The President of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC) and the Ebiyedouwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Dr. Oboko Bello, has reflected on the State's Roadmap to Peace, the Independent National Electoral Commission's ward delineation in the area and the pending N99 billion judgement debt awarded by the Asaba Federal High Court against the Federal Government in favour of the kingdom among other issues, in a New Year message.

On the INEC's recent delineation exercise to correct the imbalance in the voting rights of the people, while Chief Oboko said the development is "good especially for our political destiny and future" however on the judgement debt not been paid he acknowledged that "the people can only move with cautious optimism."

The message reads:

"HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY FOR WHAT? HAPPY OVER WHAT?

"BE HAPPY! Hitherto, some voters of Ijaw stock in the Warri area lost their voting rights, a situation which constituted huge election security risk.

"To redeem lost voting rights, we earlier on called for INEC's immediate compliance with the UNANIMOUS JUDGEMENT, in favour of Hon. George Timinimi and 9 others.

"The judgement stated, to wit, “An ORDER of the Honorable Supreme Court of Nigeria (Abuja) compelling the Defendant (INEC), its agents, servants, privies and assigns to conduct a fresh delineation of all the electoral wards/polling units for Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South Local Government Areas of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State for the purpose of future election” (In memory of late Chief David Pere an appellant).

"We happily note that for Delta State to secure relative peace from endemic Warri crises, former Governor James Onanefe Ibori in collaboration with honorable members of Delta State House of Assembly, and supported by most monarchs, put in place an instrument for Warri Roadmap to Peace, with a view to balancing political inequality of Warri and Delta State.

"We are happy that the recent fresh electoral ward delineation by INEC could be seen as a welcome idea for sustaining peace in Warri and Delta State. Resolving situation peacefully, it is yet another defining moment of Warri Road Map to Peace! This is good especially for our political destiny and future. We thank God, INEC has done the needful this time around, and promises, virtually, never again to operate behind terror of soldiers.

"INEC unfortunately operated behind the terror of soldiers, thereby becoming Harbinger of War in the creeks, in 2009. We still have genuine fears going forward as N99 billion being judgment costs ordered by the Federal High Court, Asaba, still hangs without FG paying debt for reconciliation of the aggrieved Gbaramatu people. The judgement debt was awarded over damages caused by soldiers of the military Joint Task Force (JTF), who in guise of providing security for INEC elections, raided and bombarded about 32 ijaw communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, between May and June 2009.

"With the court-ordered N99 billion not paid to the Gbaramatu Kingdom, the people can only move with cautious optimism, though. "When a man is too confident of himself a man is too confident of himself, he becomes wide open to a sucker punch" - Hadley Chase.

"Thank you, and Happy New Year 2025!!"

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