Just-ln: Ijaw Group Demands Immediate Release of Henry Okah from South African Custody

The Ijaw Nation Forum (INF), an organisation representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality, has petitioned South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him to grant freedom to Niger Delta freedom fighter Henry Okah, who has been serving a 24-year prison sentence in South Africa since 2010.

The group described Okah’s prolonged imprisonment as unjust and politically motivated, alleging that his conviction was influenced by external pressures rather than fair judicial consideration. They appealed to President Ramaphosa to demonstrate South Africa’s commitment to human rights, justice, and African solidarity by granting Okah his freedom.

Okah, 60, was convicted by a South African court in connection with the October 1, 2010 incident in Abuja, which took place during Nigeria’s 50th Independence Day celebrations. The incident, which involved twin explosions near Eagle Square, which claimed 12 lives and left many injured. South African authorities charged Okah under the country’s anti-terrorism laws, accusing him of masterminding the attacks from Johannesburg. He has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting that his trial was politically motivated and aimed at silencing voices advocating for the rights of the Niger Delta people.

The petition further emphasized that Okah played a vital role in the Niger Delta peace process and should be recognised as a voice for justice and equality, not a criminal. 

It called for his “prompt, unconditional and safe release,” arguing that South Africa’s prosecution was unlawful since Nigeria did not formally lodge a complaint.

“The arrest, trial and imprisonment of Mr. Okah constitute a hostile and unwarranted intervention by South Africa in an armed conflict that unfolded within Nigerian territory,” the group stated.

The petition was signed by leading Niger Delta figures including Alfred Diette-Spiff, the traditional ruler of Brass and a former Rivers State governor, and Felix Tuodolo, a founding member of the Ijaw Youth Council. It was submitted on behalf of the forum to the South African Presidency by Kabowei Akamande, an Ijaw activist based in the United States.

The Ijaw group claimed Okah was wrongfully arrested by South Africa’s Directorate of Priority Crimes (the Hawks) under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA). They argued that under the law, only Interpol had the authority to carry out such an arrest.

The petition further alleged that in his 15 years in custody, Okah has suffered “extreme psychological and physical torture,” leaving him with lasting facial deformities, while his family has faced harassment and loss of property.

The INF also drew parallels with South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, criticising the African National Congress (ANC) government for siding with “the suppression of the oppressed people of the Niger Delta.”

We find it deeply ironic and disturbing that an ANC-led government born out of its own history of armed struggle would now partake in the repression of the Niger Delta people,” the petition stated. “Imagine, for instance, how it would have been perceived if the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe had been arrested and prosecuted in another African nation for acts committed during the fight against apartheid.

While stressing that it does not condone violence, the group defended Okah’s agitation as part of the Niger Delta’s longstanding struggle for self-determination, environmental justice and a fair share of oil revenues.

The petition renews focus on the unresolved grievances in Nigeria’s oil-producing region, where agitation for resource control have periodically threatened national oil output.

By taking the case to Ramaphosa, the Ijaw group is not only challenging the legitimacy of Okah’s conviction but also reviving wider questions about how Nigeria addresses dissent in the Niger Delta a region whose stability remains critical to the country’s economy.

Signatories:

__________

HRM King Oweipa Jones-Ere (JP)

Ogboin III, Ogboin Ebe Nana Owei

HRM King Alfred Papapereye Diete-Spiff,CFR, DF Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, Seriya II

HRH Diepreye Amadein

Gbayekoko Il of Tamazo

High Chief Dame Julie Okah-Donli

Chief Duduku Panyan Dennis

Chief Siliwari Frenchpo

Angala Il Lobia 2

Chief Benebragha Suoye Amakereowei of ljubudumu

Felix Tuodolo, PhD Pioneer President, ljaw Youth Council, 1998-2001

Capt. Albert Oti (Rtd.)

Udengs Eradiri President, ljaw Youth Council, 2013-2017 

DaCosta Ekemuya Adowei,

High Chief Denzil Amagbe Kentebe.

Chief Johnson S. Akparakpa

Ogbodo IV of Lobia 

Hon. Ebieridei Charles Ambaiowei 

MNSE Former Acting President, ljaw National Congress

Chief Godbless Ayabakari

Aiti Il of Lobia 

Chief Barazi S. David

Agbobu IX of Lobia I

Alaowei (Dr) Oyeinfie E. Jonjon

President, ljaw Youth Council, 2004-2007

Ben Amaebi Okoro

Moderator of ljaw Nation Forum

Kabowei Akamande

Daniel Wilson

Prince Deinbofa Ere

Tonye Clinton Jaja, PhD

Prof. Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

Pete Okah

Pereyi Sharon Gilbert Apreala

Ebi Preye Okosi

Ms, Ebikienmo Allen

Michael Iniruo Esere

ThankGod Abah

Tari George

Pandei Perye

Odoni Ziwaranto

Alwell Dagogo'

Jerry Allapota

Patience Ayibatari

Pagaebinyu Ebit

Bishop Michael Amamieye

Mrs. Pamela Bischof

Eniye Olobo

Omiete Wiliam-West

Ebimiefagha lbomo

Owei George

Mrs. Diepreye Oyazimugha

Oyowah Indutimi

Timi Koru

Ms Precious Newman

Ebitei Nichodemus

Aleibiri Inaira

Joshua Aliaputa

Augusta Douglás

Ms Udom Ayebaebi Chidinma

Atei Christopher

Elder Job Kenmi

Margaret ldoinung

Ms Nengi Celina Agama

Victor Tamarapreye

Akanate Young Inabriyai

Daniel Christian Esinte

Mrs Bassuo Margret

Ms Sawari Mary Oyindenyefa

Victor Isaiah

Kingsley Sabagha tkado

Kala Sabagha

Blessing lwobi'

Frank Agbai

Ms Tweingha Mathias Nyenye

Augusta Douglas

Ms Udom Ayebaebi Chidinma

Atei Christopher

Lydia Andrew 

Godfrey Abaje Timi

Bestman Temple

Inatimi Seigha

Selegha Jeke

Omie James 

Mrs Electric Tarelayefa Fakemebo

Mrs Job Perenabo Princess

Mrs Bio Allen Fente

Omeremu Ayibatorudigiyo

Joshua Iruo

Moses Godgift Joseph Amaegberi

Dennis Okilo

Selewari Osuobeni

Teidor Timi

Felix Tukeye

Pereowei Bayour Preye

Ms Okuboere Bayour

Tari Ekiyor

Eneye Philip Asanakpo

Mrs Tari Nathan

Diepreye Inara'

Mrs Tarela Eunice

Bamiekumo Philip

Ms. Tamarawenefere Ekiyor

Joseph Timipere

FIt. Sgt. Angus Ebinimiowei Ekperi (Rtd).

Oghene Woke Ekiyor

Moses Godgift Joseph Amaegberi

Selewari Osuobeni

Dr. Ekpobomene Waritimi

Dr. Pius Obudou Waritimi'

Danniel Agwama

T Kingsley Aquwama Peide I

Doite Elemah

Tariebi Sunday

Ayibanoa Richard

Ayibadiote ikio

Gladstone Inifiyelate

Mrs Tarela Jane1

Filonis Ekiyor

Nelly Obiene 

Ekiyor Oyin Tokoni

Nathan Wilson

Inatimi Jubilee

Ebi David Ebi'

Andakuro John

Williams Obuza

Allen Wanaemi

Ms. Nancy Eferebo

Impaca Longjohn

Ms. Suoyo Inco

Owei Obed

Austin B. Jonah

Taribo Inatimi

Ms. Blessing Benjamin

Raphael Oruwort

Deborah Augustine

Nelly Obierie

Ekiyor Oyin Tokoni

Nathan Wilson

Owen James

Lucky Suobite

Ms. Biobarakuma Anthony

Easter Lawrence Pudei

Ms. Becky Nanyo

Theo Bara Moses

Telimoye Allen

Ms. Anita Inko

Steven Suobite

Steven Alfred Ojoko

Munasuonyu Victor

Ebitenye .Joshua

Ayiba Wilson

Ebimobowei Isac

Kemefah Ebi

Deintei Partricia 

Emi Allén 

Tombara Zipribo

Esere Toinpre

lleberi David

Priye Eisubo

Victor Doubara Ebi

Clariya Idubamo Suobo

Tonpribo T. Inko-Tariah

Pere Ebi

Dotimi Abel

Amaebi Charles

Braye Timi

Peremotei lleberi

Ebierimini Jacqueline lbomo

Alabo Inifie Jas-Spiff

Waikumo Sydney Appah

Ruby lwoyefa Nyananyo

Dr. Godwin Sidi

2027: Gov. Otti urges politicians planning to Rig Abia state election to write down their last Wills before then

Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has issued a stern warning to politicians allegedly plotting to manipulate the 2027 governorship election in the state, declaring that anyone attempting to rig should “write their wills” before doing so.

Otti made the remark on Thursday during the October edition of ‘Alex Otti Speaks to Abians’, held at the Government House, Umuahia.

The session, which was streamed live on Channels Television’s YouTube page, featured the governor responding to questions on political developments in the state.

The governor cautioned that the will of God and the people of Abia State would ultimately determine the outcome of the next election, not political scheming or manipulation.

“I have heard that some people around him say, ‘Oh, they must take over this state, they must write results.’ But the only advice I have for them is that if they truly want to write results, they should write something else before that time,” Otti said.

He added pointedly, “You know what it is? Their will.”

Otti’s comments were in response to a question about a recent statement credited to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who reportedly boasted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would take over Abia State in 2027.

The governor, who contested and won the 2023 election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), said he had no issue with anyone contesting for the seat but warned that any attempt to subvert the people’s will would meet stiff resistance.

“I don’t have a problem with anyone contesting. It’s democracy. But those who are plotting to rig should be ready to face the consequences,” Otti declared.

His warning comes amid early political manoeuvrings and alignments ahead of the 2027 governorship poll in Abia State.

Governor Otti, who ended over two decades of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) dominance in the state with his 2023 victory, reiterated that his administration remained focused on good governance and will not be distracted by premature political battles.

FG approves establishment of forest Guards of Nigeria, directs NSA to commence immediate recruitment of personnel

President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of forest guards to take charge of 1,129 forests to combat terrorists and bandits, directing the NSA to oversee full implementation, starting with the recruitment of the guards. 

This was made known on Wednesday by Sunday Dare, the special adviser to president Tinubu on media and public communication on his official X account.

The President directed that the forest guards be well-trained and armed to carry out their primary duty of flushing out terrorists and other criminals hiding in the forests for illegal activities. The recruitment is a collaborative security effort between the federal and state governments.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment have been tasked with overseeing and ensuring the full implementation of the initiative

“Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed as personnel of the newly established outfit.

President Tinubu had earlier warned terrorists that his administration “would not surrender an inch of the country’s territory to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs operating inside the forests.” 

He vowed that Nigeria “would take back its forests.

Group lauds Otuaro on Award of Scholarship to Niger Deltans, hails NSA Ribadu for Productive Monitoring of the Program

The Ijaw Youths Network has commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Dr Dennis Otuaro for his unflinching commitment to the development of the Niger Delta.

The youth group hailed the Amnesty for the recent award of over 3000 scholarships to students of Niger Delta extraction.

The IYN in a statement by its National Coordinator Frank Ebikabo and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, said that Otuaro has not departed from his avowed commitment to bridge the human capital development gap in the Niger Delta.

The group also commended the Amnesty boss for the recent deployment of 141 beneficiaries from impacted communities for targeted programmes in universities in the United Kingdom.

They urged the Amnesty boss to remain focused and dedicated  to the cause of the region and ignore all attempts by mischief makers to distract him.

According to the group, the deliberate steps being taken by Otuaro to spread educational opportunities in the communities of the Niger Delta remain one of the most effective ways of entrenching lasting peace and development in the region.

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor, said that the Niger Delta and indeed the entire country would feel the positive impacts of Otuaro’s visionary input to education in years to come.

The youth leaders also commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for his productive supervision of the Amnesty Office and contribution to entrenched peace in the Niger Delta.

The IYN called on youths of the Niger Delta to prioritize the interest of the region in making a political choice in 2027, even as they urged them to back Otuaro’s call to support the President Tinubu in the forthcoming election.

The group and recalled the efforts by the PAP boss in previous scholarship deployments and vocational training.

“We have noted with keen interest the recent deployment of huge number of Niger Delta indigenes for scholarship programmes within and outside the country.

“The record we have shows that about 3000 young people are benefiting from this unprecedented efforts of the PAP under  Otuaro’s leadership within the country and 161 in UK universities for the 2025/2026 academic year.

“We in the IYN commend the PAP boss for his laudable efforts. We know his antecedents and we are not surprised that he has made this level of unprecedented impact within a short  time.

“We urge him to remain focused on the job and ignore detractors spreading falsehood about the programme and its leaders.

“We call on our colleagues in the Niger Delta to give the requisite support to Otuaro and the Tinubu Administration which has given priority to issues affecting our people.”

POLITICAL DEFECTORS: WHEN BELLIES CROSS PARTY FENCES-The Stomach Infrastructure Circus-By: Ebikabowei Kedikumo

In the noisy market  of Nigerian politics,  

there is a  new festival --

 The Fence-jumping Carnival.

Every season, someone climbs over,  

landing softly into the open arms of the ruling party,  

like a greedy cat sneaking into the neighbour’s kitchen  

when it smells fresh banga soup on fire.  

They always say the same thing,

It is for the “development” of my people."

but if you look closely, you will see,

it's for the development of their own stomach 

If you peep under the big flowing agbada,

 you will find pockets full of personal dreams.

  

The defectors love sweet excuses 

They wave  flags and boast,  

“The sun is brighter in Abuja”  

But the sun does not move…  

it is the jumper who has moved his chair closer to the fire. 

Governor Douye Diri has simply moved his seat closer to the stew pot.

If the sun could talk, it would laugh and ask:  

“How much development did you see  

when your brothers were already cooking inside this APC kitchen?”

Did Bayelsa stop licking empty pots,

Is Bayelsa not still licking empty spoons?

Even with Timipre Sylver stirring the souo,  

and Lokpobiri adding the federal pepper and salt,  

was Bayelsa not still waiting for the crumbs from the pot? 

Was the Aso Rock pot not boiling far from the mouths of Bayelsans?

The truth?

The main dish on this defection menu  is not about roads, schools or bridges.  

It is the sweet aftertaste of power 

It is about soft chairs in Abuja after the governor’s seat grows cold --

They look at soft seats in Abuja,

Maybe a senate pillow for tired heads,

 or a Minister's chair with soft cushions,.

and cups of tea served under the shade of the big Abuja broom

Anything to keep the mouth busy after the feast in Bayelsa is over.  

Abuja is the golden shade

under which politicians hide when the rain beats their ambition.  

They call it “strategic alignment,"”,  

but the  aroma smells more like “self-preservation pepper soup..

Defection is now a virus. 

It is now a contagious fever,

It spreads faster than harmattan fire on dry grass.  

One governor coughs “APC”,  

another sneezes “PDP”,  

and yet another yawns ADC

And yet another craze a brand new party overnight.  

Soon every politician is infected by survival instinct,  

running to the ruling party like bees to sugar water.

No shame, no ideology, no beliefs ,

Only the sweet taste of survival

Like flies rushing to a plate of sugar 

Our politics is sick.

Our politics has caught a terrible stomach bug.  

It is political diarrhoea ,

leaders rushing from one party toilet to another,  

flushing away their old slogans ,

flushing away yesterday's promises,

and picking up new ones like fresh rolls of tissue paper .

Yesterday’s loud critics are today’s praise singers,  

blowing trumpets for the same people they once mocked and attacked,

while the people watch, holding their noses  

as the bad smell of political defections  fills the air. 

If defectors truly wanted to serve,  

If the detectors were really for the people,

roads would be built no matter their party colour.  

Water would flow even if their gowns were blue,  

Schools would blossom whether their caps were green.  

And hospitals will work even if the caps are made of broom.

Even if the umbrella is the party badge.

But no -- they do not jump for our good.

They jump for themselves.

And no matter how long they plant strategies like yam seeds,

If the land is cursed,

If the gods do not bless the ground,

the harvest will still be empty.

 

And so the game continues, 

Jumping from party to party like a restless child,  

whispering sweet nothings to whichever party holds the biggest plate of yam. 

This is not service to the people, 

This is politics of the belly.  

It is political prostitution dressed in fine agbada,  

smiling for the cameras,  

while the masses chew on dry garri.  

Let the people remember:  

The defectors are not chasing the sun for us.  

They are chasing their own shadows across the field .

And when night falls,

The shadow will disappear,

and the defectors will sit in the dark 

remembering the kitchen they abandoned.  

By then, the people will have moved on,  

looking for leaders who plant gardens,

And leaders who plant hope instead of climbing political fences for soup.

In the end, political defection is just a race to fill empty plates, 

Not the people’s plates, but the politician’s own bowl of soup.  

They cross fences for their stomach, not for our future,  

changing colours like chameleons whenever the heat changes 

Until leaders cook with honest hands,  

the masses will keep chewing promises instead of real food.

"When the defection pot is cooked with selfishness, the people will only taste the smell."

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State

08134853570

IYC Ultra Modern Secretariat Project, Lokpobiri Hails Tompolo on Timely Site Visit, Describes him as a Pillar and Unifier in Niger Delta

The President of Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC) Worldwide, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, has expressed immensed gratitude to the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, for taking time to visit the project site of the IYC Ultra Modern Secretariat Complex in Yenagoa in order to assess the level of work done so far.

The IYC President who expressed an overwhelming joy, seeing jubilant Ijaw youths coming out to welcome the Odokorikodo 1 of Niger Delta to the project site, narrated how the umbrella youth body of Ijaw nation has been without its own secretariat, a sad tale that has greatly hindered the progress of the organisation, saying he is glad for the fact that this historic visit will inspire the speedy completion of the project.

He said the leadership of IYC is particularly grateful to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, and High Chief Kestin Pondi, who saw their plight and commitment to have a secretariat of their own, and tookover the building of the IYC Modern Secretariat Complex, which has a lot of facilities, including a three storey administrative block, 2500 setter capacity conference hall, youth training center, a warehouse, car pack and others.

According to the IYC President, Tompolo, is a dependable pillar of support and a unifier, who is consistently giving back to Ijaw nation, utilising his hard earned resources to develop their land and foster peace and unity amongst the Ijaw people, noting that his all inclusive approach in treating Ijaw people and extending his benevolence to all zones of Ijaw nation, sets him apart as a remarkable leader.

He emphasised that one aspect of the struggle is the efforts to raise more leaders and youths with capacity, as well as strenthening Ijaw struggle platforms, stressing that in this regard, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, has consistently and satisfactorily delivered, making it easy for his leadership in the IYC to guide Ijaw youths on the path of intergrity and greatness.

Jonathan Lokpobiri noted that in every era, God sends a hero to defend and guide his people, citing historical figures like King Fredrick William Koko, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro and others, pointing out that Tompolo is the hero sent in this era, and called on all Ijaw youths to unite behind him and emulate his exceptional leadership style.

On his part, the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Kestin Pondi, stated that providing a modern secretariat complex for the IYC aligns with the company's corporate social responsibility, emphasizing Tantita's commitment to halting environmental pollution. 

He attributed the pollution of their environment, especially the delicate marine ecosystem, to illegal bunkering activities and certain multinational practices, urging Ijaw youths to stay away from such activities to live a purposeful life, and protecting their environment.

Governor Diri's Defection from PDP to APC is in Order, Ebolo Declares, Pledges Unalloyed Support to the Prosperity Government of Bayelsa State

A respected member of the State Advisory Committee on Community Development and Conflict Resolution to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Samuel Ebolo, has reaffirmed his total support and loyalty to the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, following the Governor’s decision to part ways with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and align with a new political platform.

According to Ebolo, the move is not only strategic but a well considered decision made in the best interest of Bayelsa State, aimed at sustaining the peace, stability, and development strides that the state has witnessed under the current administration.

It was a delight and a rare privilege to be part of the team that made frantic efforts toward ensuring peace, progress, and development in Bayelsa State. Hence, my resolve to join my principal, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, in his new political movement,” he stated.

Ebolo emphasized that the Douye Diri-led administration has demonstrated a high level of political maturity, developmental focus, and compassion-driven leadership that have continued to earn the admiration and trust of the people of Bayelsa State. He described Governor Diri as a leader of peace, inclusivity, and foresight, whose leadership style has transformed governance from mere rhetoric to tangible results in education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.

In his words, he said:

"For me, and indeed for every genuine supporter of this administration, His Excellency’s decision is made in the best interest of Bayelsa State and her people. His developmental and transformational leadership over the years speaks volumes of his dedication to building a prosperous and united Bayelsa,” Ebolo added.

He further noted that the Governor’s new political direction symbolizes a broader call for unity, progress, and a renewed vision for the state, stressing that Bayelsans from all walks of life should rally behind the Governor in this defining moment of political transition.

Ebolo called on the people of Bayelsa to continue to uphold peace, love, and unity, while trusting the Governor’s leadership to deliver on the mandate of sustainable development and inclusive governance.

Opinion: Education Beyond Certificates: When Paper Meets Purpose_By William Z. Bozimo

We have mistaken certificates for wisdom, and diplomas for destiny. In today’s world, a person’s worth is often weighed not by the depth of their mind, but by the design of their frame; a glossy parchment that proclaims competence without always proving it. Yet beneath the fanfare of graduation gowns and photo frames lies a truth too inconvenient for many to face.

Education has now drifted from enlightenment to embellishment. We now live in an age where knowledge is abundant but understanding is rare. The digital revolution has now opened countless doors to learning, such as online courses, AI tutors, and open libraries; yet many still chase paper over purpose. Degrees have become social currencies that are often acquired to impress rather than to make an impact.

This obsession with certificates has birthed a generation of credentialed illiterates, people fluent in theory but fearful of creation, comfortable with memorization but allergic to basic innovation. They know the textbook answers but not the questions that move the world forward. We have trained minds to pass examinations, but not to think, to conform, but not to create. True education does not end when the bell rings. 

It extends into how we treat others, solve problems, and adapt to life’s unpredictable curriculum. A farmer who learns to rotate crops well and a craftsman who restores broken things with patience are educators in their own right. Yet, society rarely applauds them because they do not hold certificates. Our eyes are trained to look upward toward titles, not talents. 

We have forgotten that the world’s greatest tutors were often students of experience: people who learned from failure, observation, and life itself. In the fourth industrial age, creativity, adaptability, and ethics have become the new credentials. While Artificial intelligence can compute, it cannot care. Machines can also summarize, but they cannot synthesize meaning.

Employers today seek minds that can connect dots, not just collect grades. The world needs thinkers who can blend compassion with competence, and who understand that knowledge divorced from ethics becomes arrogance. Similarly, any innovation without integrity often becomes destruction. It is not the degree that opens doors anymore, but the depth of one’s curiosity, the courage to learn anew, and the discipline to stay relevant.

The finest degree is not conferred by a university, but by the universe itself, through trials, failures, relationships, and reflection. Every conversation, every mistake, every sunrise is a lecture if we dare to learn from it.

So let us hang not only our certificates on the wall, but also our compassion in the heart, our curiosity in the mind, and our integrity in our daily deeds. For in the end, it is not the letters after our names that will define us, but the light within our lives.

William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

Tompolo's Ten Teetotaler Tentacles and Oborevwori's Delta State Security Trust Fund_By: Dr. Enewaridideke Ekanpou

His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori thought deeply and brought greats from different walks of life together in Asaba on 15 October 2025 to witness the parturition of the Delta State Security Trust Fund. High Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo took stock of Oborevwori's  conceptual creation and responsively graced the occasion of the gathering of the who's  who in Delta State  drawn chiefly from intellectuals, captains of industry, politicians and political appointees to security czars. It was a remarkable day in the history of Delta State  - a remarkable day that revealed much about the identical ideological wavelengths of Oborevwori and Ekpemupolo.

The world has not forgotten that for over a decade  High Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly chorused Tompolo, had been away from public spaces. Beyond being unjustifiably and viciously hunted by a brainwashed past government, his traditional mysticism which demands constant communication between him and Egbesu could be the reason for his decade-long  absence from public places. After a decade of absence from public spaces, Tompolo surprisingly put up  a maiden appearance  on 15 October 2025. He 'cameoed' in Asaba as the chief launcher of Delta State Security Trust Fund. Upon his surprising dramatic appearance, something indescribably earth-shaking but impressive happened.

A chunk from one of Tompolo's ten teetotaler tentacles  - precisely, the tenth tentacle -  created this earth-shaking but impressive drama.

Government and individuals always have  priorities in whatever they do. Priorities are markers of developmental visions held either by government or individuals. For focused government and individuals, security is the first priority because any environment devoid of security attracts headwinds of distraction and retrogression. Only a focused government and individuals see security as a priority held above any other considerations. That Oborevwori and Tompolo see security in Nigeria as a priority portrays them as visionary  men committed to strengthening  the nation's security architecture. This is the trigger and conceptualisation behind  Governor Oborevwori's creation named, Delta State Security Trust Fund, launched on 15 October 2025 at Asaba . It was what equally triggered  Tompolo's response to the Delta State Security Trust Fund with ten billion naira donation.

Sometimes, people who ideologically  share intersection points are encountered in the course of existence. Persons intertwined by identical philosophies and ideologies do hit it off immediately anytime they chance upon each other. For such people no headwind geographically assaults them from any angle. Ideologically intertwined or interlocked by their visions of development and security, it is a natural expectation they hit it off and build security and development partnerships on different fronts towards the betterment of society. It must be an alliance of growth, where developmental arms are interlocked to put smiles on the faces of the ordinary people. It is a distinctive case where resources are intentionally collapsed in the spirit of developmental collaboration. In Oborevwori and Tompolo the world has just found this ideologically intertwined collaboration during the launch of the Delta State Security Trust Fund. The governor's spectacularly brotherly reception of Tompolo at Asaba exemppifies this ideological intersection on security matters.

National Security does not start from up. It starts from the very  bottom. Community, local government and state security are the building blocks of national security. National security flounders like a torpedoed ship when a security headwind blows from the community , local government and State levels. Oborevwori's conceptualisation of Delta State  Security Trust Fund and Tompolo's pragmatic ten billion naira response to the trust fund are driven by a desire to address national security, which beautifully dovetails with Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. For Oborevwori and Tompolo it is a creation to strengthen and extend the Renewed Hope Agenda aligned with the MORE Agenda of  the Delta State Government.

Tompolo has ten teetotaler tentacles.

The ten billion naira donation originates from Tompolo's tenth teetotaler tentacles. Tompolo's ten tentacles are suited to different formations and plagues that torment humanity. For every societal plague Tompolo has the tentacle to tackle it just as Oborevwori has the antidote to every infrastructural enigma in Delta State. With Tompolo's ten teetotaler tentacles and Oborevwori's infrastructural magic wand or miracle, Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda has found a clearly situated space to pursue and realise the vision and ideals of the agenda  in Delta State and beyond without any headwinds  of malevolence and deflection.

Between Oborevwori and Tompolo a security collaboration has been formalised. The attestation to this is the Delta State Security Trust Fund created by Governor Oborevwori and Tompolo's deployment of his tenth tentacle to donate ten billion naira to the trust fund.The security coalition and alliance between Oborevwori and Tompolo is an  ideologically meaningful and focused venture bound to yield delicious fruits for the Renewed Hope and the MORE Agenda of President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori. With more pragmatic responses to the Delta State Security Trust Fund beyond the commendable responses it has elicited so far,  community, local government, state and federal development projects can be embarked on without interruption to the benefit of the people for whom the projects are meant. Specifically, development projects in Delta State enjoy an established culture of being executed without security-related interruptions because Oborevwori always gives   security a priority attention.

Tompolo and Oborevwori are proactive agents of community, local government, state and national security. This is embedded in the Delta State Security Trust Fund and the earth-shaking but impressive financial communication from Tompolo. Oborevwori and Tompolo's demonstration of commitment to  Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda in the designated area of security deserves endless applause. Only endless applause clears the road to more conceptual creations. Only patriots spare thoughts for national security built from the grass roots level. Oborevwori and Tompolo have demonstrated patriotism and belief in Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Delta State Security Trust Fund has come to stay for good like JP Clark's poeticised 'Abiku'. With Governor Oborevwori-powered Delta State Security Trust Fund and Tompolo's pragmatic ten billion naira response from his tenth teetotaler tentacle, the road of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the road of the MORE Agenda would be paved with gold of developmental vision realised without headwinds of distraction. Let us therefore applaud Governor Oborevwori and Tompolo for this ideological security alliance and inspire them to explore new areas that could benefit the ordinary Nigerians whose sufferings form the background and motivation that trigger developmental visions created from time to time by  every government voted into power.

Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State

The Man of the Moment: Tompolo, a Man of Due Process who Open Doors for others to Shine_Odidi Godday

Tompolo stole the Delta State Security Trust Fund event yesterday at the government house as he stepped in with his men.

After ten years, this was the first event Tompolo was physically present at as a personality.He came with his men,I mean men who are wealthy in cash and kind.

Chief Kestin Pondi spoke on his behalf, while he exchanged pleasantries with dignitaries but sat quietly to observe.

Tompolo wants others around him to expand,he did not come to the event to show off his speaking capacity.

He allowed Kestin Pondi to do everything while he watched the event carefully.

He carefully built those who would never betray trust at any level.He surrounded himself with generous people.

He built billionaires around him,good networkers and those who would outlive his legacy.

When the compere was talking about Tompolo, his citation was huge and he had made men.

He has every opportunity to be greedy but he chooses generosity, he has fixed men in power and multiple wealth among themselves.

Not everybody who has money knows how to give, some are gifted in giving. He empowered skills. Kestin Pondi is the image of Tompolo.

Tompolo knows his strength in public events, so Kestin Pondi gave an excellent speech on behalf of Tompolo.

Let us learn to build good people around us.

Just-ln: IPF Commends Tompolo's Generosity and Commitment to Security in Delta, Nigeria

The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has commended High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for his remarkable commitment to improving security in Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

In a press statement by its national president, Comrade Ozobo Austin, the IPF described Tompolo's gesture as a demonstration of his firm commitment to promoting peace, security, and progress in Delta State, Niger Delta as a region, and Nigeria at large.

The group's leadership lauded Tompolo's philanthropic efforts, which they say portrayed his dedication to the well-being and prosperity of the country.

Recall that Tompolo promised continued support for the Delta State Security Trust Fund after making a handsome donation at the event held at the government house, Asaba on Wednesday 15th October, 2025.

 

"The unprecedented donation and firm commitment to peace and security in the country by High Chief Tompolo are shining examples of his leadership and dedication to the development of Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

"We commend him for his vision and generosity, and we urge others to follow his footsteps in supporting initiatives that promote peace and security in Delta State and Niger Delta region.

"High Chief Tompolo's support will go a long way in enhancing security measures in Delta state and contributing meaningfully to the overall development of the country," the Ijaw Publishers stated.

In the King's Court, How a Person's True Nature is Revealed Through Their Behavior, lntentions and Not by Their Wealth or Status

A man came to the king's court seeking a job. He was asked about his qualifications. He replied, "I can tell you about anyone, human or animal, just by looking at their face."

The king was impressed and made him the in-charge of his special horse stable. After a few days, the king asked him about his favorite horse. He replied, "The horse is not of good breed."

The king was surprised and asked the horse's caretaker, who revealed that the horse's mother had died at birth, and it was raised by a cow.

The king asked the man how he knew the horse wasn't of good breed. He replied, "When the horse eats grass, it bends down like a cow, whereas a good breed horse picks up the grass and eats with its head held high."

The king was pleased with his observation skills and rewarded him with grains, ghee, chickens, and goats. He was then appointed to the queen's palace.

After some time, the king asked him about the queen. He replied, "She has the manners of a queen, but she is not born into a royal family."

The king's legs trembled, and he asked his mother-in-law, who revealed that they had adopted a child from another family since their own child had died at six months.

The king asked the man how he knew. He replied, "A person from a royal family has a certain way of treating others, which the queen lacks."

The king was pleased again and rewarded him. After some time, the king asked him about himself. He replied, "If my life is spared, I will tell." The king promised to spare his life, and he said, "You are neither the king's son nor do you have the manners of a king."

The king was furious but had promised to spare his life. He went to his mother, who revealed that he was actually the son of a shepherd and not their biological child.

The king asked the man how he knew. He replied, "When kings reward someone, they give jewels and riches. But you give goats, sheep, and food items, like a shepherd's son would."

The story concludes that a person's true nature is revealed through their behavior and intentions, not by their wealth or status.

Tompolo Pledges Support for Peace as he Donates ₦10B for Delta State Security Trust Fund, Says Security is the Cornerstone for Sustainable Development

Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, on Wednesday has donated Ten Billion naira (₦10B) to the Delta State Security Trust Fund, first public appearance after 15 years in the creek.

He was the Chief Launcher of the Delta State Security Trust Fund at a ceremony held at the Government House, Asaba.

The historic event, presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, drew top government officials, security Chiefs, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders from across Delta State.

He donated ten billion towards the Delta security trust fund as the Chief launcher. The donation was announced by the managing director of Tantita security company, High Chief Kestin Pondi, while the chairman of Tantita High Chief Government Ekpemupolo looks on with smile as the crowd went silent shortly after the huge donation announcement.

Tompolo’s appearance marked his first formal public engagement with the government in years, attracting significant attention from political observers and community leaders.

The Delta State Security Trust Fund, an initiative of the Oborevwori administration, seeks to mobilize resources to strengthen security infrastructure, enhance intelligence gathering, and improve coordination among security agencies across the state.

Speaking on behalf of Tompolo, Chief Kestin Pondi at the ceremony held at the Government House, described the initiative as a “strategic investment in peace, progress, and the protection of lives and property.”

He lauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the State Security Council for their visionary leadership in institutionalizing a public–private partnership framework to tackle emerging security challenges across the state.

“Security is the cornerstone of sustainable development. No community, no investor, and indeed no government can thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity,” Tompolo said.

He noted that the Fund represents more than a financial contribution, but a long-term commitment to making Delta safer, stronger, and more secure.

Tompolo, who has been actively involved in security operations in the Niger Delta region, emphasized that effective security requires both resources and collaboration among stakeholders. He therefore urged citizens, business leaders, and community groups to contribute sincerely to the Fund’s success.

“As citizens and stakeholders, it is our collective responsibility to support this fund with sincerity and commitment,” he stated.

Pledging his personal support, Tompolo said his contribution went beyond financial value, describing it as a pledge of continued partnership and active collaboration toward a peaceful and prosperous Delta State.

He expressed optimism that with unity of purpose, Delta could build a society “where people live without fear, where children can dream freely, and where development flourishes without hindrance.”

The event, attended by top government officials, security chiefs, traditional rulers, and business leaders, marked Tompolo’s first major public appearance in more than a decade, drawing wide attention from across the Niger Delta region.

“The Exodus of Healers: When the Caregivers Need Care”_By William Z. Bozimo

The silence at the departure gates at airports across Africa and Asia is now noticeable as one can almost hear the hush of heartbreak and uncertainty, with their white uniforms and other different colourful scrubs folded into suitcases, alongside other necessary certifications clutched like passports of deliverance. These people are not just tourists leaving, they are lifelines departing. When empathy becomes an export of what we fundamentally need such as our best teachers, brightest doctors, and kind-hearted nurses, it is no longer an alliance but an imbalance with courteous paperwork.

Is it wrong to seek better pay, safer work, or a brighter future? The simple answer is no. But the tragedy now lies in the system that forces healers to flee before they can reform. Doctors Nurses, midwives, carers, men and women whose hands once steadied the trembling pulse of a nation now wave goodbye to the wards they built with sweat and prayers. They board flights to London, Toronto, Riyadh, and Sydney, seeking dignity, stability, and safety. Yet every stride toward the jet bridge lies a paradox: the healers themselves are fleeing wounds they did not inflict as they bleed locally.

In the United Kingdom for example, continuous changes in immigration and visa rules have turned gratitude into uncertainty. Overseas caregivers who were once hailed as pandemic heroes now face regular shifting of goalposts and economic pressures that bruise their morale. Meanwhile, in countries like Nigeria, the Philippines, Ghana, and Kenya to name a few, are now faced with a shortage of staff in their various hospitals that echo with emptiness as Patients outnumber nurses and surgical lists grow dusty. 

Some pregnant women pass away due to a prolonged waiting time for their midwives who are now caring for someone else’s grandmother abroad. The statistics whisper a silent crisis as more than half a million healthcare professionals have migrated from developing nations in the past five years. But beyond the data lies a deeper ache, the loss of continuity, mentorship, and community care. The question is who heals the healers? The stethoscope that was once a symbol of compassion, now doubles as a passport. The future of healthcare must not be defined by migration, but by mutual restoration.

Many healthcare workers abroad do double shifts, caring for the elderly, the frail, and the forgotten, while their own families age without them. They soothe strangers’ pain but swallow their own loneliness between shifts. When policies change, pay lags, or homesickness hits, they must smile, because “they should be strong.” But we all know that strength is not the absence of tears as healers also bleed silently and professionally. The simple question now is who heals them? Who listens when the caregiver breaks? This is an explicit case of a tale within two systems and until we develop a structure that rewards empathy at home, we will continue to lose great potential in foreign soil.

While the government count remittances, families hope for blessings; but health care workers calculate endless hours that trade presence for provision. The Exodus of Healers asks us to look not at those leaving, but at what drives them to leave. This should challenge policymakers to create an enabling environment where care is not martyrdom.

But there is still hope, though faint but faithful. Perhaps one day, when nations learn that healing begins with how they treat their healers, then the white uniforms and multi coloured scrubs will not have to travel so far to find peace and fulfilment in their chosen careers.

✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

BIG BROTHER NAIJA: RAISING CHILDREN WHO EAT ROTTEN FRUIT_By: Ebi Kedikumo

My children, gather close and listen well

You know I have seen many seasons come and go.  

Rainy season, dry season, war season, harvest season, 

but now there is a strange season in our land.  

It is the season of the Big Brother  

Ten harvests have passed since it first came,  

and every year it comes like a market day  

where the sellers display not farm produce,  

but the nakedness of their bodies and the noise of their loquacious tongues.  

They call it “entertainment.”  

But my people,  

if a dance makes the ancestors turn their faces away,  

should that dance be done in the village square?  

When I was young,  

we learnt that the road to honour was long,  

and the load of success was carried with sweat and patience.  

But now, our sons believe  

that the road to riches is short and wide,  

paved with quarrels, shamelessness, and the opening of legs.  

Our daughters think  

that respect can be thrown away  

like the peel of an orange,  

as long as the world is watching.  

Ah! This is not the Nigeria we dreamt of. 

Look around you:  

our schools are like broken calabashes that hold no water.  

Our hospitals are places where the living go  

and the dead return.  

Our youths wander like goats that have lost the shepherd,  

but we pour millions into feeding this Big Brother house

Money that could mend the roof of a leaking classroom,  

money that could buy tools for a farmer’s hands,  

money that could fill the pot in a hungry home,

instead, it buys glamour for a show  

that teaches the young to prize wealth without work.  

Tell me, my people,  

will a tree grow straight if its young shoot is bent?  

What fruit will come from a farm  

where weeds are carefully watered every day?  

Big Brother Naija fills young minds  

with a hunger for quick fame,  

but fame that grows overnight is like yam without roots,

one wind will topple it.  

I am not saying let there be no laughter in the land.  

I am saying: let our laughter  

be like the palm wine after a day’s labour —  

sweet, earned, and shared with dignity.  

Let us put stories before the youth  

that sharpen their minds like the blacksmith’s blade,  

that remind them of the strength of their grandfathers,  

and the virtue of their grandmothers.  

Ten seasons we have danced to this noisy drum,  

but the song has brought no harvest.  

It has only brought dust into the nostrils of our children.  

Perhaps it is time to break the drumstick,  

to let silence fall long enough  

for us to remember who we are.  

For a nation is like a garden:  

plant okra, you will pluck okra;  

plant shame, you will harvest disgrace.  

The earth does not lie.

My people,  

the choice of seed is in our hands.  

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town Delta State

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