Warri: Delta’s Lagos and Benin: Edo’s Lagos – A Case for Ancestral Autonomy

Warri is often called the Lagos of Delta State for its cosmopolitan spirit, just as Benin is known as the Lagos of Edo State. Any realignment of the Warri federal constituency must respect Itsekiri traditional ownership under the Olu of Warri. The Itsekiri will not agree to cede ancestral lands or seek permission from the Ijaw to use the sea, as their forebears never did. Historically, Itsekiri served as the area’s lingua franca before pidgin English took hold. Itsekiri communities in Urhobo land used Urhobo as theirs in the nineteenth century. Benin, too, became a melting pot as diverse peoples settled there. Each ethnic group deserves autonomy on its ancestral land. Forcing a new status quo based on recent demographic changes risks conflict and undermines centuries of traditional sovereignty.

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