By Tosan Atie/Warri
Protest has rocked the oil-rich Omadino Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State as the people took to the streets, calling on the Federal Government and the international community to insist that justice is done by sticking to the Supreme Court Judgment on the Maritime University.
The call was made during a peaceful protest, which kick-started at the Nenuwa Hall, Omadino through the bridge via Omadino -Obodo road as they registered their displeasure over the Maritime University, Okenreghigho, which was passed into law, and accented to as Maritime University, Okerenkoko, by President Ahmed Tinubu.
The protesters also condemned the recent blackmailing and denigration of the Warri monarch, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and the pristine throne of Warri Kingdom, as being circulated on social media, saying that it is sacrilegious, barbaric and malicious.
The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions such as “Zero tolerance to the throne of the Olu of Warri,” “Tantita is Anti Itsekiri’, “Nigeria Maritime University is Okenreghigho” while others reads, “Tinibu, Obey the Supreme Court Judgment”, Olu of Warri is the Pride of Niger Delta and We will resist Tantita land grabbing agenda.
While some of the protesters were displaying different inscriptions, some were carrying branches of leaves in solidarity.
Speaking to one of the protesters, Mr Rowland Yomere, Chief Priest, and Chairman, Sub Committee on Legal adjudication, Omadino Community, he said the protest, which was just a preamble, became necessary because they want to ensure they got the attention of the press and the international community for the world to know about the injustice.
According to Yomere, the Maritime University is located in Okenreghigho and not Okerenkoko.
He said: “We are not against the establishment of the Maritime University, but the land belongs to Omadino Community hence, the Federal Government should engage the people of Omadino Community to give us our benefits.”
Yomere said: ‘there was a publication done recently that, President Ahmed Tinubu accent to the establishment of the institution as Maritime University Okerenkoko instead of its original name of Okenreghigho.”
According to him, the Supreme Court judgment should be strictly adhered to and Omadino people are appealing to Mr President to do the needful.
According to him, 99 per cent of Gbaramatu clan or enclave belonged to the Itsekiris who were chased out during the Warri crisis and have been refused to return after almost three decades.
