Otuaro Hails President Tinubu for Distribution of 663 Laptops to Amnesty Scholarship Beneficiaries

 

PRESS RELEASE

Otuaro Thank President Tinubu As PAP Presents Laptops To 663 Scholarship Beneficiaries

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has concluded the distribution of laptops to final year beneficiaries of its scholarship scheme aimed at enhancing their academic research in universities across Nigeria.

The agency presented a total of 663 laptops to the beneficiaries in the 26 partnering and 72 non-partnering universities at the end of the exercise, which lasted between April and May 2025.

The PAP also carried out physical verification and orientation programme for the newly deployed 3,171 beneficiaries in the resumption list for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Various teams coordinated by the PAP's Head of Education, Dr Charles Ariye, visited the schools to distribute the laptops to the beneficiaries and perform the verification and orientation programme.

Speaking on the laptops distribution, the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, reiterated that the decision was based on the realization of the usefulness of the mobile computing device to the students' academic pursuit and overall success.

He said the gesture was in fulfillment of his promise to the scholarship beneficiaries during his tour of partnering universities in 2024.

While expressing optimism that the laptops would help the beneficiaries a great deal, Otuaro urged them to make good use of them and justify the government's huge investment in their education.

He also said the physical verification and orientation programme was part of his leadership's policy of due process, transparency and accountability to ensure a headcount of all beneficiaries, and enlighten the fresh beneficiaries on the PAP's education policy.

Otuaro advised all PAP scholarship students to take their studies seriously and shun acts capable of putting their academic pursuit in jeopardy and ruining their bright future.

He restated his leadership's unwavering commitment to implementing the programme's objectives for the advancement of the Niger Delta and in support of President Bola Tinubu's avowed commitment to the region's peace, stability and development.

"We will continue to partner with the institutions and create access to university education for our youths, thereby reducing the human capital gap in the Niger Delta and contributing to national manpower development.

"This is also with a view to deepening efforts to ensure sustainable peace, stability and socio-economic growth in the region in line with the renewed hope agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR", Otuaro said.

The PAP helmsman expressed profound appreciation to the president for his massive support for the programme, noting that it demonstrates his undiluted love for the Niger Delta and the youths in particular.

Signed:

Mr Igoniko Oduma

Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme

21/05/2025

Izonebi Alfred and the Globalization of Ijaw Culture_By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

Thoughts journeying poetically today like Jp Clark  in 'The casualties' I must say that the Ijaw highlife musicians are not only those who are dead; the Ijaw highlife musicians also include those who are still alive.The Ijaw highlife musicians are not only those who use ultra-modern musical instruments; neither are they only those who use percussion instruments such as 'opuozi' drums  and 'ekraiye'  sticks that depend on the skillfulness of percussionists. The Ijaw highlife musicians are many; the iconic Izonebi Alfred is one of the Ijaw highlife musicians. As an Ijaw highlife artiste he is clearly located by his undistracted philosophical dedication to his music career and consequently enjoys visibility and radiance in the Ijaw music industry however the number of Ijaw highlife musicians. To borrow a metaphorically cast philosophical statement from Barrister Soja Smooth in his song, 'Born Singer', ' the stars are very many in the sky but it strikes a difference when the moon appears in all her splendour and radiance'.

Gathered here today is a surging crowd responsive to the cultural, philosophical, social, educational, traditional, religious and mystical rhythms and echoes of JKing Dr Izonebi Alfred"s songs and stunning stage performances  -  the musically gifted Alfred differently addressed as music king by music lovers and critics as an offshoot of critical analysis of his music.

For the surging crowd gathered here and beyond it is a strongly held position that Dr Izonebi Alfred is the digitally rooted exceptional Ijaw highlife musician whose meteoric rise to music stardom is enabled by thematically rich compositional excellence and indefinable stunning stage performances – magical stage performances reinforced by his theatrical experience and exposure traceable to his immersion in the waters of Theatre Arts at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State. Through compositional dexterity mapped in his numerous songs and captivating stage performances, Alfred has deployed music to project and promote the Ijaw culture beyond the shores of Nigeria. In Izonebi Alfred’s songs one can clearly behold  a positively and historically charged stirring image of Ndoro and Torugbene communities alongside their tourist potentials which are echoes of an aspect of Alfred’s music career devoted to the promotion of the communities from which he emerged biologically and historically. 

Undeniably, Ndoro in both Delta and Bayelsa States and Torugbene in Delta and Bayelsa States are the biological claimants of Izonebi Alfred as his umbilical cord  was interred there, though Oyangbene in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State also has an indisputable historical claim over the magically talented musician with an endless stream of songs.As historically chronicled, product of a marital union between Alfred Gbayena and Kehinde Tou, Izonebi Alfred is paternally from Ndoro and maternally from Torugbene in Bayelsa and Delta States. 

Historical chronicles reveal that Izonebi was first spotted as a musician inside a mosquito net in a raffia palm tree-tapping forest in Ndoro town by his father Alfred Gbayena who caught him singing Bestman Doupere’s song ‘Ofurogha’. His graduation from the self-made music apprenticeship in the forest took him to the mosquito Music Band co-ordinated solely by his own father Alfred Gbayena who occasionally created avenues for the band to entertain people as a broader step towards mastery and perfection of his music talent compared to the initial forest apprenticeship. Alfred Gbayena was equally a highly gifted musician in his heydays, though without any recorded music album to his credit because his music talent was only showcased as a kind of entertainment during informal gatherings in the town.

Izonebi Alfred’s music journey took him to King Dr Robert Ebizimor after his graduation from the Mosquito Music Band in Ndoro that thrives on hand-made traditional musical instruments of ‘tinitini’ and ‘ekraiyogbolo’ sticks. Alfred found his roots in the king Robert Ebizimor's  music family in 1991 but was  not engaged as a full-fledged member of the band until King Robert Ebizimor paved the way for him to finish his primary school at Community Primary School 2, Sagbama, in 1993  and Community Secondary School in Sagbama in 1999 since he was already in primary five at Community Primary School, Toru-Ndoro, from 1985 to 1991 when he journeyed to the family of King Ebizimor. Having finished his primary and secondary education under the financial sponsorship of King Robert Ebizimor, Izonebi Alfred proceeded to the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated in 2008 with a B.A degree in Theatre Arts and did his NYSC in 2011. 

Historically, in 1991 King Ebizimor formally requested to take Izonebi away from Alfred Gbayena having seen Aguiyi-Ironsi performed amazingly in the company of the Mosquito Music Band. However, Alfred's debut performance on the stage was in 1992 at the age of 12 when late King Robert Ebizimor gave him an opportunity to entertain music lovers with the seminal song 'Duamabou'  -  a song that eventually launched Izonebi Alfred into the music world as a young man brimful of healthy promises as a legendary musician on waiting wings. These were the healthy promises King Robert Ebizimor foresaw like  Nostradamus and named him IZONEBI which was a change from his biological name AGUIYI-IRONSI given to him at birth by his parents. Besides occasional stage appearances with King Ebizimor, Izonebi Alfred was fully engaged as a member of Robert Ebizimor and his Izon Brothers Band after his graduation and NYSC service – a period during which Alfred’s music talent and skill had been sufficiently honed to entertain music lovers and enthusiasts.

Izonebi Alfred, a fourth child in a family of eight children, was born in the rural community of Ndoro on 20 May 1979 where he lived majorly in the forest as the son of a palm wine tapper, physiotherapist and trado-medical practitioner but he has metaphorically become the 'okinikini' snake  viewed against the background of his digitally mastered and culturally rooted music that thematically and instrumentally stirs all music lovers like a gentle evening breeze that blows towards the sea shore from the ocean when one is seated on the concrete jetty at Burutu waterside in Delta State in a mood of relaxation.

It is well-known to everyone that when the Okinikini snake outgrows a river, it migrates to a bigger river and gets comfortably submerged in pursuit of its life journey of maritime hunting for existence. Metaphorically, Izonebi Alfred has musically outgrown the Ndoro river and moved  to the global stage where he has begun to globalise the Ijaw culture in all its strands with the enablement from his digitally rooted and sophisticated music career that thematically and instrumentally gospels the Ijaw culture on the social media. Alfred’s music vision is globally rooted beyond the world of Ndoro, Torugbene, Oyangbene and Sagbama.

Happily married with children, Alfred is a phenomenally talented and humble young man whose approach to his music career is philosophically and ideologically based and situated. His music career carries echoes of a flawlessly prepared survey plan in the geography of music. As a musician he sees music revivalism movement as an ideological one which enables him to revive the traditional old songs of Birifou, Ball-ere Meslore, Kuro-endi, Binta Ezekiel Ebenaghan, Bekedoumo Okoloba and others. He also sees the immortalisation of late King Robert Ebizimor, Bestman Doupere, Hon. Teiyeibo Agbeotu, Field Marshal Echo Toikumo, Professor IK Belemu and many others as a philosophical commitment; and this is reflected and mapped in his songs that musically chronicle and immortalise these departed Ijaw music legends. 

There is something ideological about how Alfred pursues his music career. For Izonebi Alfred, to awaken Nigerians politically to the ideals of good governance, to awaken Nigerians culturally to the acceptable ethos and treasured values in the society, to awaken Nigerians developmentally in relation to the available resources of development, is an ideological task as reflected in his songs that condemn and satirise misgovernance  and promote culture as an element that moves society forward on a geometric scale. In all songs of Alfred one can identify a visible presence of a skillfully mastered attempt to revive dying traditional Ijaw songs coupled with consistent promotion and immortalization of departed Ijaw music legends like King Robert Ebizimor and others too many to enumerate.

Beyond his universally applauded compositional maturity, dexterity and stunning stage performances, Alfred is a sociable and approachable person who maintains healthy relationships with people without being snobbish and discriminatory – an attitude that reveals itself in his borderless philanthropy and financial assistance to people in a noiseless and voiceless manner distinguished from the radiant self-exhibitionism of the biblical Pharisees.

 Izonebi Alfred snakes through the minds of Ijaw people as a phenomenally unbeatable music philanthropist in the Ijaw music industry as reflected in his songs philanthropically deployed to promote and immortalise late Ijaw music legends without expressed solicitation from the families of the deceased. Socially and musically, Alfred is a practitioner of borderless philanthropy both on stage and off stage.

Nobody argues that Izonebi is compositionally a grandmaster, giant, guru, legend, in music and on stage performances. Perhaps it is these qualities late King Dr Robert Ebizimor saw and crowned Izonebi Alfred a king in Ijaw music after him – an intellectual extension of which was done by King Robert Ebizimor Fans Club of Sagbama that decorated Alfred a Doctor of Philosophy in Ijaw music. 

Above all these ennoblements, Alfred is a genius of gratitude. As a genius of gratitude, Alfred appreciates anything somebody does for him however small, particularly what King Robert Ebizimor did for him musically and educationally while alive. In gratitude to King Ebizimor for his good deeds to Alfred, music lovers can hardly identify a song of Izonebi Alfred that does not mention Ebizimor either in appreciatory or immortal tone. As a genius of gratitude, Izonebi Alfred had long declared that he would musically appreciate King Ebizimor until his last breath deserted him at the ripe age. Alfred's very debut song entitled, 'Pere Kenide' (Pere Keride), carries roots of gratitude    reflective of appreciation  of King Ebizimor's role of musical adoption and mentorship of him when he journeyed into the music family of King Robert Ebizimor in 1991.

Premised on unsolicited accolades and critical evaluation from people across the world, Alfred is a prodigy of musical composition and stage performances. An exceptionally talented iconic artiste he is right from the mosquito net and Mosquito Music band days to  this day,  with very healthy relationships with people across all borders of life, a producer of over 174 music albums, it surprises no one that Izonebi Alfred is the home of awards of recognition of over fifty in number from different people and organizations which cannot be accommodated here in full details. However, for League of Friends (Niger Delta University Graduates), he was decorated Honourable on the 29th of August 2010; for National Associatioan of Odimodi Students, he was given award of appreciation on 29 December 2013; in 2017 he was given Bayelsa Musical Artiste Award (Owigiri); from Kpooka Media, he was given international merit award; from Boloubo Ogbo I of Izonebi-ebe he was given merit award for intellectual and creative work on 27 December 2018; from Sagbama Federated Communities he was given the best philosophical Izon Musical  Entertainment Award on 12 September 2018; from National Union of Kpakiama Students he was given Award of Excellence for his contribution to the growth and development of the union and Ijaw nation in general; from Aleibiri Unity Carnival he was given award as the Exceptional Pillar of sport/cultural development in Ekelga, Bayelsa State on 5 January 2022; from Ndoro Federated Communities he was given award as the Numoun Pere I of Abayai kingdom on 6 January 2022; from Strength of an African Women Foundation he was given Female Gender and Development Award on 12 February 2023; from Bayelsa Musical Artiste award he was named Artiste of the year (Owigiri) in 2021; from Sagbama communitity he was awarded the Numu Pere I of Agbedi-Owei for his consistent promotion of Izon rich cultural heritage through Owigri Music; from College of Education, he was named as the owner of the most innovative and Creative Music Band on 28 December 2022 and as the Musical Re-inventor of Izon lost values and culture. 

It is particularly interesting to pinpoint that having skillfully told enduring cultural stories with his digitally rooted music career, Izonebi Alfred has become a global figure whose songs explore themes that are universal in appeal. This thematic globalization underscores his metaphorisation as the 'okinikini' snake of the Ijaw music industry. Having outgrown both the Ndoro river and the Ijaw music industry, Izonebi Alfred has gone global with his music career because his songs and electrifying stage performances have projected him beyond the shores of Nigeria  through digitalization. 

We must feel obliged to note as a final note that for an Ndoro-born young man to globalise the Ijaw culture through music, for an iconic highlife musician who has also taken it upon himself the task to mentor budding Ijaw musicians as a component of his ideological drive to globalise the Ijaw culture through music and dazzling stage performances, Izonebi Alfred deserves all the ennobling celebrations in the world – even beyond the celebration of his music career, book, ultra-modern music studio and event centre. On his ideologically and philosophically  situated music career that has today earned him celebratory ennoblement from Ijaw people and beyond, congratulations to JKing Dr Izonebi Alfred!

Ekanpou  writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State.

Burutu PDP Converged for Stakeholders Meeting on Monday, Strategizes Ahead Mobilization of Grassroot Party Faithfuls

1. Opening Prayer was said by the woman leader Comr. Boyelayefa Ambakederemo.

2. Introduction of excos was honorably led by Comr. Jackson Agbor and other distinguish stakeholders present from different wards respectively.

3. Opening Remark: By the Acting Chairman, PDP Burutu L.G.A

Distinguished leaders, respected stakeholders, party faithful, and loyal members of our great party across the eleven wards of Burutu Local Government Area,

It is with a heart full of gratitude and appreciation that I welcome you all and extend my warmest regards. Today, I stand before you not just as Acting Chairman, but as a fellow comrade in the noble struggle to preserve, promote, and advance the ideals of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Burutu L.G.A.

I sincerely thank each and every one of you our ward leaders, unit executives, youth and women wings, elders, and stakeholders for your unwavering love, unity, and commitment to our party. Your dedication across all eleven wards has been the backbone of our continued relevance and strength at the grassroots level.

Despite the distractions and recent defections, I am proud to say that the true patriots of this party are still here standing strong, standing firm, and standing in love for the PDP. Those who left did not go with sincerity or vision, and their intentions were never in the interest of the people.

But we those of us who have chosen to remain, to consolidate, and to rebuild we are the future of this party. Your loyalty and sacrifices will not be in vain. I assure you, there will be a reward for every effort you have made to advance our cause. History will remember you as the ones who held the line, who chose loyalty over personal gain, and who believed in the enduring strength of our party.

Let us continue to work hand in hand, ward by ward, unit by unit, to deepen our reach and consolidate our structures. The journey is not over, but with unity and love, our victory is certain. Thank you

4. Sponsorship of the party:

Another key point I must commend us all for is our collective agreement and commitment to self-funding the party. In Burutu L.G.A, we have demonstrated political maturity and ownership by choosing not to wait for external help or rely solely on a few individuals. Instead, we have boldly embraced the responsibility of promoting PDP activities using our own resources.

We agreed and rightly so that, the strength and sustainability of our party lie within us. This decision is not only a show of love for the PDP, but a clear indication that we are ready to take charge of our destiny as a political family.

Every contribution whether financial, logistical, or moral has gone a long way in ensuring that our structures remain active, our presence felt, and our loyalty unshaken. And for that, I say a big thank you to all of you.

Let it be known that those who build the house are the ones who will live in it. Your sacrifices and support will never go unrewarded.

Together, we shall continue to strengthen PDP from the grassroots up, and no challenge will be too big for a united and self-reliant party like ours.

5. Status of Ward Excos: 

To all our dedicated Ward Leaders across the eleven wards of Burutu Local Government Area,

As we continue to reposition and strengthen our great party at the grassroots, I am calling on all Ward Chairmen and Coordinators to urgently compile and submit the names of their full Ward Executive Committees (Excos). This exercise is crucial for proper documentation, strategic planning, and alignment with our ongoing reorganization efforts.

In doing so, I urge you to exercise caution, sincerity, and political vigilance. We must ensure that those appointed into sensitive positions are true party loyalists men and women who have stood with us through thick and thin. We cannot afford to empower opportunists or agents planted by opposition parties like APC, LP, or others who do not wish the PDP well.

We have seen how betrayal and sabotage from within have weakened some structures in the past. This must not be repeated. Let loyalty, integrity, and commitment to the PDP be the key criteria in selecting your excos.

This is a call to duty, and your cooperation is non-negotiable. Let us continue to build a united, trustworthy, and formidable PDP structure in Burutu that cannot be shaken by opposition forces.

6. A.O.B: Status of defectors, this was referred because of the legal loopholes and because the NWC is not yet validate the interim LG excos.

 STATUS OF DEFECTORS

The issue regarding the status of defectors was brought up under Any Other Business (A.O.B). After due deliberation, it was acknowledged that while some individuals have defected from the PDP to other parties, their status remains unresolved due to certain legal and procedural loopholes currently under review.

It is important to note that, as of this moment, the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party has not officially validated or ratified the Interim Local Government Excos. Therefore, any action or pronouncement concerning the defectors must be handled with political and legal caution to avoid complications that could jeopardize the party’s standing.

Members are advised to remain calm, focused, and committed to the party, as the appropriate organs of the PDP will soon take a definitive position on these matters. Our priority remains the strengthening of party structures and ensuring loyalty at all levels.

We must not allow the distractions of defectors to derail our consolidation efforts. Instead, let us continue to build with those who are truly committed to the PDP and the future of Burutu L.G.A.

7. Adjournment was raised and Seconded by another

8. Closing prayer was said by Barr. Pele Demebide

PDP... Power to the people!

Power to the people... PDP!!

Burutu PDP! Forward Ever, Backward Never!!!

Thank you and God bless you

In committed service and solidarity,

COMR. JACKSON AGBOR

Acting chairman, People Democratic Party (PDP), Burutu LGA

From:

Burutu LGA PDP Acting Chairman Media Team,

UDOMA PEACE.

Call your youths to Order, IYC tells Olu of ltsekiri over campaign of calumny against Tompolo, Otuaro by ltsekiri nation

PRESS RELEASE

*Blackmail Against Tompolo, Otuaro Illogical - IYC to Itsekiri*

"The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone condemns in strong terms allegations made against High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and Dr Dennis Otuaro by the Itsekiri Progress Group (IPG) and other faceless groups within the Itsekiri ethnic nationality. 

"Ordinarily, Council would not react to mischievous allegations such as the ones raised by these elements who are frustrated by the outcome of the recent delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, but doing so could allow falsehood to appear as truth.

"To set the records straight, High Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro are sons and distinguished leaders of Ijaw nation who have contributed immensely to the progress of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his first two years in office.

"It is evidently clear that the efforts of Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has caused the country to attain stable daily oil production volumes. Not only is Nigeria's daily oil output approaching the two million barrels mark, Tantita is leading the charge for environmental cleaningness in the creeks in the face of a heavy degradation occasoned by oil bunkering activities in the past.

"Also, the company has overseen the employment of thousands of youths in the Niger Delta Region, with a huge chunk of that number taken from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality. 

"On the other hand, Dr. Otuaro has reformed the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) from its lost days to an entity of hope and solution to the Niger Delta region, drawing accolades and commendations from the Presidency, NSA and critical stakeholders in the region.

"Council, thus finds it unacceptable that multiple faceless groups under the guise of agitating for a review of the outcome of the delineation exercise would condescend to mischievousness and blackmail against two illustrious sons of the Niger Delta working hard to see that the President succeeds.

"We take full responsibility of the recent Boro Day celebration held in Warri, wherein thousands of Ijaw youths marched across our territories in the city of Warri, in memory of our late Hero, Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro. The event is a yearly ritual for the Ijaw people, and Dr. Otuaro's appearance at the last outing was at the behest of Council, who beckoned on him to make a guest appearance as a critical stakeholder to the body.

"We therefore find it unreasonable and illogical for both Tompolo and Otuaro to be fingered for a joint statement by the Ijaws and Urhobo's calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to speedily implement its recommended outcome from the delineation exercise, and urging the First Lady not to influence the process as she is mother to all. 

"May we remind the Itsekiri nation that as First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu is mother to the entire country, and not solely owned by the Itsekiri nation. Hence, every Nigerian is obliged to make demands of her, which the Ijaws and Urhobos illustrated through their statement.

"Finally, The Ijaw Youth Council urges the Olu of Itsekiri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and other leaders to call their youths to order and refrain from beating the drum of war in Warri and environs.

"While protest is a right for every Nigerian, the Itsekiris should take a cue from the Boro Day procession organized by the Ijaw Youth Council Western Zone that was peaceful in every way.

"We also condemn actions of the uncontrollable Itsekiri youths who protested in territories outside their jurisdiction, blocked major roads with tyres, destroyed properties, and attacked peaceful Ijaw people; all actions that could lead to retaliation and a breakdown of law and order.

"Council, therefore, urges President Tinubu to order INEC to implement the delineation outcome without any further delays to avert a looming crisis that may impede the progress and success of his administration."

Signed:

Comrade Nicholas Igarama

Chairman, IYC Western Zone 

Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Esq 

Secretary, IYC Western Zone 

Comrade Tare Magbei 

Information Officer, IYC Western Zone