Mulade Appeals to Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo's in Warri to live as one, says there is No Open Ticket for Crises Beyond 2031

 

A Delta State-born renowned peace and development advocate Comrade Mulade Sheriff, Ph.D. has appeal to the various ethnic nationalities, particularly the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.

The Ibe-Serimowei of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom made the appeal while addressing stakeholders during this year International Day of Peace celebration, with the theme: 'Act Now for a Peaceful World.' As we gather today, we are reminded that peace is not just a dream, but a necessity for a thriving world.

This theme calls upon us to take immediate action, to be proactive, effective, and to be responsible stewards of peace. Let us use this occasion to reflect on our individual and collective roles in fostering peace and peaceful coexistence, understanding, and cooperation.

Let me, once again, urge our dear traditional rulers, community leaders and youths in Delta State, and Nigeria at large, not to give room for violence or be used to foment crises in the state. Rather, they should continue to support and endeavour to promote peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic nationalities of Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, and Anioma people in Delta State.

Let me use this day to strongly appeal particularly to my dear people Ijaws, Itsekiris and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, to embrace peaceful coexistence among themselves devoid of divide-and-rule ethnic infiltrators, crisis sponsors and beneficiaries to allow Warri enjoy her peace and beauty of development.

The renowned human and environmental justice activist, Dr Mulade, said it is imperative to state categorically that there is NO OPEN TICKET for crisis beyond 2031 in Warri Federal Constituency. Wearri needs permanent peace more than elections and voters, which will create a conducive atmosphere to attract investors, employment opportunities, and development to our communities, he asserted 

Together, we can make a difference in Warri and Delta State. Let us act now to promote peace, justice, and equality, and to build a world where everyone can live with dignity and respect.

Once again, let me strongly appeal to all Deltans and residents to give maximum support and cooperation to His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State to enable us enjoyed the dividend of democracy and development in our dire state.

I sincerely thank Nigerians for joining the world to celebrate and commemorate this important day for a more peaceful world.

Tantita Security Services Donates State-of-The Art 2-Storey Educational Facility for Warri Correctional Center in Delta State

In a bold stride towards community development and human reformation, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has donated a state-of-the-art school facility to the Warri Correctional Centre, located along Okere Road in Warri, Delta State.

The modern complex, fully funded and executed by Tantita, is tailored to give inmates access to quality education, vocational training, and skills acquisition programmes with the aim of equipping them for meaningful reintegration into society.

According to Tantita representatives, the project is part of the company’s broader vision of promoting rehabilitation over punishment, using education as a tool to transform lives and reduce recidivism.

Stakeholders and observers have hailed the initiative as a groundbreaking model for correctional reforms in Nigeria, noting that public-private collaboration of this kind could redefine how inmates are prepared for life after incarceration.

The facility is expected to stand as a beacon of hope, symbolizing the power of education in reshaping destinies, while reinforcing Tantita Security’s commitment to social responsibility and regional development.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the MD. Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief. (Engr.) Kestin Pondi in a superlative address said:

" Today is a landmark date for the Nigerian Correctional Service and a day of renewed hope for inmates of the Warri Medium Security Custodial Centre, because we are gathered together here to launch the newly built 2-storey building dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and learning in our custodial facility. This building will house the National Open University Study Centre for custodial inmates here in Warri. It is also a landmark for Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited as we reach out to the high and low of society, to say no one is forgotten in our society. It is a day that reinforces our conviction at Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited that security is not only about protecting assets and territories, but also about investing in human lives, rebuilding destinies, and shaping a better future for our society.

" The Nigerian Correctional Service, formerly known as the Nigerian Prisons Service, is one of the oldest institutions in Nigeria, going all the way back to 1862, one year after the Colony of Lagos was proclaimed by the British as a counterpart to the first set of four courts established for the colony. Since then, the service has continued to play a vital role in rehabilitating persons convicted or accused of committing offences against the law in Nigeria.

" The Nigerian Correctional Services performs the following ten functions;

1. Receiving and Holding detainees.

2. Rehabilitating inmates. They aim to reform prisoners through counseling, education, and job training programs.

3. Ensuring the welfare of inmates.

4. Maintaining security.

5. Supervising inmates.

6. Reintegrating ex-inmates into society.

7. Documenting and Keeping records of inmates

8. Permitting visitation.

9. Transporting inmates.

10. Releasing qualified inmates.

Of all these, perhaps the most important is the rehabilitation of inmates and that is where education plays a vital role.

" On August 15, 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria took a bold step in reforming our justice system by transforming the Nigerian Prisons into Correctional Centres. This was not just a change of name, but a deliberate shift in philosophy; from punishment to rehabilitation, from stigma to dignity, from exclusion to reintegration.

In alignment with this national vision, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has chosen to support the Warri Correctional Centre with this newly constructed, 2-storey educational facility. This modern building; comprising eight fully furnished classrooms, an administrative office, water-system toilets, a borehole supply system, and a solar-powered inverter system; represents more than an investment in bricks and mortar. It represents opportunity. It represents hope. And it represents the belief that every person, regardless of their past conduct, can be transformed through education. It represents a second chance.

" This project is also consistent with Tantita’s wider commitment to community development across Nigeria. Only recently, Tantita had the honour of renovating the historic Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna; a landmark of faith and culture; which was formally commissioned by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, last week on Friday 19th September. That project, like this one, reflects our philosophy that true security is built not only through vigilance alone, but also through investment in people, communities, and the values that bind us together.

" Education is the most powerful tool of rehabilitation. It opens minds, reforms character, and creates pathways for reintegration into society. By God’s grace, this facility will soon host the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Study Centre, giving both inmates and staff access to a qualitative path to academic advancement. This milestone will not only transform individuals but will also strengthen our collective security as a nation, because an educated mind is more inclined to productivity.

"At this point, let me sincerely appreciate the Nigerian Correctional Service, both here in Warri and at the Headquarters in Abuja, for their cooperation and encouragement throughout this journey. I also extend my gratitude to the Deputy Controller of Corrections, DCC Richard Egbede, for his kind words and steadfast commitment to making this project a reality for the correctional service.

" For us at Tantita, this project may be corporate social responsibility, but it is not just Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a moral duty, a social investment, and a testament to our unwavering belief that Nigeria can only be truly secure when her people are empowered, rehabilitated, and given a chance to thrive.

" I dedicate this facility to the future of the staff and inmates who will study here, to their families who long for their reintegration or elevation, and to the larger society that will benefit from their transformation.

"May this building serve as a beacon of hope, a centre of learning, and a symbol of second chances.

On behalf of the management and staff of Tantita. I thank you all for joining us in this historic moment. Together, let us continue to build a safer, stronger, and more compassionate Nigeria.

" God bless the Nigerian Correctional Service.

God bless the good people of Warri.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria," the statement added.

Opinion: Rivers in Power_By William Z. Bozimo.

When a river is dammed, its waters do not forget the path to the sea. They wait, they swell, they rage against the banks, and when at last the gates are lifted, they rush forth with vengeance. Such has been the fate of Rivers State, Nigeria’s oil-bearing jewel, now released from the grip of emergency rule. In a nation already weighed down by inflation, food insecurity, and spiralling insecurity, Rivers became a symbol of how fragile Nigeria’s democracy can be. 

The crisis in Rivers was never just about governance, it was about power. It was about who held the oars, who steered the canoe, and who decide where the river should meet the sea. The lifting of the emergency order may restore political legitimacy, but does it restore dignity to the fisherman whose nets return empty, and water poisoned by oil spills? Does it restore faith to the mother who waits at the hospital desk while doctors plead for basic supplies?

Rivers are not just geography; it is a metaphor. It is a reminder that wealth without wisdom is a curse, and abundance without justice is a wound. The people of Port Harcourt know this all too well. They watch oil tankers roll past their streets, carrying millions in revenue, while they themselves barter tomatoes at inflated prices in crowded markets. One moment, the people queued for fuel at filling stations, grumbling about scarcity and subsidy removal.

Next, they find themselves governed not by the officials that they elected, but by the shadow of emergency powers. By restoring Governor Fubara and the House of Assembly, President Tinubu has given Nigeria a chance to breathe. But what does this say about the resilience of our institutions? If a governor can be swept aside by decree, and the legislature can be suspended like a school boy punished for unruly conduct, what shield remains for the common man’s vote?

Throughout the six months of suspended governance, the people endured and continued with their lives, trading in Mile One Market, fishing in Bonny, commuting on battered buses from Eleme to Port Harcourt, waiting for the quarrel of the mighty to end. Their patience is a lesson and a warning. A people cannot endure forever. The lifting of the emergency rule is not an ending; it is an intermission. The play will continue, the actors will return to the stage, but the audience has grown weary of repetition. 

Rivers in power is more than a headline. It is a parable of Nigeria itself: rich yet restless, gifted yet squandered, always at war with its own abundance. The state has been handed back to its elected governor, but governance itself must be handed back to the people. Will Governor Fubara and his legislature learn from the turbulence, or will they return to paddling in opposite directions, capsizing the canoe once more?

Will the President's intervention be remembered as a moment of statesmanship, or just another episode in the endless soap opera of Nigerian politics?

In the end, the river has only two choices: to flow clean or to flow muddied. And as every fisherman knows, a river that carries too much silt can drown its own fish.

William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory keeper

Otuaro hails President Tinubu for commitment to PAP program, urges Niger Deltans to back his 2027 Reelection bid

PRESS RELEASE

Otuaro Thanks Tinubu As PAP Deploys 161 For Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship

•••Urges Niger Deltans to Support President’s 2027 Reelection Bid 

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for strongly supporting the agency's recent deployment of its foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries.

Otuaro said the PAP had, as at the last count, sent 161 post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to universities in the U.K. for the 2025/2026 academic year.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his invaluable input and guidance in the exercise.

He attributed the huge number of beneficiaries so far deployed abroad for studies in various industry-relevant programmes to the backing and generosity of the President.

He urged stakeholders of the Niger Delta to stand with President Tinubu and support his reelection bid in 2027.

Otuaro stressed that the president has demonstrated good intentions for the region and deserved reciprocal action in 2027.

Recall that the PAP office had penultimate week organised pre-departure briefing for two batches of the beneficiaries on the foreign post-graduate sponsorship in Abuja.

Otuaro noted that the PAP’s “decision for the massive deployment aligns with Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and his genuine love for the people of the Niger Delta."

He said the President was aware of the region's challenge of human capacity development gap and the need to close it, empower the people, and galvanize socio-economic growth and development in the area.

According to him, the region's human capital development gap can be increasingly closed if the huge deployment of scholarship beneficiaries within and outside the country is sustained.

Otuaro further said, "I am eternally grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for graciously supporting the Presidential Amnesty Programme as we deploy foreign scholarship beneficiaries for the academic session.

"But for the President's magnanimity, it would not have been possible for us to send 161 beneficiaries to universities in the U.K. The number is huge and it aligns with His Excellency's Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects his undying love for the Niger Delta.

"I am equally immensely thankful to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his usual incredible guidance and supervision, which helps us a great deal.

"I am highly encouraged by the President's backing of our formal education and vocational training initiatives, and his strong desire for the socio-economic growth and development of our region.

"I believe that if we sustain the high number of scholarship deployments within and outside the country, the issue of human capacity development gap in our region will be decisively tackled."

The PAP’s helmsman restated his call on all scholarship beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity, complete their programmes successfully, and return home to add value to the development of the region and indeed the country.

Signed:

Mr Igoniko Oduma

Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme

23/09/2025.

IPF Felicitates with Dr. Dennis Otuaro on Birth Anniversary

Birthday Felicitation

The Ijaw Publishers Forum heartily felicitates with Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, on the occasion of his birthday.

We commend your steady leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which has continued to strengthen peace, rehabilitation, and development in the Niger Delta. 

Your efforts in providing opportunities for ex-agitators and in advancing stability across the region stand as clear evidence of your dedication to the people and progress of our land.

As you mark this new year of life, we join your family, friends, and well-wishers in praying for good health, wisdom, and greater success in the service of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

Signed:

Tare Magbei

Secretary, Ijaw Publishers Forum

Happy birthday to a Seasoned Administrator, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, SA Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta Ex-agitators

Congratulations and happy birthday to a seasoned administrator and Special Adviser to the President Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinunu on Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta Ex-agitators, High Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, an exemplary leader per excellence, a care giver and a philanthropist of high repute, wishing you a wonderful day filled with joy and prosperity, congratulations sir.

Signed:

Charlse Oyinbi Onduku, CEO/Publisher Niger Delta Mirror Newspaper Online...

Birthday: Special Wish for Dr. Dennis Otuaro on His Special Day_By: Zorab Monday Ebikpolade

 Ladling into bowls the most fleshy parts of fish for people to dine and wine to their fill as a priority is a demonstration of love and care for the welfare of a people anywhere on earth. A man that prioritises the welfare of people working under him is a man who deserves to be celebrated all the time. Philosophically, for Prof. Ik. Belemu, the man that fills your bowl with fleshy fish is the one that loves you genuinely. Such genuine carriers of love must not be forgotten but memorably remembered and reciprocated. 

Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro is a perfect example of a man who should be celebrated memorably whenever the occasion demands it. Today has become one of such occasions. Let drums of different types be beaten loudly to herald the celebration of Dr. Dennis Otuaro as the PAP boss whose welfarist and capacity-building moves are always attuned to the original vision and mission of the programme. Only a boss attuned to the true vision and mission of the Presidential Amnesty Programme could have sent abroad 173 students for higher academic pursuit and 3,976 students sent to various universities within Nigeria to pursue their dreams of higher educational accomplishment.

Dr. Otuaro is the PAP boss who always gives priority attention to welfare of his own staff in every dimension tailored towards the happiness of the workers. Anchored on his time-tested principle of equality and

non-discrimination in administration, his welfarist touch is also extended to all the PAP beneficiaries. 

I can proudly beat my chest and say  Dr. Otuaro is a blessing to humanity, especially the staff and the PAP beneficiaries because he implements policies that positively touch the lives of all in the programme. From staff to beneficiaries, everybody is satisfied with the performance of the Amnesty boss within the relatively short period of his administration.

Dr. Otuaro's welfarist policies have transformed the staff and the PAP beneficiaries in varied ways. Both the PAP staff and beneficiaries daily echo the goodness of the Amnesty boss whose approach to life is devoid of arrogance, nepotism and  intimidation. An administrator of this kind merits recognition and celebration by all and sundry because today is the day Dr. Otuaro was born.

On this special day of Dr. Otuaro's birth on earth I wish him the very best. May God grant all the heart desires of Dr. Otuaro. Specifically, may Dr. Otuaro be given good health, long life and prosperity because with good health, long life and prosperity, the space needed for him to continue his good work to humanity will always be available. 

It is my prayerful wish that  in no circumstance must Dr. Otuaro be denied the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of humanity on earth, particularly the formulation and implementation of policies geared towards actualisation of the core objectives of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Again and again, I wish Dr. Dennis Otuaro a very happy birthday that should always return so that the PAP beneficiaries and staff will always be on the progressive lane, full of smiles, throughout his tenure as the performing Amnesty boss.

Mr.  Ebikpolade writes from Abuja.

Dr. Angozi Celebrates Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom on 10th Coronation Anniversary

Chief Braduce Angozi Ph.D., has extended heartfelt congratulations to His Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni, Monbene III, the Amaokosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, on the occasion of his 10th coronation anniversary on the throne.

In a goodwill message, Chief Angozi described the monarch’s reign as a decade defined by peace, substance, and visionary leadership, noting that his ascension to the throne ushered in stability and progress for the Ogbe-Ijoh people and neighbouring communities across Delta State.

He commended King Oromoni for his remarkable commitment to peacebuilding, stressing that his ability to foster dialogue, mutual respect, and unity among diverse groups has contributed immensely to the relative harmony enjoyed in Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and its neighbouring communities over the past ten years.

“His Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni, Monbene III, has over the years proven himself to be a monarch of uncommon wisdom and substance, whose reign has brought not only peace but also purposeful leadership to his people and neighbouring communities. His achievements speak volumes of a king who understands the essence of traditional authority in driving development and cohesion,” Angozi stated.

The elder statesman further extolled the king for his unwavering dedication to the welfare of his subjects and for consistently providing wise counsel to leaders across Delta State. He maintained that the monarch’s reign has been an inspiration, especially in times when the nation requires voices of peace and unity.

Angozi prayed for God’s continued blessings upon the Amaokosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, wishing him many more fruitful years on the throne in good health, strength, and wisdom to continue guiding his people and neighbouring communities with distinction.

“As you celebrate this remarkable milestone of ten years on the throne, it is my sincere prayer that your reign continues to usher in peace, prosperity, and greater development for Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, its neighbouring communities, and indeed across Delta State at large,” Angozi added.

Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom Confers New Chieftaincy Titles to 46 Deserving illustrious Sons and Daughters of ljaw Nation to Mark 10Th Coronation Anniversary

Francis Tayor

The atmosphere was calm and glamourous with celebration of royalty and the unique culture of ljaw tradition as the peace loving reverend monarch, His Royal Majesty, Monbene lll, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom marked his Ten-Year coronation anniversary on the throne in a grand style.

The colourful ceremony took place on Monday 22nd September, 2025 at the palace of the traditional headquarters, Ogbe-ljoh main town, Warri South-West LGA of Delta State with conferment of over forty five brown new chieftaincy titles to well deserving illustrious sons and daughters of ljaw nation in recognition of their numerous contributions to peace, growth and development of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom in particular, and ljaw nation at large.

Presenting the chieftaincy beads on the well deserving recipients, HRM. Monbene lll appreciated the newly confirmed chiefs for their good works for ljaw nation over the years, while urging them to join hands with the traditional council of chiefs of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom in promoting peace as well as administering justice and fairness in the kingdom.

Reacting to the development, one of the excited brown new chief, High Chief. Boro Opudu, the Olotu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom and his adorable wife, Chief Mrs. Edna Opudu, the lbefini-ere of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom thanked Monbene lll for the recognition bestowed on them, while promised to remain steadfast in projecting the interest of the kingdom in particular, and ljaw nation at large.

Another recipient, a veteran journalist cum patriotic son of the soil, High Chief. Manager Seigha, the lsomowene-owei of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom appreciated God for the noble honour bestowed on him by the Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, while vows to carry out deligently the responsibility attached to the chieftaincy title conferred on him without compromise.

Other brown new chiefs include; High Chief. Benjamin Ekeremor, the Ogungbein-owei of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, High Chief. Pius Boukan, the Kare-owei of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, Chief. Binaebi Adowei, the Adudukuro of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, Chief. Simeon Bebenimibo, the Kuro-owei of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, Chief. Joseph Tare Omare, Chief. Dickson Akemotubo, Chief. Queen Ajemitolu, Chief. Johnson Seibiribo, Chief. Samuel Ebike, Chief. Rita Youware, Chief. John Omgbu among others too numerous to mention.

Various traditional rulers and dignitaries that graced the memorable occasion include; the Pere of Akugbene Mein kingdom, the lbenanaowei of Ogulagha kingdom, the Pere of Eduwini kingdom, the Ovie of Agbarah Warri Kingdom, the Pere of lsaba kingdom, the Pere of Tarakiri kingdom respectively.

Amongst the dignitaries are, High Chief. Tunde Smooth, the Bolouwei of Niger Delta, High Chief. Lucky Youbogha, Chief. Promise Lawuru, Hon. Dr. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in National Assembly Abuja, Hon. Chief. Vincent Oyibode, Chairman Udu LGA, HRH. Godday Smith alias Bounanaowei, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, Chairman Warri South-West LGA, Hon. Chief. Daniel Yingi, Hon. Godwin Edumogiren, High Chief. Frank Omare, Chief. Favour Izoukumo, Hon. Spencer Okpoye, Chief. Monday Keme, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, Speaker Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Ebitonmo Alapala, member representing Burutu North Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, High Chief. (Engr.) Kestin Pondi, MD Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Hon. Chief. Julius Takeme, Chairman Burutu LGA, Chief. Otiki Gbodo, High Chief . Hon. Yerin Ekpedibo Yerin, High Chief. James Egberibo, Chief Mrs. Vero Yerin Ekpedibo, Chief. John Akpotudougha, Spokesman ljaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, Amb. Princewill Binebai, Hon. Sinkumoh Ekisah, High Chief. MacDonald Igbadiwei, Commander Josiah Oyakongha alias Oyimi 1 of Niger Delta among others.

Meanwhile, distinguished guests at the event where musically entertained by Chief. Barrister S. Smooth, the music paddle of Niger Delta with scintillating ljaw owigiri high life melodies accompanied with beautiful dance steps by the smooth musical organization band female dancers to the admiration of the mammoth crowd.

In a related development, the Olotu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, High. Chief. Boro Opudu hosted his friends, business associates, politicians and well wishers in a well packaged mini reception at his compound in Ogbe-ljoh with variety of delicacies and assorted drinks.

The music Dr,  Alfred lzon-Ebi alias JKing alongside FC D Story Teller was live on ground to do what they know how to do best in putting smile on the faces of guests with melodious sound and tunes of ljaw traditional and owigiri highlife music for the listening pleasure of distinguished spectators.

However, the Day Two of the coronation anniversary holds tomorrow Tuesday 23rd September, 2025, with masquerade dance display, paddling competition and free medical treatment etc.

Music by Chief. Kingsley Takembo, the Mienkuro 1 of Niger Delta.

Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom 10th Coronation Anniversary, Evang. Boro Opudu Set for Chieftaincy Title Conferment

High Chief. Boro Matthew Opudu, the Chairman Delta State Land/Waterways Security Committee and CEO Edy-Bo lnternational (NIG) Limited being flanked by his wife, Chief. Mrs. Edna Opudu, High Chief. Frank Omare, Chief. Simeon Bebenimibo, High Chief. Benjamin Ekeremor, Gen. Binaebi Adowei, Anthony Youbai among others ahead of his Chieftaincy title Conferment at Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom.

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False Narratives on the Ayakoromo Bridge and Governor Oborevwori_By: Dr. Enewaridideke Ekanpou

The Ayakoromo bridge in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State is one major project that exemplifies Governor Oborevwori's vision centred on the infrastructural development of Delta State. The bridge project is being handled by Setraco. Since the handling of the bridge construction by Setraco, somes masters of propaganda have constantly filled the media space with wrong narratives and notions, unhealthily promoted whenever one is on a journey to awaken the world to the infrastructural and educational commitment of the governor of Delta State. At such time the master propagandists apparently make you  look like an idiot who markets the infrastructural and educational achievements of a governor who has deliberately abandoned the major project in your own community. 

The target of these masters of propaganda is to create confusion and problem for political appointees from the area who don't see the  need to respond to their propagandist dance at a given time. To reply such propagandists is to dignify them and to abstain from responding to them as a principle is to create the impression that the governor is not working, which may portray political appointees as persons who cannot defend the governor and kill propaganda deliberately activated to reduce the governor to the state of a non-performer. Verbal Reduction of Governor Oborevwori to a non-performer is contrary to the predominant opinion that Governor Oborevwori is committed to the infrastructural and educational advancement of Delta State.

Work on the Ayakoromo bridge is very much in progress. Some ghost commentators on social media drum up the propaganda that the bridge has been abandoned occasioned by systematic fund-starvation. Others equally maintain that the bridge would be deployed as a political strategy to gather votes in 2027 when the governor solicits re-election on the promise to complete the bridge project after being massively voted for. Despite all these wrong signals beamed out to the public on Ayakoromo bridge which demand counter-propaganda, silence strangely pervades everywhere. From either Governor Oborevwori or political appointees no corresponding defensive reaction has come because there is an underlying principle seen as the most appropriate counter-move to the masters of propaganda.

That silence is the best answer to a fool is a universal acknowledgement. On a closer look silence is not only the best answer to a fool but it is  the antidote to non-performance because it creates room for verbal resources and energies to be saved or reserved towards deployment for accomplishment of  meaningful jobs. 

The short life-span of a lion originates from its endless roaring and energy-sapping engagements unlike the long life-span of tortoise  known for calm approach to life focused on the brain without unnecessary physical exertions . The tortoise does not roar and stretch its muscles like lion, reserving its energies for only meaningful tasks.The best form of defence for propaganda-consolidated war is to put up a corresponding defence in pragmatic terms without words. Only such strategies intensify the stupidity and emptiness of propaganda masters who characteristically have short life-span in terms of the duration of their propaganda because propagandist dance loses its footing when truth eventually speaks.

Many false stories have been bandied and told on the social media to defame Governor Oborevwori on the Ayakoromo bridge. The lie-coated tellers of these propagandist tales  have not even gone to the site of the project to see how the contract is being executed with mathematical accuracy phase by phase.The governor and his political appointees from ward seven are too intelligent and busy to roar like lions and lose resources and energies required for engagement of meaningful tasks.

 Governor Oborevwori, armed with the  time-tested political philosophy of development named 'Timibism', believes in countering propagandists and image-destroyers with pragmatic execution of development projects in the state. Performance is Governor Oborevwori's antidote to propaganda of distraction.

'Timibism' as a political philosophy  of development was propounded by Timiebi Maika in 1955. For Timiebi Maika the best way to silence the propaganda of image-destroyers is tortoise-like retraction of one's self, showing only the part of the personality meaningfully engaged in the task, without verbal exchange. Ever philosophically committed, 'wordlessly silence your attackers with performance' is Timiebi Maika's refrain while she was alive. This time-tested philosophy of Timiebi Maika has become Governor Oborevwori's antidote to propagandist arrows from any part of Delta State, particularly the poisoned verbal arrows stuck  to the Ayakoromo bridge project by enemies of progress.

Manifestation of regression in any form in the society must be consciously avoided because it engenders personality-displacement. It would be a reduction for lovers of the philosophy of 'Timibism' to embrace regression by constantly responding to every propaganda cooked on the Ayakoromo bridge to distract the governor of Delta State. Governor Oborevwori's roots lie deeply  in infrastructural and educational development of Delta State. The governor's joy is guaranteed whenever roads and bridges are rapidly constructed; the governor's joy is guaranteed whenever students smile home with bursary awards and scholarships offered by his visionary government. Nothing can cause deflection to Governor Oborevwori's vision of infrastructural and educational development of Delta State, particularly when these radiant commitments are driven by Timiebi Maika's philosophy of 'Timibism' in operation.This means the Ayakoromo bridge cannot be abandoned by Governor Oborevwori because it is one of his legacy projects. So any narrative garnished with Governor Oborevwori's abandonment of the Ayakoromo bridge is a pathological exercise verbally engaged for a selfish purpose which necessitates immediate expulsion.

Propagandists must note that Governor Oborevwori will always maintain silence on the Ayakoromo bridge however the false narrative imaginatively created because the resultant silence is a meaningful one ideologically aligned with the philosophy of 'Timibism'. Governor Oborevwori and the political appointees from ward seven are such  strong  believers of the 'Timibism' philosophy that they will continue to walk on the path of silence, only activating the machinery of performance as the antidote to propaganda of any type on the Ayakoromo bridge.

Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State

A SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER: HOW UNILAG ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (WARRI CIRCLE) MONTHLY MEETING TURNED INTO A ROYAL DINNER PARTY_By Emmanuel Ogheneochuko

22nd September, 2025

The University of Lagos Alumni Association (Warri Circle) holds its meeting monthly on the third Sundays of the month. The venues are decided by the host sectors and individuals. The Association is one of the liveliest, cerebral and most professionally-stacked in the Warri-Effurun metropolis. There are royals, medical doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors, technocrats and top businessmen among its members. 

One of the most distinguished members of the Association is HRM. Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd), CFR, mni, Orhue I, The Orodje of Okpe Kingdom. He studied Law at the University of Lagos. For its September meeting, the Orodje magnanimously volunteered to host the Association. 

The news was widely publicized both in print and electronically. All seven sectors were encouraged to honour this royal invitation. The existing sectors are Medical, Legal, Oil & Gas, Media & Construction, Education, Organised Private Sector and DSC. All were represented in their numbers. 

The meeting started when the king walked in majestically, into the David Dafinone Conference Centre to take his seat. He was accompanied by Okakuro Mark Afe, the Prime Minister _(Unu-Okpe)_, who himself is a distinguished alumnus of the University.  The hall, as expected, had a feel of royalty in its every detail. Spacious, well lit, air-conditioned, and decorated with executive seats. Indeed the Palace itself is one of the best in the entire country. It is to Delta State what Buckingham Palace is to  England. Coincidentally, the Orodje is the current Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council of Delta State.

After the opening  formalities which were done swiftly, the king requested for the members to be received first in the traditional way, by offering Kolanuts, drinks and support. 

The presentation was so professionally done with gait and panache that everyone felt a sense of importance and worth before the king. The Kola was received by Chief Victor Otomiewo (Esq.) whose excellent oratorical skills, use of proverbs and sense of humour generated warmth and joy around the hall. 

The discussions were swift and straight to the point. They related to members' welfare, admission quotas for members' children and the Alumni Building Project. 

Thereafter, members were ushered into two dining rooms where caterers were already waiting to take orders. There was so much to eat and drink. 

Indeed while monthly meetings of the Association are usually fun-filled and refreshing, this royal hosting by the Orodje was in a class of its own. Everyone felt satisfied in the end. I imagine that there is no one in that room, who did not take a moment to thank his stars once again, for the privilege of attending the University of Lagos.

In the extravaganza and euphoria that greeted this special royal hosting, it is easy to forget that the day was also the birthday of a very distinguished and dedicated member of the Association, The Hon. (Chief) Idise Edward, the Efifa-Efiuogo of Umuebu Kingdom. We wish you God's blessings on this new age sir. 

It is true that often, one has cause to be in the presence of a king either for a meeting, conference, or an event. But to be hosted as an Alumni Association by no less a king than the Orodje of Okpe is a different matter altogether. Indeed, the Circle Chairman Deacon Tony Onakpoma could not but express his joy and privilege to be presiding over a meeting in which the Orodje was seated. Justice Jonathan Shakarho (Rtd) admitted that he enjoyed the red wine in a very special way. 

This was a September meeting to remember. 

May God bless The Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, and may the University of Lagos Alumni Association (Warri Circle) continue to grow in strength and unity. 

*Emmanuel Ogheneochuko Arodovwe*

_Publicity Secretary_

(Unilag Alumni Warri Circle)

Opinion: Grey Hairs, Silent Rights: The Legal Battle for Nigeria’s Elderly-By William Z. Bozimo

There comes a season in every nation’s journey when the wrinkles of its elders are not just skin deep, but soul deep, etched with the maps of sacrifice, survival, and service. These men and women once stood in fields, courts, classrooms, and factories. They raised children and tilled dreams. Yet, as age bends its back, the system turns its gaze away. The question stares us in the face: Do Nigeria’s laws and policies truly safeguard the dignity and health of its elderly? Or it only operates the framework that falters.

On paper, Nigeria has scattered provisions. The National Health Act of 2014 promises essential services, but speaks no clear language of ageing. The Constitution guarantees life and dignity, yet remains mute on geriatric care. A National Policy on Ageing was birthed in 2021, but it lies in policy cupboards, its teeth blunt against the hard rock of implementation. The measure of a nation is not how it treats the powerful, but how it embraces the powerless. 

Nigeria, with its vast ageing population must ask: Why are our elders not explicitly named and protected in our laws? Why does their health remain charity instead of entitlement? In various hospitals, you will search in vain for specialized geriatric wings. The elderly shuffle between clinics not designed for their fragility. Insurance schemes exclude them at the very stage they need it most, and in the silence of neglect, rights become riddles that never find answers.

The reality is stark as there are no sincerely defined legal enforcement mechanisms to hold caregivers or institutions accountable when elders are abandoned or maltreated. Pensioners and retirees are left to barter dignity for survival, waiting months for stipends that barely cover food, let alone medical care. We live in a society that too often sees the elderly as a burden  instead of custodians of wisdom. These are the gaps that Nigeria's policies dare to ignore. To truly protect the vulnerable, Nigeria must not stop at partial integration.

We must expand the scope of integration to also include non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and dementia which silently devastate the poor and elderly. Let us take notes from other shores where some form of structures are already put in place for the elders for humanity's sake. Elsewhere, the law bends its shield towards the aged. In South Africa for example, the constitution speaks boldly of social protection and healthcare rights. Also in the United Kingdom, the NHS guarantees access, and its anti-discrimination laws forbid neglect on the grounds of age.

The road to reform simply imply that we must rise to demand a Geriatric Care Act that speaks the language of clarity and enforcement, an expansion of the health insurance coverage to include all Nigerians above 65yrs without loopholes, introduction of rights awareness campaign so that no elder dies ignorant of their entitlements, and a substantial partnerships between the civil society, faith bodies, and the press, to keep the ageing policy alive in practice and not just in paper alone, which will stitch the broken walls into one shelter for all too stand.

The nation’s litmus test should neither be a measure of a society’s ignorance, nor how it treats the strong, but how it shields the frail. Nigeria must remember: our elders are not relics to be displayed in memory, but living scrolls of history that deserve care, dignity, and justice. A nation that forgets its elders writes its obituary in advance. For the wrinkles on their faces are not blemishes but signatures of survival; their health is not a favour, but a right. To neglect them is not simply a policy lapse, it is a moral failure, and a wound to our collective soul.

Vulnerability demands justice because the challenges the elderly face are barriers beyond biology. Stigma that keeps them from seeking care, poverty that makes hospital bills heavier than their illness, and their geographical location that puts clinics out of their reach. Without integrated services, people are forced to navigate a labyrinth where each door leads to another queue, another cost, another indignity.

There should be standard programs that train health care workers to deliver multi-service care at every contact point. When God blesses you with extraordinary and professional health care providers, then you will understand what it means to age gracefully in your lifetime.

William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

Egrangbene Autonomous Community Salutes Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom on 10th Coronation Anniversary

The good people of Egrangbene Autonomous Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, has joined the league of other well wishers to congratulate and expressed their heartfelt felicitations to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni, Monbene lll, the Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, on the momentous occasion of his 10th coronation Anniversary.

In a statement released on Monday 22nd September, 2025 in Warri, the Chairman Egrangbene Autonomous Community, Comrade Peres Kareyebo praised the monarch for his role in maintaining peace within Ogbe-ljoh and her neighbouring various Warri Kingdoms over the past one decade on the reverend throne. He also lauded His Majesty’s contributions to the development of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State, and Nigeria at large.

According to Comrade Kareyebo, said: "On behalf of myself, my family, and the good people of Egrangbene Autonomous Community, I warmly congratulate your royal majesty on the auspicious occasion of your ten-year coronation anniversary. Your journey and reign has truly been remarkable with amazing development and progress in your kingdom.

"Since ascending the throne, you have always preached peace and sustained the existing peace to the various Warri Kingdoms.

"You have also made significant contributions to the growth and development of your kingdom, Delta State, and Nigeria at large, the statement added.