Plots to Derail Presidential Amnesty Programme Will Fail _ ljaw Group Vows

PRESS STATEMENT 

Sponsored Plots To Derail Presidential Amnesty Programme'll Fail- Ijaw Group 

The Ijaw Youth Network (IYN) has condemned recent attacks and blackmail by a so-called "Niger Delta Concerned Youths for Change" against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro.

The IYN in a statement signed by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, on Saturday, described the group's allegation of mismanagement of the programme against Otuaro as “baseless, malicious, and unfounded."

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor said the attacks and blackmail were part of a coordinated campaign to give the PAP Administrator a bad name and distract him from the remarkable work he is doing in the Niger Delta.

The group stressed that “all such wicked plots to derail the programme will fail like others before them.”

They stated that the serial attacks and blackmail smack of pure hatred for Otuaro because he had blocked all loopholes which the misguided attackers and blackmailers and their sponsors were using to siphon funds meant for execution of the programme's mandate.

“Every other week, a new ghost group springs up with similar accusations, a pattern designed to harass and discredit a man whose only offence is his diligence, transparency, and love for the Niger Delta. 

We as concerned stakeholders strongly condemn these attacks and blackmail and urge the discerning public to discountenance them," the statement read.

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor said that Otuaro had sanitized the PAP through deliberate reforms which had led to expansion of the programme's scholarship and vocational training schemes to create more opportunities for the former agitators and beneficiaries of the programme.

They said, "The Presidential Amnesty Programme under the leadership Dr Dennis Otuaro has focused on, and expanded youth empowerment, education, and skills acquisition, all geared towards human capacity development in the Niger Delta and fostering peace and stability in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“He has brought renewed energy, direction, and purpose to the initiative. The Presidential Amnesty Programme has become “a pride of the Federal Government and a reference point in post-conflict reintegration and rehabilitation management.”

The IYN also questioned the legitimacy of the accusers, describing the so-called "Niger Delta Concerned Youths for Change” as a fictitious organisation with shadowy characters like 'Comrade Lion Ogorry.” 

The group further alleged that the real target of the sustained devilish attacks and blackmail by the misguided elements is to blackmail the President Tinubu, who appointed him to reposition the PAP. 

The IYN called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant institutions to resist being used as tools in a smear campaign, and urged all Niger Deltans to rally behind the PAP Administrator.

“We say unequivocally: Leave Dr Dennis Otuaro alone. He is doing an excellent job. The people of the Niger Delta, including ex-agitators, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders are solidly behind him,” the statement concluded.

The Ijaw group also cautions that public officials from other ethnic nationalities are not blackmailed with such recurring intensity and urged the stakeholders to take steps to stop the ugly situation.

Warri gun trafficking trial: N'Delta group writes open letter to Tinubu, NSA, DSS, Police, international community over perceived coverup attempts, manipulation

An advocacy group under the auspices of Niger Delta Watchmen has written an open letter to the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Adviser, NSA, the Department of Security Services, Nigerians and the international community, expressing fears of possible coverup or moves to bury under carpet, the gun trafficking trial of COLLINS EDEMA, MAJOR MICA POLO AND OTHERS, where the Olu of Warri was accused of aiding and abating.

This was contained in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Kelvin Kevwe, and Workman J. Sylvester

Secretary, which was earlier published in some online media platforms on Sunday.

The group raised serious fears over growing concerns about the increasing collusion and corruption that were enabling criminal elements to thrive within our borders, emphasising that the situation is now critical, with arms smugglers, militia recruiters and political elites working together to destabilize the region, all under the protection of powerful figures within Nigeria's security agencies.

The open letter also copied, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Directorate of State Security (DSS), the Nigerian Police Force and the International Community.

The Niger Delta advocates further accused DSS officials for allegedly receiving bribes amounting to 5 million USD, noting that the bribes were allegedly exchanged between DSS officials, Lawyers and the chief judge overseeing the case to ensure the release of Major Mica Polo, a known arms dealer, without proper investigation and prosecution, adding that the bribes were allegedly facilitated by Remi Tinubu and Dazi Danjuma, both prominent Itsekiri elites, who had used their political influence to secure the release of arms dealers and militia trainers.

However, the Niger Delta Watchmen had demanded that the Federal Government, the NSA, and the Nigerian Police should take immediate action to investigate the criminal networks of Collins Edema, Fatty and Major Mica Polo and prosecute and proffer jails terms on them, citing that their actions were endangering the stability of the region and their corrupt influence must be eradicated.

Read the complete story:

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, NSA, DSS, NIGERIANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON PLOT TO BURY THE GUN TRAFFICKING TRIAL OF COLLINS EDEMA, MAJOR MICA POLO AND OTHERS             

                               Date: July 16, 2025

Sir,

THE DANGEROUS COLLUSION AND IMPUNITY IN ARMS SMUGGLING AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF COLLINS EDEMA, MAJOR MICA POLO, OTHERS 

We, the Niger Delta Watchmen, write with a heavy heart and growing concern about the increasing collusion and corruption that is enabling criminal elements to thrive within our borders. The situation is now critical, with arms smugglers, militia recruiters and political elites working together to destabilize the region, all under the protection of powerful figures within Nigeria's security agencies.

THE DANGEROUS COLLUSION WITHIN SECURITY AGENCIES

At the centre of this criminal network is Collins Edema, the Director of AIM for the Olu of Warri, who has allegedly been instrumental in orchestrating arms smuggling and the training of criminal militia. His associates, Fatty and Major Mica Polo, have been training Itsekiri youth in armed combat and military tactics, preparing them for militant insurgency and further destabilization in Warri and beyond.

THE DSS RAID IN EBUZO ASABA AND THE COVER-UP

It was alleged that, in a recent DSS raid on Ebuzo Asaba, Collins Edema’s boys were captured while attempting to smuggle arms. They were found in possession of 57 AK-47 rifles, 6 pump action guns and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition. During their detention, they confessed to the involvement of the Olu of Warri, Collins Edema, Major Mica Polo and Fatty in arms trafficking and militia training. It is crucial to note that when the DSS conducted this raid to capture the supplier of the illicit arms, a gun battle erupted between the DSS and the police, resulting in the tragic death of one policeman.

This is where the Delta State Commissioner of Police must be held accountable. Nigerians deserve to know the full story behind this incident and why it was hidden under the carpet. The Commissioner of Police must come forward and provide a transparent explanation to the Nigerian public. This was not just a simple clash between agencies, it was a cover-up of criminal activities, which must not be swept under the rug.

THE MILITARY INTERVENTION AND PRESSURE FROM POLITICAL ELITES

It has also come to light that after Collins Edema's boys were arrested during the DSS raid, a top military officer intervened and ordered their release through the Director of DSS. This release was directly influenced by Remi Tinubu and Dazi Danjuma, who used their political connections and power to pressure the military into freeing these individuals, despite their direct involvement in arms smuggling and militia training. The law is explicit, the crime of gun trafficking or smuggling is not a bailable offense in Nigeria Context. It is an act of terrorism and such offenders are expected to serve jail terms. This act of political interference highlights the extent to which criminal activities are being shielded by powerful figures within the country. 

THE ROLE OF POLITICAL ELITES AND THE BRIBERY NETWORK

It is also disturbing to reveal that Major Mica Polo, a notorious arms dealer, was released from custody after DSS officials allegedly received bribes amounting to 5 million USD, bribes was allegedly exchanged between DSS officials, Lawyers and the chief judge overseeing the case to ensure that Major Mica Polo, a known arms dealer, was released without proper investigation and prosecution. This bribe was reportedly facilitated by Remi Tinubu and Dazi Danjuma, both prominent Itsekiri elites, who have used their political influence to secure the release of arms dealers and militia trainers.

This transaction further implicates the DSS, which has been complicit in protecting these criminals, including The Olu of Warri, Collins Edema, Major Mica Polo and Fatty. It is also alleged that one DSS official, who oversees assigning agents to sensitive operations, was directly involved in enabling these illegal activities, all while his family resides abroad.

The ongoing protection of these criminals, under the guise of ethnic loyalty and political maneuvering, threatens to tear apart the fabric of our nation.

THE OLU OF WARRI'S COMPLICITY AND THE IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES

As Collins Edema’s operations continue to spread fear and violence in the Niger Delta, the Olu of Warri and his associates stand accused of not just shielding arms smugglers, but also of stoking ethnic division for personal gain. Fatty, who has been linked to the burning of Odion community over the delineation issue, is yet another example of how these individuals are using violence to suppress peaceful communities and hold onto power.

Major Mica Polo, known for training Itsekiri youth in armed violence and Collins Edema, who oversees the militia's arms supply, are fueling the unrest in the region, furthering their own political ambitions at the expense of innocent lives.

A SHAMEFUL ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT THE LAW: THE CASE OF AYIRI EMAMI’S BROTHER

It is shameful to witness how our country has descended into a corrupt quagmire. This same network of political elites is now attempting to use their power to secure the release of Ayiri Emami’s younger brother, who was caught with hard drugs and should be held accountable for his actions. The same pattern of bribery, political manipulation and abuse of power is playing out once again, with Remi Tinubu and Dazi Danjuma allegedly pushing for his release from custody using the same corrupt processes they used to free Major Mica Polo.

What is becoming clear is that in Nigeria today, the law means nothing when the powerful few manipulate it for their gain. This is the reality we face, a nation where crime is rewarded and those who uphold the law are crushed by the weight of political power.

A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF POWER

We are calling on the Federal Government to immediately call Remi Tinubu and Dazi Danjuma to order. These influential individuals must be held accountable for their actions and urged to use their political power responsibly and positively. They should not continue to use their influence to facilitate corruption, bribery or the undermining of the law. While the world is watching, it is crucial that Nigerian leaders demonstrate their commitment to good governance, justice and integrity, and refrain from perpetuating practices that harm the country's stability.

THE CALL FOR JUSTICE AND TRANSPARENCY

We, the Niger Delta Watchmen, demand that the Federal Government, the NSA, and the Nigerian Police take immediate action to investigate the criminal networks of Collins Edema, Fatty and Major Mica Polo. Their actions are endangering the stability of the region and their corrupt influence must be eradicated.

We also call for an independent investigation into the role of the DSS and the Delta State Commissioner of Police in these events, including the cover-up of the gunfire exchange and the bribery that facilitated the release of dangerous criminals.

Furthermore, we demand that the international community take a stand against the corruption and manipulation of power in Nigeria, which has allowed criminal elements to thrive unchecked. The rule of law must prevail and it must not be subverted by the political and economic elites who view the law as a tool for their own benefit.

We are not blind to the dangers these criminals pose. We are not powerless in the face of this corruption. And we will not remain silent while Nigeria is held hostage by bribery, political manipulation, and criminal activity.

Signed,

Kelvin Kevwe

(Chairman) 

Workman J. Sylvester

(Secretary)

Niger Delta Watchmen

CC

The Federal Government of Nigeria

The National Security Adviser (NSA)

The Directorate of State Security (DSS)

The Nigerian Police Force

The International Community

Opinion: Must We Heed Wole Soyinka or Dennis Otuaro on the Famished Paths in PAP? By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

Border tensions and misgovernance in post-independent African countries constantly provoke thoughts of transnational migration in this present generation as a single-minded survivalist move towards self-actualisation and social belonging. Similarly, vindictively twisted thoughts and perspectives muscularly marketed as a strategy to disfigure the Presidential Amnesty Programme always provoke and  compel one to embark on correctional journeys with a corresponding counter narrative.

Therefore in vain the authors of negative narratives  bark and journey everywhere because I am here for the third and repeated time to spit out a navigable course like dolphin.

Looking at the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) office and the Niger Delta struggle historiographically over the years,  thoughts of Ben Okri in THE FAMISHED ROAD invade the mind in varied outlines, bringing into radiance the commendable effortful engagements and sacrifices of certain Niger Delta freedom agitators who had  foresight in their 'NOSTRADAMIC' reflections on the Niger Delta Niger struggle. For Okri whose thoughts ignite other thoughts here, including the cautionary thoughts of Wole Soyinka, thanks would fly to him if they were winged like eagle, though thanks could still take a borderless route to him because written thoughts habitually travel many kilometres without barricades.

Understandably, many paths in the PAP wore a famished look when Chief Dr Dennis Otuaro took over as the boss in 2024; not only famished look did the paths wear, they were virtually 'kwashiorkord'. It became his duty to plough the famished paths to be fertilised after planting some crops so they could grow luxuriantly in a manner healthfully distinguished from their famished physique threatening productivity.

Famished the paths were, as met by Dr Otuaro in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, administrative reform and staff welfare disgustingly carried in the air the cologne of a taboo. Upgrading of office, reinforced security, payment of staff bonuses as an entitlement during periods of festivities in the year, timely granting and payment of leave bonuses, supportive enhancement of medical and academic health of staff, provision of office equipment and office renovation were ignored by past  administrators in PAP. Otuaro did not only activate these office essentials and staff entitlements in pragmatic terms, using his famed borderless policy of administration. Besides many reform-based steps in the PAP, 2,539 official documents were  provided by Otuaro without disgusting rigmarole and performative besottedness.

Towards a pragmatic pursuit of his borderless policy which has many strands in the PAP, Otuaro activated the process for provision of health and social welfare services programmes. Convinced that the practicability of his envisioned approaches depended on building of functional partnerships with various institutions,  he quickly built partnership with the Bayelsa State Medical University. The target of this partnership is to tackle head-on the challenges of the insufficiency of medical professionals in the Niger Delta. These strategic approaches to the Niger Delta challenges can only be adopted by a PAP Administrator in whose DNA one can locate transparency, inclusivity and pragmatic  developmental spirit geared towards effortless actualisation of paradigm shift in the PAP.

Otuaro is always at ease  in his administrative style as he is enabled by his academic exposure that borders create problems everywhere when not well managed on the symbolic plane. He avoids border exclusivity and aligns himself with border inclusivity because border inclusivity gives him the window to interact meaningfully with every component of the PAP  without division and isolation of some persons based on whimsical postulations built around human and material resources. His understanding of the changing meanings of borders and how these borders function differently under different environments has contributed immensely to the success of his administration right from the dawn without being embarrassingly thrown off balance by emerging challenges.

Professional, meticulous, dedicated, strategic, surgically accurate and productive like a celebrated surgeon, the famished paths in PAP have been fertilised and fed devotedly to a height equivalent to the peak of Mountain Everest. The possible ulcerous growth from the famished paths of the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been addressed with clinical accuracy, devoid of the likelihood of resurgence. It is only natural famished paths disappear when the human and material resources have been given a coating of  the needed enablement to function meaningfully in their varied spaces of occupation. It takes only Dr Otuaro, the administrative surgeon grounded in border studies to walk on this plane with ease, insensible to the meaningless missiles of confounded individuals plagued by the rampaging virus of schizophrenia. Could this be better cast as a predisposition to a reputational iconoclasm fully settled in their tainted geography and geometry of a 'single-storyed' existence?

In the perspective of  Dr Otuaro  and Niger Deltans in a country where perspectives matter, Wole Soyinka must no longer be listened to in his poetic exhortation in 'Death in the Dawn' when he says thus: ' The right foot for joy, the left, dread And the mother prayed, Child 

May you never walk

When the road waits , famished' because the once famished paths in the PAP are no longer famished. Nigerians, particularly Niger Deltans, can now walk without being guided by Soyinka's poetic caution and exhortation because the famished paths in the PAP have been strategically ploughed and fertilised by Dr Dennis Otuaro, the PAP boss.

The attestations to the viability and functionality  of Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro's borderless policy of administration in PAP are signposted by  his administrative reforms and staff welfare strides highlighted in the brief journey to his performance chronicles  identified here as a corresponding padlock on Soyinka's poetically parroted  caution that the child must refrain from walking when the road is famished. Contrarily, the child must now walk as many kilometres as possible because the hitherto famished paths have been ploughed, paved and fertilised by Chief Dr Dennis Otuaro.

Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State.

Just-ln: Former Nigerian President, Jonathan Gets New lnternational Appointment as UN Global Crisis Envoy

In a groundbreaking development, former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has been appointed as the United Nations Global Crisis Envoy — a prestigious international role that places him among the world’s top diplomatic figures. 🌐🤝

This historic appointment is backed by global powerhouses — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, and the United Nations, reflecting a broad and unified confidence in Jonathan’s diplomatic prowess and conflict-resolution expertise.

🔹 A Trailblazing Achievement! Dr. Jonathan becomes the first African Head of State to hold this high-profile global position, similar to the one formerly held by Tony Blair, the ex-Prime Minister of the UK, who served as the Middle East Envoy representing the UN, EU, US, and Russia.

His appointment is not just a personal victory but a continental milestone, reinforcing Africa’s growing influence on the world stage. 🌍🌟

🔹 His remarkable journey of leadership started from his humble beginnings as a university lecturer. Dr. Jonathan steadily rose through the ranks of:

➡️Commissioner

➡️ Deputy Governor

➡️ Governor

➡️ Vice President

➡️ Acting President

➡️ President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

➡️ And now, UN Global Crisis Envoy.

His steady ascent is a testament to resilience, visionary leadership, and international diplomacy. 🕊️🛡️

This latest global role affirms Dr. Jonathan’s unshakable status as a respected global statesman and peace ambassador. As the world faces mounting crises, his voice, experience, and wisdom will now echo on the highest diplomatic platforms worldwide. 🌐🗣️

Big congratulations to one of Nigeria's best president ever.

One Year, Big Impact: Otuaro’s Silent Revolution in the Niger Delta_By Julius Ogunro

It is barely over a year since Dennis Otauro, PhD, was appointed as the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Still, in that short time, his impact as the region’s strong voice, advocate, and the president’s outreach arm, bringing hope and development to the Niger Delta, has grown significantly.

When he was appointed in March 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, his designated beat was the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), which was established in 2009 to manage the disarmament, rehabilitation, and reintegration of frustrated Niger Delta activists, some of whom had taken up arms against the government to protest the region’ economic marginalization and the degradation of its environment by oil exploration.

From 2009 until March 2024, the amnesty programme was led by several administrators, who bore different titles and did their best to achieve its mandate of peace and security in the Niger Delta through the payment of stipends to ex-agitators and the provision of vocational and formal education opportunities to members of the communities impacted by the militancy.

Then enter Otuaro. His vision for the Programme is bold, transformative, and inclusive. Apart from the agitators who are on the government payroll, he has refocused the amnesty programme to capture the next generation of Niger Delta leaders, expanding its frontiers to cater to the interests of a range of stakeholders, especially women and young people.

His strategy centres around a broad range of initiatives designed by him and his team to foster enduring peace and prevent any resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region. One of these is the Programme’s intervention in expanding education opportunities, especially the scholarship scheme for undergraduates from the Niger Delta.  

Although Otuaro did not initiate the undergraduate scholarships scheme, which had existed for many years before his appointment, he has so reinvigorated it that the award, to use a metaphor, has been given a new lease of life.    

Before Otuaro, only a few hundred Niger Delta students managed to get the annual scholarships through a cumbersome process, as it was opaque and many had criticised it for being unfair and lacking integrity. Perhaps this was because the previous administrators did not consider education a top priority and viewed the scholarships as not central to their role at Amnesty.

But Otuaro’s vision is different. In his first year as administrator, the undergraduate scholarship scheme has increased from a few hundred students to over 3000. Even more, the award process is now more open and inclusive, starting with a media announcement for interested Niger Delta youth to apply, with assurance that merit will play a significant role in the process.

And merit did play a role in the grant of the scholarships for the current session. Many prospective students applied, did the aptitude tests, and were awarded the multi-year scholarship, which covers tuition, accommodation, and living expenses, with little or no influence from the amnesty office, a far cry from what used to happen in the past, when there were complaints that money had exchanged hands.

In addition, the overseas postgraduate scholarship, suspended by the previous administrators, has been reinstated and broadened. For this current academic session, about 70 Niger Delta postgraduate students were awarded foreign scholarships to universities in the US, Canada, Britain, and other overseas countries. Otuaro made sure that the awardees are pursuing courses that are development-focused and relevant to the material needs of the Niger Delta people.

Otuaro’s footprints are also visible in vocational training. With 98 delegates deployed for maritime-related skills training, including refresher courses at Joemarine Institute for Officer of the Watch (OOW) certification; 40 Niger Delta youth trained as aircraft maintenance engineers; another 39 deployed for on-the-job training at organisations like Seven Star Global Hangar and Aero Contractors; and four cadet pilots sent to South Africa for type-rating training, with successful graduation and return to Nigeria.

The focus on human development and young people appears to be a genius move by the administrator of the amnesty programme, and a strategy to stop future militancy before it even happens. In the mid-1990s and early 2000s, the Niger Delta boiled as several groups took up arms against the government and oil companies to protest the neglect of the region, which is the goose that lays Nigeria’s golden egg, as nearly all the oil exploration and production take place there.

Pipelines were destroyed, workers kidnapped, and oil production was significantly disrupted, leading to huge economic losses for Nigeria and the oil companies operating in the region. The militancy also led to a humanitarian crisis, with many communities suffering from the effects of oil spills, environmental degradation, and violence. The dire situation drew global attention and concern, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of the conflict and promoting sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta region.

The federal government’s response was the amnesty programme in June 2009. Over three years, up to 2012, three phases of the programme were declared to reintegrate thousands of armed militants and pacify the region. It has been over a decade and a half since the first phase of the amnesty scheme began, and many of the beneficiaries are thus getting old and have probably lost the appetite for armed struggle.

Yet the conditions that gave rise to the uprising still exist, despite the government’s efforts over the years. The fear is that those challenges may breed the next generation of militants, angry over the prevalence of poverty and underdevelopment of the Niger Delta.

That is why Otuaro’s strong intervention in human development in the Niger Delta, through various initiatives in formal and non-formal education, is brilliant and commendable. That he has implemented the schemes openly and transparently, thus giving the son of a fisherman and the daughter of a boat-maker in the creeks a chance to make something of themselves, is nothing short of transformative, providing hope and opportunities to the overlooked voices.

And he has done all this while not neglecting the original agitators on the government payroll, ensuring they are paid promptly, resolving challenges related to payment delays, offering suitable training to wean them off government handouts, and advocating for qualified beneficiaries' placement in jobs in the public service.

Otuaro’s impact in just one year is visible and enduring. An asset to the current administration, he is proof that government in its purest form is not merely an idea or an institution on paper but a living presence, something that can be seen, heard, and felt in the everyday lives of the people.

Tinubu pays glowing tribute to late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describes him as humane without sentiment

FULL TEXT OF

 PRESIDENT BOLA

TINUBU'S TRIBUTES TO LATE FORMER PRESIDENT BUHARI DURING A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL HELD IN STATE HOUSE

Today, we gather under a heavy shadow, drawn from the silence that surrounds a departed leader and the immense weight of a life whose absence will be felt for generations. We meet to honour a man whose presence once commanded this very room, whose voice once summoned the best in us, and whose convictions never bowed, even to the strongest winds of public opinion. President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, former Head of State and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has gone to rest.

 

He was first among soldiers in war, first among citizens in peace, and first, without ambition or flattery, in the hearts of his fellow citizens. Yet it was in the quiet and unadorned settings of his private life that his true greatness was revealed: pious without show, just without cruelty, humane without sentimentality, temperate without coldness, and sincere without guile.

 

Steady in posture and spirit, dignified in bearing, and commanding by his very presence, his example guided all who encountered him. Still, it endures.

 

To his peers, he was respectful and without pretence. To those who served under him, he was kind without condescension. And, to those whom he loved most intimately, he was unfailingly tender, loyal, and good. His life was a rebuke to vice and a refuge for virtue. The purity of his private character gave radiance to the discipline and integrity of his public service.

 

Even in death, he maintained the serenity that defined him in life: not a sigh, not a groan, just a quiet submission to the will of God. Such was the man Nigeria has lost. Such was the man for whom our nation now mourns.

 

President Buhari’s life was one of austere honour. He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right, rather than what is popular. His was a quiet courage, a righteousness that never announced itself. His patriotism was lived more in action than in words.

 

His life traced the arc of Nigeria’s journey. Born before independence, he became a young soldier in the struggle to keep our nation whole. In war and in peace, he served with vigilance and determination, as if the task of watching over Nigeria had been assigned to him alone. From the battlefield to the corridors of power, he remained faithful to the task. He governed the North-Eastern State and stood as Head of State.

 

Years later, he returned to chair the Petroleum Trust Fund, which he administered with Spartan rigour and complete fidelity to the public good.

 

Yet, with all that he had achieved, his most enduring legacy would be carved in democracy. In a time when many had lost hope that change was possible, Muhammadu Buhari put his faith in the people of this country.

 

We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, regions and tongues, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another. When he was sworn in as our party’s first elected President, he led with restraint, governed with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint.

 

Those who knew him most intimately understood that the authority of that exalted office never changed him. In the face of pressure, he remained calm. In the face of crisis, he remained resolute. In the face of triumph, he remained modest. Most remarkably, he retained his jovial spirit.

 

When his tenure ended, he returned to Daura; not to command from the shadows or to hold court, but to live as he always had, never seeking to impose his will but content to let others carry the nation forward.

 

President Buhari was not a perfect man – no leader is – but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man, an honourable man. His record will be debated, as all legacies are, but the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, the incorruptible standard he represented, will not be forgotten. His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria, and in fidelity to God.

 

Now, he rests. And we who remain must carry the memory of his life as a standard to guide us. Let us honour him not only with words, but with humility in power, discipline in service, compassion in governance, and fearlessness in the pursuit of justice.

 

On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, a grateful nation bid farewell to one of her most illustrious sons. It was a profound honour for me, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, to lead his funeral procession to Daura and witness his burial in the dignified manner befitting a great and noble leader.

 

I thank the Inter-Ministerial Committee, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Governor Dikko Radda, for organising a befitting State Funeral within 48 hours.

 

In this period of national mourning, I once again extend my heartfelt condolences to Hajia Aisha Buhari, her children, the entire Buhari family, the government and people of Katsina State, and all who knew and loved him. Our gratitude will remain with President Buhari's family members who provided him with the comfort and strength to serve our nation in various capacities throughout his over 50 years of public service. We honour his service, reflect on his legacy, and pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.

 

Mai Gaskiya, The People’s general, the Farmer President – your duty is done.

 

May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May his life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction, and selflessness.

 

President Buhari, thank you. Nigeria will remember you.

Life Challenge: ljaw Oil Ladies NPA Warri laments over hardship, appeals to Tompolo, Pondi, Tonlagha, Tantita Security Services for help

Francis Tayor 

A group of ljaw women under the aegis of Oil Ladies Warehouse Waterside, Bulou-ama NPA, Warri South LGA, Delta State, has made a passionate appeal to the management of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited for help over life challenges due to termination of illegal oil bunkering in the creeks of Niger Delta by the federal government of Nigeria.

The group numbering over three hundred women who where unto illegal oil bunkering business as their only means of survival led by madam Peres Leader, made the appeal on Wednesday at NPA Warri, stated that life has become miserable and unbearable for them to live having their illegal oil bunkering camps being destroyed by federal government in collaboration with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited over the past three years.

The women appealed to the management of the anti-oil theft company Chaired by the foremost ljaw leader, High. Chief.(Dr.) Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, Sir. Matthew Tonlagha, Vice Chairman, High. Chief Engr. Kestin Pondi, MD Tantita and Chief. Godfrey Tare Pondi, GM Operations Tantita to empower them with little financial support to start trading business in order to feed their families.

The women alleged that the management of Tantita Security Services promised to empower them as soon as possible when they stopped the cooking and burning (kpofire) illegal oil business since 2022 but they have not been empowered neither carried along, thereby leaving them behind to tangle in untold hardship.

The women sharing tears on their kneels begging High Chief. Government Ekpemupolo, Engr. Kestin Pondi and Sir. Matthew Tonlagha to have a human face and address their predicament, saying they have no other choice than to come out in their numbers to make this public appeal because of lack of access to the management, madam Peres Leader asserted.

Proposed Toru-Ebe State: Late E.K.Clark Community, Kiagbodo Decry non Recognition as LGA Headquarters, Makes A Plea to Tinubu, Diri, NAS, INC, Others

Kiagbodo Community, as the headquarters of Ngbilebiri-Mein Kingdom and the hometown of the late Chief Edwin Clark, a stalwart champion of Ijaw rights, strongly expresses disappointment that it was not included as a proposed Local Government Headquarters in the recent map. Given its historical significance, strategic location, and existing infrastructure, Kiagbodo is well-suited to host a Local Government Headquarters in the proposed Toru-Ebe State for Western Ijaws. 

As a traditional seat of the Ngbilebiri-Mein people and one of the most ancient Mein communities, Kiagbodo already boasts government presence and a well-planned layout. 

Excluding Kiagbodo from consideration would be a disservice to the legacy of Chief Edwin Clark, who dedicated his life to advancing the interests of his people. We respectfully urge the authorities to revisit the proposal and allocate a Local Government Headquarters to Kiagbodo, in recognition of its rightful place and the contributions of its illustrious son.

Cc

INC

Gov Douye Diri 

Hon Julius Pondi

Sen Joel Onovwakpor 

High Chief Government Ekpemupolo 

Sen Henry Seriake Dickson 

Sen J.E Manager 

All National Assembly Members from Western Ijaw.

Here are the Proposed Twenty Four Toru-Ebe State LGAs, State Capital and Size of Landmark 

 *TORU-EBE STATE* .

 *AREA: 11,700km²* 

 *STATE CAPITAL* : *BURUTU* 

 *NUMBER OF LGAs 24* .

1. AROGBO CENTRAL

LGA HEADQUARTERS 

AROGBO 

2.UKPARAMO LGA

HEADQUARTERS UKPARAMO

3.AJAPA EAST

HEADQUARTERS AJAPA

4. APOI EAST

HEADQUARTERS 

IGBEKEBO

5.APOI WEST

HEADQUARTERS

KIRIBO

6.EGBEMA LGA

HEADQUARTERS

AJAKURAMA

7.OFUNAMA/OPUAMA LGA

HEADQUARTERS

OFUNAMA

8.OLODIAMA LGA

HEADQUARTERS

IKORO

9.FURUPAGHA LGA

HEADQUARTERS

ZIDE

10.OGBUDUGBUDU LGA

HEADQUARTERS OGBUDUGBUDU.

11.OGULAGHA LGA

HEADQUARTERS

OGULAGHA

12.ESUKU L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS

TUOMO

13.KUMBOKIRI LGA

HEADQUARTERS AGOLOMA

14.PATANI LGA

HEADQUARTERS

PATANI

15.BOMADI LGA

HEADQUARTERS 

BOMADI

16.AYAKOROMO LGA

HEADQUARTERS

AYAKOROMO

17.IDUWINI L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS

ODIMODI

18.SEIMBIRI/MEIN LGA

HEADQUARTERS

OKPOKUNU

19.NDORO L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS  NDORO

20.OGBE-IJOH L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS

OGBE-IJOH

21.ISABA L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS ISABA CENTRAL

22.GBARAMATU EAST L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS OKERENKOKO

23.GBARAMATU WEST L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS

OPOROZA

24.OKOMU L.G.A

HEADQUARTERS

OKOMU CENTRAL.

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Contact No: 07066879446_08126405200

Thanks for your patronage over the years.

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PAP: Otuaro declares open 3-day strategic leadership training for ex-agitators in Abuja, urges N'Delta stakeholders to support Press. Tinubu in 2027

Francis Tayor

Abuja _____ The Administrator, of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has urged stakeholders of the Niger Delta to maintain the prevailing peace in the region and remain resolute in their support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro spoke at a three-day strategic training on leadership, alternative dispute resolution and mediation organised by the Presidential Amnesty Programme in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre for some stakeholders of the PAP on Wednesday in Abuja.

Otuaro stressed the need for the people of the Niger Delta to consolidate on the region's peace process and stability so that socio-economic growth and development could thrive in the communities as encapsulated in the president's Renewed Hope Agenda.

He assured the people of the Niger Delta that Tinubu would not fail in his firm commitment and dedication to the peace, stability, and development of the region and indeed Nigeria.

He stressed that by his actions, after his election as President, Tinubu has shown that he is one leader who cannot deceive the people of the Niger Delta for political gains. 

Otuaro said the strategic capacity building initiative underscored his unwavering resolve to broaden stakeholders' participation in PAP activities, and complement Tinubu's strong determination to impact communities in the Niger Delta.

He noted that the PAP, in the past one year under his leadership, has made remarkable impact on the region's people by the expansion of the scholarship scheme, vocational training opportunities for former agitators and beneficiaries, and deepening of inclusivity in the implementation of the PAP's mandate.

The PAP boss, who declared the training open, told the participants that the essence of the exercise was to equip them to play more critical roles in the region's peace process.

He said, "Let me inform us that the objectives of this initiative, in the main, highlight the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and his administration's strong commitment and dedication to sustainable peace, security, stability, socio-economic growth and development of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

"I am most grateful to President Tinubu for his massive support to the PAP, particularly his gracious approval of my recent proposal to set up a Rehabilitation Unit in the programme, a vital component which was not in place before now. This will help cater to related aspects of the programme's mandate.

"I urge all stakeholders and the people of the Niger Delta to continue to support President Tinubu and work resolutely with his administration to do more for the region, even in the coming years. He will not fail the region, I assure you."

Otuaro also extended his profound appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, "for his encouragement and flawless supervision of the programme, which have led to the success stories recorded by the programme under my leadership."

He encouraged the participants to participate and engage actively in the strategic training, and take valuable lessons away that would "guide your conduct and approach to resolving issues and disputes that may arise around you or within your spheres of influence in the interest of the Niger Delta and the country."

 "Therefore, this strategic workshop is a platform designed to sharpen your leadership skills and deepen your understanding of the essence of conflict resolution and mediation, to bring about peace and development in our communities and region in the implementation of the PAP's mandate," Otuaro added.

Signed: 

Mr Igoniko Oduma 

Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme.

16/07/2025

Alabo Nengi James commends Tantita, PINL for adequate protection of Nigeria's oil pipeline installations, warns against division in N'Delta

....says Tantita Security Services, PINL, others are doing well to protect National assets

Francis Tayor 

Second Vice President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Alabo Nengi James has called on stakeholders from the Niger Delta region not to allow the struggle for a portion of the Federal Government crude Oil Pipeline Surveillance contracts to divide them and throw them into bloody confrontation with one another.

Alabo Nengi James, who is a prestigious national honor holder, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), noted that despite the gains and losses recorded in the region in the last few months, the people of the region should imbibe the team spirit of Harold Dappa Biriye, Adaka Boro, and Edwin Clark, who contributed unforgettable roles, of which the Niger Delta is being recognized and benefiting gradually from national and global settings. 

Alabo Nengi James, who made this known in Port Harcourt,Rivers State during the 25th Anniversary of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urged the contending interests in the oil pipeline surveillance contracts to adopt negotiations and dialogue instead of resorting to violence.

According to him, "Frankly speaking, let us not allow ourselves to be divided because of surveillance contracts and other issues that can be resolved through dialogue and negotiations."

"We must know that a people divided against themselves cannot stand united; therefore, it is time to come together to quest for regional rights and opportunities in the Nigerian state."

Nengi James also pointed out that this noticeable divisions among stakeholders have thrown up some persons involved in the alleged sponsorship of violence among surveillance contractors, "It is also revealed that some individuals are being sponsored to cause division and crises as a strategy to seek the termination of the surveillance contracts for conventional security outfits"

"God forbid. I need to put the record straight that many individuals and security agencies are not happy that Tantita Security Services, PINL, and others, are excellently doing well to increase the production of the country's oil revenue."

"In fact, they are disgruntled that the expert job being done has taken away their benefits.It should be recalled that the Federal Government introduced many operational outfits with "code names" like Operation Kakuri, Operation Pulo Shield, Operation Restore Hope, and Operation Delta Safe."

" Yet, the aim of safeguarding and protecting the nation's critical assets, including oil facilities and illegal bunkering activities, was not successful until Tantita Security Services and other surveillance expert companies came onboard."

"Nigeria crude oil outputs have increased from 700,000 barrels to 1.8 million barrels as of January 2025. And indeed, the oil revenue has improved and skyrocketed."

"The Niger Delta is a blessing to Nigeria for being the hub of the black gold and gas that feeds the Nation and sustains the Economy. We must understand that the region is facing socio-economic and environmental degradation challenges because the oil found in the Region ought to be a blessing but the reverse is the case"

" May God touch our rulers and the political actors to do the needful and revamp the Economy for better life.... and Niger Deltans' lives matter."

BUHARI: A SOLDIER’S DISCIPLINE, A NATION’S CONSCIENCE_By William Z. Bozimo

In a time when power too often came with plunder, Muhammadu Buhari stood out as an outlier. A soldier who became president, yet remained defined not by acquisition, but by restraint. 

Let us be honest. His presidency was not without its shadows. Some challenges such as economic strain, insecurity, and ethnic unease persisted; but there was something in Buhari that resisted Nigeria’s most common disease which is  “Greed”. That alone in today’s Nigeria is no small legacy.

In other words, I will describe him as a disciplinarian and as someone who stood tall as an incorruptible leader as much as he could. In death, as in life, his legacy reminds us that it is still possible to walk the corridors of power with clean hands. 

As a journalist who interviewed the likes of Yakubu Gowon and Shehu Shagari, I saw firsthand how power reveals the soul of a man. Buhari was not flashy. He did not court popularity. He preferred silence to spectacle, solitude to swagger. To some, that silence was a flaw. To others, a virtue. But to the vast majority, it was authentic.

Buhari was never quite a democrat by instinct but when democracy spoke in 2023, he listened and walked away quietly. No drama. No desperation. Just a General, returning to his village with his head held high. History will remember him as the man who ruled twice: first by decree, then later by vote; yet he kept his appetite lean and his fingers clean.

Today, Nigeria bows to this great loss, not because Muhammadu Buhari was flawless but because he tried to stay clean in a dirty time. As he is laid to rest in Daura, may we not forget the lesson he leaves behind. “Integrity is not weakness and Discipline is not dictatorship but Leadership at its highest, is sacrifice”. Farewell, General. Nigeria saw you and History will not forget you.

✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

Wards Delineation In Warri: IYC Warns OPC, Want Urgent Implementation Of INEC Field Report

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide Press Statement.

July 16, 2025

Wards Delineation In Warri: IYC Warns OPC, Want Urgent Implementation Of INEC Field Report 

The attention of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has been drawn to a certain provocative, reckless, and senseless statement credited to one of the supposed revered Yoruba sociocultural organisation under the auspices of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), wherein it dared to urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse the Wards Delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State via a publication authored by Yinka Oguntimehin, Publicity Secretary of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) recently on national dailies. This audacious statement has ignited a tempest of concern within our organisation, compelling us to respond with utmost urgency and clarity.

Ordinarily, it is not in our interest to respond to every Tom, Dick, and Harry, but because this is coming from a supposed respected organisation in Yoruba land, it is crucial that the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide respond to put the misleading and false information peddled by the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in proper perspective. We are dismayed that the OPC, once a beacon of credibility and enviable status in Yoruba land, has descended to this lamentable level of speaking without an informed position and sadistically displaying crass ignorance on the issue astake, a development that is both distressing and perturbing.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is merely carrying out a Supreme Court judgment, a sacrosanct directive that brooks no interference or manipulation. It is not a tool to be directed by the Oodua Peoples Congress on when and how to reverse or carry out an already concluded Ward Delineation exercise in Warri. The OPC must know its limits and boundaries in Nigeria, respecting the Niger Delta and Ijaw areas, where they have no business to meddle.

The Oodua Peoples Congress must understand that the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide will not continue to take such careless and provocative remarks from the OPC going forward. We will not be swayed by empty rhetoric or veiled threats, and we will steadfastly defend our rights and interests.

It is essential to reiterate that the INEC field report was conducted with the full participation of all Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri representatives in the Warri Federal Constituency, a process characterised by fairness, transparency, and credibility. The outcome of this exercise is a testament to the efficacy of inclusive and participatory governance.

Warri and indeed the entire Delta State are peaceful, with no tension regarding the outcome of the delineation. The Federal Government's efforts in apprehending those who attempted to smuggle guns into our state to cause trouble have been commendable. We call on the Federal Government to pursue the gun smuggling matter to its logical conclusion, ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.

We make it clear that whatever the Itsekiris were enjoying in Warri Federal Constituency prior to the Supreme Court judgment is nothing but fraud and non-existent now. The Ijaws will never accept going back to the old exploitative and manipulative arrangement, which was characterised by injustice and inequity. We must respect the independence of INEC and the rule of law in this country, upholding the principles of fairness and justice.

Nigeria is not a banana republic, where the rule of law is trampled upon with impunity. Counter-publications from the Itsekiris and OPC, threatening fire and brimstone, will not hold water in this case, as their reactions lack substance and truth. We will not be intimidated by such tactics, and we will continue to advocate for justice and fairness.

The Niger Delta region is not under the jurisdiction of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) or the Yoruba people. The IYC wonders at the audacity, impunity, and temerity with which the OPC is speaking regarding Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State. No amount of connivance will be allowed to suppress justice and the independence of INEC.

There is no single community in the INEC field report on the Warri Federal Constituency wards delineation exercise within the Ijaw territories that does not belong to the Ijaws in Warri South West, Warri South, and Warri North. This is a fact that is evident to all, and we will not allow it to be distorted or manipulated.

While the Ijaws have never interfered with the excellent work INEC is doing, it is our call that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must not delay any further in implementing the drafted field report. We urge INEC to uphold its independence and impartiality, ensuring that justice is served and the rights of all parties are respected.

Signed:

Amb (Dr) Binebai Yerin Princewill

Spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council

How many of you know former Nigeria President has a second wife, congratulations to Mrs. Jonathan Ayima Lott on your PhD Degree

A lot of Nigerians don't know that Ex President goodluck Jonathan has a second wife....even in these pictures..she cant even look at her husband in the face..it shows how respectful and submissive she is... This is a second wife that has sense! 

As a second wife,you are not meant to be competing with the first wife on social media, taking you as second wife doesn't mean the husband don't love the first wife...Most times men who take second wife just want to help, build and support the woman. 

A wise second wife stay lowkey and enjoy her husband...the most important thing is the happiness u found in ur man..u owe no one explanation or socialmedia flaunting ..enjoy ur man codedly...support him, make him happy and he will stand by u. 

Congratulations to a beautiful Wife Of Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ayima Lott-Jonathan as she Bags PhD Degree In Education.

Tompolo Bags Living Legend Award at Congress Newspaper/TV 4th Anniversary

Foremost National Leader of Niger Delta region, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo has bagged the Living Legend Award at the just concluded Congress Newspaper/TV 4th anniversary celebration at Warri Delta State.

Tompolo who is the chairman of the Tantita Security services Nigeria limited was nominated and massively voted for in an online poll initiated by the media company.

Reading the citation during the award ceremony which took place at TM hotel airport road in Warri Delta State last Thursday, Congress Newspaper management described Tompolo as a rare gem and uncommon breed of the human race.

Enumerating Tompolo's many contributions in Niger Delta, the management said the Tompolo's Living Legend Award is well deserved, adding that the honour was meant to celebrate his achievements and selfless sacrifices for humanity.

Participant who commended Tompolo said the Living Legend award was a demonstration of his exceptional leadership and commitment to national development, noting that Tompolo, not only curbing oil theft but also promoting stability in the Niger Delta region.

According to the participants the Tompolo's Living Legend award at the Congress Newspaper/TV 4th Anniversary was a shining example of his outstanding contributions to Nigeria's economic landscape, ability to unite diverse communities and foster trust, emphasising that  they were delighted for the recognition and achievements.