The Warri Media Group on Monday debunked the claims of linking the Gbaramatu area to ancient Royal traditions in the Niger Delta, noting its monarchies were only instituted only in 2017.
In a statement made available to journalists in Warri and signed by Augustus Akperi, the Warri Media Group, while dismissing the claim, maintained that Gbaramatu does not qualify as a historic kingdom by the standards recognised across the region.
According to the statement, “The kingship in Gbaramatu was instituted only in 2017. There is no historical continuity from the traditional monarchies of centuries past.“They argued that this fact is a matter of public record and should not be misrepresented.
The group also addressed attempts to associate the Kantu community with royal heritage. “While Gbaramatu and Kantu may share communal links, this does not equate to ancient royal status,” the statement read. They warned that connecting these communities to long-standing royal traditions distorts the historical narrative.
Emphasising its cultural roots, the Warri Media Group reaffirmed its commitment to factual history. „The Itsekiri monarchy, founded by Ginuwa I in 1480, remains one of the few verifiable and uninterrupted royal institutions in the Niger Delta,“ the group stated. They described the Itsekiri crown as a symbol of enduring heritage.
While respecting communities‘ rights to assert their identities, the group cautioned against historical distortions. „Revisionist claims not grounded in credible sources can blur lines between heritage and fiction,“ the statement noted. This creates confusion rather than cohesion,“ they added.
Turning to land ownership, the Warri Media Group highlighted that historical and legal records affirm that Gbaramatu communities reside on Itsekiri land. They specifically mentioned the Omadino and Ugborodo communities as the rightful owners of the territory.
They also addressed concerns over the renaming of specific areas, saying, „Okerenghigho, surreptitiously renamed Okerenkoko, remains part of Itsekiri ancestral lands.“ The group insisted that such changes do not alter the legal status of the land.
Concluding, the Warri Media Group urged for respectful coexistence among Niger Delta communities. They called on all parties to promote unity based on verified history and mutual respect rather than controversial and unfounded claims.
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