Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) Vol.4, No.4, 2014 152 The Need for Ethnic Integration in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Focus of Western Niger Delta Philips O. Okolo 1* Akpokighe Okiemute Raymond 2 Igbokwe Henry Iweka 3 1. Department of Political Science, Faculty of the Social Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, P. O. Box 797 Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. 2. Department of Political Science, College of Education, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria 3. Department of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Nigeria Email: philipsobolo@gmail.com or philipsokolo@yahoo.com Abstract This paper examines the ethnical crisis ravaging the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with particular emphasis on the Western Niger Delta, specifically focusing on Warri. With this examination, the study intends to proffer solution on how to remedize future tribal/ethnical crisis with a view to bringing about unity and integration of the various ethnic groups in the region. Given the focus of this study, the paper adopts the primordialist, instrumentalist and constructivist accounts as the theoretical frameworks in analyzing ethnical crisis in the Niger Delta Region. Academic explanations of ethnic conflict generally fall into one of these three schools of thought. The paper evaluates the various claims, literatures and assertions made particularly on the original position or placement of the headquarters of Warri South local government and repudiates claims that it was initially located in Ogbe-Ijoh, an Ijaw community instead of Ogidigben, an Itsekiri village as gazetted by the federal government of Nigeria. The study advocates and recommends inter alia, the needs to uphold meritocracy and de-emphasize favoritism, nepotism and ethnicity/tribalism as a basis for gaining or obtaining supports, employment, promotion, infrastructural development and development attention either from government, individuals or groups. The paper thus advocates the need for the introduction of socio-cultural recreational centers, specifically created for socio-cultural activities for the Niger Deltans with immense and profound support from government with a view to breeding unity and integration amongst the various ethnic groups in the Niger Delta Region. Keywords: western niger delta, ethnic, tribes, conflict, crisis, unity and integration. 1. Historical Background In the Niger Delta Region, inter and intra ethnic conflicts have been rampant during colonial and post-colonial periods. These conflicts have directly or indirectly hampered the unity and peaceful co-existence in the region. However, this study takes the Western Niger Delta as its focus which is an important segment of the entire Niger Delta. Even though the Niger Delta has about forty ethnic groups with the main ones being Urhobo, Ogoni, Ukwuani, Isoko and Ijaw, three major ethnic groups have been identified in the Western Niger Delta to be in conflict on issues related directly or indirectly to the global conflict situation in the Niger Delta and also the internal political contradictions of these three ethnic groups. These three groups are the Ijaws whose population of over 7 million makes them the largest in the region, the Urhobo and the Itsekiri whose number is only about 450, 000. The conflict between these three groups have been particularly intense in the Warri province now Warri city. 1 One of the most noticeable pieces of evidence of ethnic conflict in Warri province now Warri city, in recent times, flows from an action of the government of Western Nigeria, which officially changed the title of the Itsekiri King from the Olu of Itsekiri to the Olu of Warri province in May, 1952. 2 Apparently, this was before independence. This change was made at the request of the Itsekiri over the objection of the Urhobo who felt that the title; Olu of Warri province would give the impression that the Olu was a paramount ruler of Warri. The province, however, continues to be regarded not only as a home to the Itsekiris but also to the Ijaws and the Urhobos. The other indigenous ethnic groups in the area who considered the government decision as an imposition on non-Itsekiri people of Warri. The resentment turned into violence when an Itsekiri procession in Warri was attacked by some Urhobo elements near the Catholic Cathedral, a location which accidentally was also close to the Sacred Agbassah Juju Shrine. 3 This singular act led to reactions and counter reactions which snowballed to intensive violence in the area. The parade may have been seen by the Urhobo as an act of provocation but more importantly as a show of authority and power of the Itsekiri in ways that appear to intimidate non-Itsekiri communities in Warri. 4 The confrontation erupted into a riot that quickly spread all over the city and other places, including Sapele and Itsekiri settlements along the River Ethiope, particularly at Ijun, Idjerhe, Eku and Salubi, with considerable loss of life and property. 5