Sapele, Delta State — Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District and serving as Chairman of the Sapele Okpe Community Land Trust Association, has issued a strong appeal to Itsekiri leaders and the Uduaghan family to intervene and restrain Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom, from making what he termed "false, provocative, and legally resolved" assertions of ownership over lands in Sapele.
The senator's statement came in direct response to a widely circulated Caveat Emptor issued by Chief Uduaghan ahead of the January 24, 2026, foundation-laying ceremony for the new Sub-Palace of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom in Sapele. The caveat, shared on social media and published in outlets including Saturday Vanguard, challenged the Okpe monarch's authority over the area and warned of potential communal tensions.
Dafinone firmly asserted that title to all lands in Sapele Community remains vested in the Sapele Okpe Community Land Trust Association. He described Sapele as an indigenous Okpe town, emphasizing that despite its cosmopolitan population—including residents from various ethnic groups—the Okpe are the sole indigenous ethnic and linguistic group in Sapele Town and the broader Sapele Local Government Area.
Citing legal and statutory grounds, the senator referenced the Delta State Traditional Rulers, Council and Chiefs Law, which recognizes only the Orodje of Okpe as the traditional ruler for Sapele Local Government Area. He noted that the Olu of Warri has never claimed statutory recognition in the area, as there is no indigenous Itsekiri community in Sapele. Dafinone further argued that Chief Uduaghan, holding a non-indigenous title in Sapele, lacks standing to question the Orodje's actions. He pointed out that the Orodje has maintained a sub-palace in Sapele for decades without prior objection, even from prominent Itsekiri residents.
On the core land ownership dispute, Dafinone declared the matter settled by competent courts, rendering it res judicata (a thing judged) between the Okpe and Itsekiri peoples. He highlighted the landmark 1943 West African Court of Appeal judgment in Chief Ayomano & Anor v. Ginuwa II (9 WACA 85), where the Olu of Warri (representing Itsekiri interests) challenged Okpe ownership of Sapele Township lands and was unsuccessful.
Quoting key excerpts from the judgment, Dafinone recalled the court's description of the Itsekiri claim as "impudent" and its affirmation that the area was formerly farmed by the "Sobos" (a colonial-era term for the Okpe people). The ruling established that after the Nana War of 1894, many Itsekiri (referred to as Jekris) sought refuge in Sapele and settled with Okpe permission, offering customary "dashes." The court concluded that the Okpe had exercised exclusive ownership rights until the government acquired a lease in 1908. This decision, unappealed to the Privy Council, creates binding issue estoppel against renewed claims.
Dafinone added that later Supreme Court rulings, such as Muvunum v. Achydoma and Madam Ukoli Oleji v. Washman Ogodo, have reinforced Itsekiri presence in Sapele as customary tenancies granted by Okpe families.
Beyond legal arguments, the senator cautioned against inflammatory statements that could threaten peace, urging security agencies—including the Inspector-General of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and military intelligence—to view references to potential communal crisis in the caveat as possible incitement to inter-ethnic conflict.
He commended responsible Itsekiri residents and social media voices who have distanced themselves from Chief Uduaghan's position, noting reports that he holds no personal property or investments in Sapele and should avoid actions that could provoke unrest.
Dafinone concluded with a call for continued harmony in the historic town: “The peaceful nature of the Okpe people should not be mistaken for weakness. Peace is preserved through responsibility, not arrogance. What is unacceptable when directed at one group must not be tolerated when aimed at another.”
This development underscores ongoing sensitivities around historical land rights and traditional authority in multi-ethnic Delta communities, with both sides invoking legal precedents and appeals for restraint to maintain public order.
