The Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality recently paid a courtesy call on the President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, to give an inkling of some of the problems that dog Itsekiri nation, how they could be solved, alongside dire needs of the Itsekiri nation.
The delegation was led by Chief Isaac Jemide, the Oshodi of Warri Kingdom, and was received on behalf of the Federal Government by the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as the President was said to have travelled abroad. 
In a 17-page address by the delegation, the Itsekiri frowned at the pathetic state of Itsekiri nation, noting that the crisis in the Niger Delta and the unnecessary ethnic wars have left over 47 Itsekiri towns and villages wholly smash to smithereens and destroyed between 1997 and 2003.
According to the delegation, the Itsekiri nation remains one of the most marginalised in the comity of nations; and accordingly requested “that the Federal Government, taking the lead, and in conjunction with the State Government and Local Governments, NDDC, DESOPADEC, oil companies operating in the area and other agencies design a master plan for the development of all Itsekiri towns and villages destroyed during the Warri crisis between 1997 and 2003, as it is being planned for other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. The NDDC master plan for Niger Delta, which was done during the heat of the Warri crisis, cannot satisfy the peculiar Itsekiri situation, as it did not envisage the level of destruction of towns and villages today!
“As part of the proposed master plan, we demand the following development projects: Massive reclamation/shore protection of Itsekiri land; construction of Warri-Ode Itsekiri Bridge. The bridge is very dear to the heart of the Itsekiri people as it is going to be the link between Warri metropolis and Itsekiri ancestral home of Ode-Itsekiri and several other Itsekiri communities. It will also decongest the Warri metropolis. The project was approved by the Delta State Government at an estimated cost of about N26 billion. Due to navigational consideration, on the advice on the Nigeria Ports Authority, a new design was carried out which has now brought the cost to about N56 billion. This amount cannot be borne by the Delta State Government alone. If the project is to commence, the Federal Government and other agencies must work in collaboration with the Delta State Government. We are using this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to intervene in this project.
“Construction of the proposed Koko-Ogheye-Lekki Road, which the Federal Government approved in 2004 Federal Budget, but no funds have been released for it; construction of the Omadino-Escravos road. This road has been proposed by the NDDC, but nothing has been done. The road will link Omadino and Escravos through the Gbaramatu area. The road will be of great benefit not only to the Itsekiri, but our Ijaw brothers as well.
“Appointment into the Federal Executive Council like our brothers from the Niger Delta, ambassadorial appointments inclusive; the position of the GMD of NNPC or the head of any of its units if ultimately recognised; that economic contribution by ethnic nationalities should, among other factors, determine electoral seats in both Houses of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly. In other words, more electoral seats should be created for the Itsekiris at the National, State and Local Government levels, within the contest of our advocated principles of home land policy.
“That the proposed Federal University for Delta State, be sited in either Omadino, Obodo or Koko and named after late Elder Statesman, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh; that the LNG proposed for Delta State be sited in Olero Creek. That the Federal Government should ensure the return of Itsekiri villages and communities forcefully taken over by Ijaws in the interest of peace in the Niger-Delta. Rehabilitation of all Itsekiri communities affected by the communal crisis in Warri; and upgrading of Koko and Warri Ports to the level of Economic processing Zone (EPZ).”
Responding, Vice President Jonathan first apologised for his “inability to visit Itsekiri communities during his tour of the region sometime in June 2007,” adding that “Itsekiris are one of the major ethnic stakeholders in the Niger Delta.”
Dr. Jonathan said “Itsekiris and Ijaws are actually the key sufferers in the Niger Delta region,” disclosing that he decided to meet with his people first “because they constituted the major threat to peace in the Niger Delta;” and asked for “Itsekiri inputs towards the way forward.”