicial for us to comment.
“But it is insulting for them to rubbish us when we took the Itsekiri in when they needed help. When the Gbaramatu people became aware of the matter at the Court of Appeal, they applied as parties interested and were rightly joined by the Court of Appeal.
“The contention of the Gbaramatu people on appeal was upheld by the Court of Appeal and the judgement obtained by Ugborodo people was consequently set aside and the case remitted back to the High Court for trial de novo.