Itsekiri leaders affirm Abigborodo, Obotie, Ugbekoko as SEPLAT hosts, reject Sapele Okpe claims

Delta State witnessed heightened tensions as Itsekiri community leaders reaffirmed Abigborodo, Obotie, and Ugbekoko as the rightful host communities to SEPLAT Energy, denouncing claims made by the Sapele Okpe Community.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the Itsekiri leaders accused Sapele Okpe leaders of misinformation, distortion of facts, and an attempt to incite conflict.

The leaders specifically called out what they described as a campaign of falsehood orchestrated by Chief Onoriode Temiagin, Mr. Azan Friday, and others from Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu communities.

They also criticized calls for the removal of Chief Edwin Uzor, the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, labeling such demands as baseless and politically motivated.

According to Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje, ESQ, and Mr. Victor Atseponu, who signed the statement on behalf of the Abigborodo Management Committee, SEPLAT Energy was complicit in attempting to prevent an investigative committee from assessing the disputed area.

The Itsekiri leaders accused SEPLAT of siding with Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu communities and trying to obstruct the peace-building process.

“All issues surrounding the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve have been settled and gazetted in the Government White Paper Official Document No. 1 of 2021. Their claim of incursion into the reserve is baseless, as they have no land in the area. What is in contention here is SEPLAT’s new drilling area, which is currently under investigation,” the statement read.

Similarly, the Ugbekoko Community Management Committee, led by Henry Mabamue, Chairman, and Sunday Omalor, Secretary, refuted Sapele Okpe’s claims of ownership over Ugbekoko land, stressing that virtually all SEPLAT Sapele West Limited’s petroleum operations occur in Ugbekoko territory.

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“This includes the flow station, jetty, wellheads, pipelines, and the new drilling site, which is the subject of the investigation,” the leaders stated. They accused SEPLAT of colluding with Sapele Okpe leaders to suppress their rightful claims.

Obotie community leaders, including Pa Simeon Brikinn and Engr. Samuel Atiwe, also condemned the attempts by Sapele Okpe to rewrite history. They cited a 1925 Supreme Court ruling that upheld Obotie’s ownership of its lands.

“We make bold to say that Obotie Community has long existed in the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve before its constitution. The legal status of our community is firmly established,” they declared.

The Itsekiri leaders called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to disregard Sapele Okpe’s statements and allow the peace-building investigation to proceed without interference.

“The Governor is a leader of all Deltans, not just Okpe people. We urge him to resist efforts to drag his office into this tribal dispute,” the leaders said.

The conflict over SEPLAT’s host community designation remains unresolved, but Itsekiri leaders have vowed to continue pursuing their claims through legal means and official government channels.