•People of riverine Kantu (Ikantu) community
The people of riverine Kantu (Ikantu) community in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State, have affirmed their Gbaramatu Kingdom ancestry, pledging “loyalty and allegiance” to the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HM Oboro Gbaraun II.
Leaders, including Chiefs of Gbaramatu Kingdom, who hail from the community, while speaking at a press conference held at the community hall yesterday, said the clarification became necessary following an “age-long misrepresentation” that Kantu is an Itsekiri community, reports The Nation.
A statement signed by the leaders, including Chairman of Kantu Community Working Committee, Mr. Windfree Atemubaghan; Pa. Edwin Atikan Atemubagha, the Ama-Okosuwei of Ikantu; Chief (Lt. Col) S. Economic (Rtd), Seipakumor of Gbaramatu and Clan Chief representing Kantu; Chief Arthur Eyiangho, the Ebiyemeyewei of Gbaramatu; Chief Shola Gbofeyin, the Amadiwei of Kantu; Pa Isaac Meneko, Ikantu Elder; Joseph AdidiChief priest; Stephen Efejuku Esq., Legal Adviser; Endurance Ufene, Youth President among others, condemned the plot by some indigenes to ascribe the community to their maternal lineage.
Addressing newsmen, the Chairman of Kantu Community Working Committee, Mr. Windfree Atemubaghan, narrated the founding of the community by an Ijaw man, Oweijibri, who hailed from Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom community around the 11th century.
“The male children of Oweizibiri married Itsekiri women who also gave birth to other children. In the course of growing up, the children were more attached to their mothers, who spoke their Itsekiri dialect with their children.
And some of the children also inter-married with other Itsekiri indigenes. As such, Itsekiri language became dominantly spoken by the majority of Ikantu people. This is how the Ikantu Community which is one of the major communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom became affiliated to Itsekiri people.
“Some of the descendants of our ancestor, Oweizibiri are still bent on alienating their father (Ijaw) land to their maternal Itsekiri nationality. We strongly condemn this attitude of these persons because it has created antagonism for the people of Ikantu Community, among their kiths and kin in Gbaramatu Kingdom and the larger Ijaw nation.
