The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has reaffirmed the historical ties between the Itsekiri people and the Yoruba nation, declaring that both groups share common ancestry as children of Oduduwa. The monarch made this assertion during a visit by a high-powered delegation of Warri Kingdom chiefs to his palace in Oyo town.
Led by the Iyasere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Amatsereuleghe, the Itsekiri leaders were warmly received by the Alaafin, who emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the two groups. “We are bound by blood. What affects you affects the entire Yoruba people,” the revered traditional ruler stated, recalling his personal connection to Warri during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days.
Chief Amatsereuleghe delivered fraternal greetings from the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, describing the visit as a deliberate effort to reinforce ancestral bonds. He highlighted the Itsekiri’s longstanding political and economic marginalization in Delta State while expressing confidence that the Alaafin’s leadership would help address historical grievances.
The delegation included prominent Itsekiri figures such as Chief Barr. Robinson Ariyo (Egogo Iwere of Warri Kingdom), Chief Roland Oritseajafor (Ogwa of Warri Kingdom), and Prince Benson Onuwaje, CEO of Emirate Logistics.
Linguistic and cultural evidence supports the historical connection between the Itsekiri and Yoruba, with similarities in language, traditional institutions, and oral histories. The Alaafin’s declaration comes at a time of renewed interest in pan-Yoruba solidarity across Southwest Nigeria and neighboring regions where Yoruba descendants reside.
Political analysts suggest this royal diplomacy could have significant implications for regional cooperation, particularly in areas of cultural preservation and socioeconomic development for the Itsekiri people. The visit marks a strategic effort to strengthen ancestral ties amid Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
