The renewed crisis between Urhobo and Itsekiri youths of Delta State has drawn a battle line between a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, representing Warri federal constituency, and Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central.
While the senator condemned the violence and lamented the damages done to the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) House in the area, Reyenieju attacked the senator, claiming his comment was reckless, divisive, and unbecoming of a legislator.
In his official press statement addressing the crisis in Warri, Senator Dafinone called on the federal government to intervene proactively to prevent further escalation.
But Reyenieju said the senator should speak like a statesman, not like an ethnic crusader on the renewed crisis between Urhobo and Itsekiri youths.
He further berated the senator for failing in his duties, “as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ saying his duty is to de-escalate, not to throw petrol on already burning embers of conflict.
“Why failing to acknowledge with the same weight, the actual violence and injuries inflicted by rampaging Urhobo youths in Agbassa.’’
While maintaining that he condemned any form of violence, he stated that “More dangerously, the Senator’s comment that an attack on the UPU House is, by extension, an attack on the entire Urhobo nation is reckless, divisive and unbecoming of a legislator.
“Such a statement amounts to ethnic incitement. The UPU is an important socio-cultural organization, yes but it does not embody or equate to the collective destiny of Warri Federal Constituency or Delta state. To frame an incident in such catastrophic ethnic terms is to deliberately inflame tensions rather than calm them.
“This is typical of Senator Dafinone, hiding under the cover of his high office to ventilate long-standing bias and ethnic sentiment.
“Where was his voice when innocent people were attacked by Urhobo youths of Agbassa? Why was there no equal outrage when human lives, the most sacred trust, were placed in harm’s way? Or are some lives less valuable than the symbolic UPU building?
“Warri”, he went on, “is home to very many and infact to all alike. No ethnic group has the right to elevate its interests above the collective peace and security of all.’’
While calling on Senator Dafinone to retrace his steps, temper his language and focus on building bridges of unity, he said his role demands fairness and neutrality, not incitement disguised as empathy.
“The people of Warri deserve peace and progress, not deliberate fueling of division”, Reyenieju stated.
Meanwhile, a media commentator and public affairs analyst, Nelson Agbajor, has backed Senator Dafinone, saying that he has consistently demonstrated the qualities of a true statesman, a unifier, a bridge builder and a detribalized Nigerian.
