History’s Unforgiven Lesson: Why the Presidency Slipped the East Again_By William Z. Bozimo.

History is a merciless tutor. It repeats its class notes with the patience of the eternal, but some Nigerian students, particularly her Eastern sons refuse to learn. So the white chalk scribbles of yesterday still stand; a cruel reminder of the opportunities embraced by others, but often squandered at home. There are moments in political history when silence thunders louder than speeches, and when gestures of humility and solidarity become more decisive than votes. The 2023 party primaries offered one of such moments.

Recall that in 1966, the giants of the land then stepped aside, but instead of harmony, obvious suspicion was born. Sir Ahmadu Bello’s blood spilt, and with it, the fragile thread of trust. The North would remember, the South would resent, and the East would never be forgiven, both by their foes and themselves. Therein lies the “unforgiven lesson.” Politics is a craft of both timing and concession, so to refuse to yield a step is often to forfeit the mile. The lesson then is not just political but existential because unity is not a luxury but an engine of survival. Nations are built, not proclaimed. Power is negotiated, not decreed.

Fast forward to democracy’s new dawn, power rotated, voices clamoured, and again the East stood at the crossroads. Brothers quarrelled over shadows, spitting venom at one another while the prize was carried away by those who knew the discipline of alliance. In the APC for example, titans like Godswill Akpabio folded his ambitions into the grand design of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Also in the PDP, Senator Aminu Tambuwal stepped aside for Atiku Abubakar, shifting the tide with a single, selfless act. These were not acts of weakness but of analysis, maturity, and the understanding that power is never won by multiplication of ambitions, but by their consolidation.

But when it came to the Igbo aspirants, history repeated its most haunting chorus. Each clung to his claim, unwilling to bend, unyielding to persuasion. Brothers, instead of harmonizing their voices into a chorus, sang in competing keys. The result was a familiar tragedy: once again, the door to the presidency slipped past their fingers. It is one thing to be wronged by history; but it is another, more tragic, to wound oneself with familiar errors. When the Igbo man shoots himself in the foot, he reloads the rifle and then blames the world for his wounded limp. The presidency slipped the East again not by fate alone, but by pride’s iron hand. 

Unity was asked of them, but instead they gave in to quarrels. Sacrifice was required of them, but they insisted on entitlement. Thus, destiny slipped through like sand in an open palm. It is this same paradox that also shadows the cries for Biafra. A sovereignty movement of such nature should rest on a people’s right to self-determination. Yet the irony is stark: while clamouring for their independence, Biafra’s champions often insist that South-South minorities from the Niger Delta oil belt and all must be folded under their flag. Liberty for self, dependence for others. It is a contradiction so glaring that it undermines the moral argument before it leaves the lips.

How does one scream for “freedom” while holding another’s throat? Hypocrisy reeks stronger than the oil they covet. Brothers of the East forget: the Delta has its scars, its history of neglect, and its rivers that bleed crude yet thirst for justice. Why then should a fisherman in the Gbaramatu clan die for a flag raised in Enugu? The Igbo, with their unrivalled industriousness, their global spread, and their historical scars, should know this better than most. Yet, time and again, they seem to fall into the same snare, splintered at the very threshold of victory.

Dependence that is disguised as liberation is but another conglomerate in new clothes. Northern Nigeria remembers its martyrs. The West recollects its bargains. The Niger Delta recalls its shackles. Only the East seems convinced not to remember anything. Except for the echo of its grudges, replayed like a dirge that dulls ambition. History does not always forgive repetition so if 2023 was a missed moment, then 2027 will surely be the litmus test. The East must ask itself: Will we bend for one another this time, or break once again before the world?

So when giants step aside in 2027, what will the East do? Will they bend, build alliances, and seize history’s fleeting smile? Or will they squabble, rupture, and hand victory once more to those who mastered the art of waiting? Oftentimes, history is unforgiving. It offers no make-up tests and no retakes. If the East continues to wound itself, the Presidency will remain a mirage. Similarly, if Biafra goes on chaining others to its restless dream, then even independence shall elude it. For nations are not built on pride, but on the humility of bending, so that all may rise together.

When giants step aside, but brothers refuse to bend, history writes no footnotes, only obituaries of opportunity.

✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

Mike Edoukumo lnvites Friends as Remains of his late Father, Pa. Stephen set for Burial on Thursday August 21, in Ayakoromo

Francis Tayor 

The Edoukumo family of Ayakoromo Federated Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, has announced the final burial rites of their beloved son, father, grand father, great grand father, teacher and community leader, late Pa. Stephen Edoukumo who slept in the Lord in May 6, 2025 after a brief illness.

According to the burial programme jointly signed by Pastor Presley Edoukumor for the family and Hon. Michael Edoukumor (aka) Senator for the children stated as follows:

Today Wednesday 20th August, 2025 by 5PM: Service of Songs at Stephen Edoukumo family compound, GRA Ayakoromo Community.

Tomorrow Thursday 21st August, 2025: Corpse leaves Ame Specialist Hospital Mortuary, Okumagba Avenue Warri by 8:AM in a motorcade Via Miller Jetty NPA, through speed boat to Ayakoromo Town.

_12.00PM: Funeral Service at Altar of Fire lnt'l Church located at the market square, Ayakoromo community, Delta State.

_2.PM: Internment Service at Edoukumo family compound GRA, Ayakoromo.

Reception follows immediately at Ngbilebiri Primary School field, Ayakoromo till dawn.

Music by Gen. Best May alias JFred and his giant star band of Africa.

Late Pa Stephen Edoukumo was a caring father, devoted christian and elder at the Altar of Fire lnt'l Church, Ayakoromo. He was a community leader and peace maker in ljaw nation. His love, wisdom and philanthropic kind gesture would be greatly missed by the children, family members, community and ljaw nation at large.

However, Hon. Michael Edoukumo popularly known as the senator on behalf of the children use this medium to invite friends and well wishers to join them on Thursday 21 August, 2025 in order to give their departed father a befitting final farewell, the statement added.

Featured Article: William Bozimo's Stagecraft: Southern Redemption, Personal Gain, and The Politics of Wike_ By: Ebi Kedikumo

William Bozimo  in his masterpiece "WIKE: REBEL WITH A CAUSE, OR EMPEROR WITHOUT A THRONE?" writes about Nyesom Wike in a clear, easy style that prays to show two main ideas. One idea is that Wike acts for the South, for the people of Rivers State, and for the places that share their worries. The other idea is that Wike acts for himself, for power, for money, and for a big place in the future. Bozimo asks us to see which of these ideas is true, or if both are true at once.

Bozimo uses strong pictures to show Wike. He calls Wike a "lion with a microphone and a bulldozer" , a man who speaks loud and acts fast. This shows two things at once. Wike seems to care for the South, for jobs and security, but he also moves very hard to keep power. The words make us feel that Wike can be good for the region, but he can also be a force that makes others lose out. Bozimo asks us to think about how much Wike changes his aims when the party or the nation asks him to. Is he loyal to the South, or is he loyal to himself?

The piece says Wike shifts from the PDP to brand new support for Tinubu’s plan for the capital city. This is a sign many take as personal gain. It looks like Wike swaps sides when it helps his own name and his own reach. Bozimo shows that some people may see this as clever, a way to stay in the game and stay useful to the big bosses. Yet others see it as a betrayal of those who trusted him in the PDP. This clash shows a big idea: if a leader changes a lot, people may ask, is it for the people or for himself?

Bozimo writes about Wike’s past fights with Rotimi Amaechi, calling it a long and loud fight that shapes Rivers State. The question is what has the people gained from these fights. Bozimo wonders if the state is stronger, or if its heart grew tired and worn. The way he tells the story makes us feel that long battles can both defend a place and exhaust it. It invites readers to think of the cost of power struggles on ordinary people who live in the region. When the bosses fight, it is  the downtrodden that suffers. 

Bozimo goes further to ask hard questions about Wike’s plan for 2027. Will he be kingmaker, king, or king-breaker? Bozimo keeps Wike in the centre of the scene, but he also asks what kind of legacy Wike will leave. Will history smile at his work for the South, or will it ask hard questions about the losses that came from his wars and moves? This is not a simple praise or a simple blame. It is a careful look at how a strong leader can help a region but also bring risks for many.

Overall, Bozimo presents a careful view of Wike. He shows two big pulls: the dream of the South being saved and the lure of personal gain. He does not say one is right and the other wrong. He asks us to look at both ideas together and to see how they mix in real life politics. In his view, the truth is not a single gift or a single fault. It is a mix, where the needs of a region and the aims of a single man can both move forward and pull back. Bozimo’s aim is to make us think about how much one leader can change a whole region and a whole party, for good and for ill, in the long run.

What interests me here is how Bozimor effortlessly presents Wike  as a bold man who acts like he is always on a stage. He makes Wike sound loud and sure, a leader who uses big words and big actions to grab attention. Wike is not a quiet diplomat but a strong force who spills into every room with a loud voice, as if he loves the glare of the public and the buzz of headlines. Bozimo asks us to see whether this energy helps his people or just helps him, and it leaves us unsure, because Wike seems to change sides and styles depending on what he wants most at the moment.

On one hand, Bozimo praises Wike for his brave, theatrical moves, suggesting he can push big changes and shake up old deals. On the other hand, there is a hint of doubt, with talk of self-interest, power plays, and a longing to see what he will really leave behind after many battles. The piece makes us think he might be a builder for some, but a wrecking force for others, and it makes us wonder if true leadership lies in vision, or in how loudly you speak and how much you fight.

Bozimor has artfully delivered a concise yet sweeping portrait of Wike’s persona in a single narrative. 

I tip my hat to the seasoned  William Bozimo.

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO  - writes from Ayakoromo Town

Just-ln: Nigerian Welders Appoint Veteran Journalist, Cletus Opukeme as Media and Publicity Officer

By Esther Eugene 

 The executive Council of Nigerian Welders (NWA), Zone 'B' Delta state has appointed Comrade Cletus Opukeme, a UK trained journalist and Publisher of Delta Watch, a vibrant online news platform as the ''MEDIA AND PUBLICITY OFFICER '' of the association as far as Delta state is concerned to pilot the affaire as matters related to news and media and Nigerian welders

His appointment letter was dated 13th March, 2025 and co-signd by the Chairman Comrade Eseroghene Odima and Secretary Comrade Monday Usiakpor respectively. 

According to the letter which was formally handed over to him at the state Secretariat said, Opukeme's appointment was due to his vast experience as a journalist and welder which made it possible for this recognition. 

The delay of the handover of the appointment letter was due to his engagement in far offshore welding jobs, until   it was made successful Monday at the office.

In his brief speech, Opukeme thanked the leadership of the Union and pledged to work in harmony with the union and all other relevant stakeholders to bring peace and  development to the union and the nation.

He emphasized that ''We will vigorously and peacefully pursue welders reform in the oil and Gas industry in the country where all professional welders in Nigeria will earn a standardised (Uniform) monthly earning in line with international standard of American  approved NDT and X-ray welders policy. Life insurance and ensure maximum safety policies adherence on site in line with international standards. We will achieve this through a peaceful legislative protection of both the National Assembly and the Senate with respect to full implementation of the nation's local content law.

 Opukeme  assured the union  to promote industrial harmony in the media between welders, contractors, host communities, the government and multinationals which are key stakeholders in the oil and Gas industry in the country''

However, it could be recalled that soon after the approval and  endorsement of his appointment, the trade Union body from the National level has changed to National Union of Nigerian Welders.

Opinion: Power is a Loan, Not a Possession, Use It Wisely to Build People_By: Kingsley lgiebor

Power is a loan. It is never truly owned, only held for a while, whether it comes through politics, position, influence, or privilege, power has an expiry date. Yet, many who ascend into authority forget this fundamental truth. They build monuments to themselves, silence the voices around them, and focus on preserving their grip on power rather than using it to empower others. Unfortunately, by the time the truth becomes evident, it's often too late to do the needful.

Leadership, in its truest form, is not about how long you sit in a seat, rather it is about what you do while you’re there. The greatest misuse of power is to leave people the same or worse than you met them. The greatest honour is to uplift others in your wake because one day, the spotlight will shift, the position will change hands, and the very people you ignored will become the ones who determine your place in history.

Across all walks of life—government, business, religion, or community leadership, those who succeed in building people are the ones whose relevance outlives their reign. That’s because people are legacy. A bridge you built for someone may carry your name longer than any title you ever bore. An opportunity you created for someone may become the ladder that generations will climb through.

On the other hand, when leaders hoard opportunities, suppress the growth of others, or treat their position as a personal empire, the outcome is almost always tragic. The end of tenure is followed by isolation. Once-revered figures are forgotten, mocked, or pitied, not because they didn’t once have power, but because they did nothing meaningful with it while it lasted.

We must remember that the applause fades and the motorcades disappear. The titles become past tense and when they do, all that remains is what you planted in others. The man or woman who used their position to mentor, empower, support, or create platforms for others will always have a place in the hearts of people, even when the office is no longer theirs.

So, plant people while your voice still carries weight, and speak for the voiceless too. While your table has room, invite others to sit. While your hand still holds the pen, sign opportunities into others' lives, because when the pen is no longer yours to hold, the people you lifted will become your greatest reference.

After all, power is a loan, not a possession; use it wisely, by building people.

God bless you

Again, Mulade calls for Developmental Bonds Amongst Ijaw & Itsekiri Nationalities in Delta State

A renowned peace and development advocate in the Niger Delta region, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, Ph.D has urged the Ijaw and the Itsekiri ethnic nationalities of Delta State to foster bonds of unity and friendship so as to attract investors to their areas for positive development and growth.

Comrade Mulade, who is the Ibe Serimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West council area of the State, made the call while speaking to some leaders from the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri 

The United Nations peace ambassador appealed to the leaders from both ethnic nationalities to embrace peace, to unite, and to let love lead in their collective pursuit for sustainable development, devoid of bias and ethnic supremacy, which he said "is the only way that we can grow and development our areas."

Speaking further, he sad, "Frankly, we are disgracing ourselves, and it is highly disappointing that many of us are beating the drum of ethnic war for personal interest and recognition.

"Please, we don't need division, but progressive ties that will attract investors and development to our communities," he pleaded.

Comrade Mulade further argued that the Ijaws and the Itsekiris contribute so much to the revenues of both the state and the nation, but are not recognised in terms of infrastructure, worsened by the continued state of acrimony.

"It is imperative to state that the Ijaw and Itsekiri areas in Delta State contribute the highest quota in the oil and gas industry as well as the blue economy, but we are deliberately deprived, neglected and shortchanged from development because of ethnic division and hatred amongst ourselves, which has eluded us", he posited.

"I want to strongly appeal to our revered traditional rulers, political leaders, and stakeholders to allow peace and development thrive"

"We are victims of underdevelopment because of our individual and ethnic pride that is affecting our growth and development. Today, all development efforts are concentrated in the uplands while neglecting the sources of the resources," he lamented.

The Day Nigeria Stood Still as Fela Kuti Farewell in Glass Casket on August 2, 1997 in lkeja, Lagos State

When Fela Anikulapo Kuti died on August 2, 1997, it wasn’t just the death of a man — it was the passing of a movement. Lagos, and indeed much of Nigeria, went silent. But then, it erupted in song, in drums, in tears, and in dance — a final tribute to the Abami Eda.

Days later, a glass casket was placed in the middle of Tafawa Balewa Square. Inside lay the man who had spoken truth to power, the man who defied military regimes with saxophone in hand and fire in his lyrics. It was a sight like no other.

Thousands flooded the venue. Men and women from all walks of life — fans, fellow musicians, market women, even people who had once criticized him — all came to pay their respects. His body, dressed in vibrant Ankara, lay peaceful, as if still listening to the rhythm of Afrobeat echoing from massive loudspeakers.

Some came in full traditional attire, others with fists raised high, chanting:

“FELA! FELA!! FELA!!!”

There were weeping mothers, young students who’d memorized his lyrics, and elders who had danced to his tunes in the 70s. The air was thick with heat, incense, and emotion.

As the sun set, his glass casket was carried through the streets of Lagos in a procession that lasted hours. Traffic stopped. Time slowed. The people of Kalakuta, and Nigeria at large, had come out for their hero.

He was later buried at his home in Ikeja, but his spirit never left.

Fela didn’t just die.

He transitioned.

And in that moment, a nation remembered how deeply one man could shake the system — and still be loved..

Source:

This is Bendel

I AM HOME, DEAR TOMPOLO_By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou Ph.D

On this  land alloted to me three years ago I laboured alone.

I have just dug and mined a treasure!

It is a gold, a gold now awaiting your touch of refinement.

I promised you the net must catch some fish.

On the river bank I did not come to scoop water with a basket.

Tompolo, please let loose your refining touch on the gold like a heavy downpour, keeping the gold drenched and glistened.

A gold is no gold without your  anointed touch.

Tompolo, let the doctor depart to the waiting world with a bag of transformation tranches

Tompolo, let the waiting world see the doctor and smile.

I have done what you decreed me to do and now I am home.

I am now home because every traveller goes home after a journey.

I am now home because to home every bird flies to roost after a journey.

Flags dance when the wind sings soothing songs;

Trees bow when the wind twangs her guitar;

The mother-hen searches for shelter with her children when the wind blesses the earth;

Mortals mouth doctor when the doctor heaves into sight like ship;

To every dance there are

 steps uniquely choreographed.

A doctor has his own rituals, so are the rituals of the mystic who has a foundry hammering out mortals as its relics.

The man decorated doctor without being doctored must be the nunc dimittis for the doctor to leave your sight and transform the waiting world.

The doctor's nunc dimittis must be  a transformation tranch, not the silence-inducement nunc dimittis of Simeon in the book of Luke.

The randy beetle is the gold of both the dead and the living raffia palm trees in the forest.

Touch the doctor, turn the doctor into the randy beetle in the forest.

The world  knows happiness, smiling seamlessly when the randy beetle journeys around the forest.

Raffia palm trees worry no more when the randy beetle cuddles them.

Dear Tompolo, I am back from the bloodless brain battle for branches to bud;

From this bloodless brain battle may branches bud and bind the world like the mustard seed.

All through the creeks I shall gong this bloodless brain battle until all the iguanas are awakened from their legendary deafness.

Dear Tompolo, I am now home with a dug gold as the relic of the journey you decreed me to take on.

Decorated, should I still be home to Akparemogbene as my home?

Or should I be home to your home in your home in the mangrove forest?

Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State

Egbema Focus Group Charges President Tinubu to call Gov. Oborevwori to Order for spreading falsehood, inciting ethnic tension in Warri North in Delta State

FOCUS EGBEMA GROUP URGES PRESIDENT TINUBU TO CALL DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT TO ORDER

Accuses State of Spreading Falsehoods, Inciting Ethnic Tensions in Warri North

The Focus Egbema Group has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently caution the Delta State Government over what it described as a deliberate attempt to incite ethnic crisis between the Ijaw and Itsekiri people in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

In a statement jointly signed by the Central Coordinator of the group, Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka, the group condemned a recent publication on the Spotlight Delta Facebook page, which falsely claimed that the Itsekiris are the majority ethnic group in Warri North and misrepresented Ijaw monarchs as mere “clan heads,” while referring to the Olu of Warri as “His Majesty.”

The claim that Itsekiris are the majority tribe in Warri North is false and misleading. The Ijaw people are the majority in Warri North, and this fact is well-documented. Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori’s administration should know the actual demographics of his own state, and no official publication should carry false data,” the statement read.

Comrade Sayami stressed that the longstanding disputes between Ijaws and Itsekiris in Warri Federal Constituency have spanned over 30 years and are well known to successive state governments. He accused the current administration of taking sides for political reasons, despite the Delta State Traditional Council laws clearly defining the status of every ethnic nationality’s traditional institution.

Calling an Ijaw throne a clan head is not only insulting but also unlawful. Egbema Kingdom will not bow to intimidation or eye-service judgments. For over 20 years before the administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Egbema people were marginalized. Although Okowa brought some relief, the injustice and deprivation have resumed under the current government,” Sayami declared.

The group noted that despite Egbema Kingdom’s position as a major oil-producing area and the largest Ijaw population in Warri North, the people have been denied appointments, projects, and government recognition.

They also referenced the recent Supreme Court judgment that nullified the existing wards and polling units in Warri North and other Warri LGAs as proof that urgent corrective measures are needed to ensure fairness.

Egbema Kingdom’s throne is one of the oldest in Southern Nigeria and the biggest Ijaw kingdom in the Niger Delta. How can a tribe smaller than even one of our clans mislead the government into spreading false information? Governor Oborevwori has visited nearly every other kingdom in Delta State to commission or award projects, yet he has ignored Egbema. He did not even pay a condolence visit when our monarch passed. Truth is bitter, but it must be told — this hatred and bias must end. Egbema people deserve development and respect,” the statement added.

The Focus Egbema Group reaffirmed that Egbema Kingdom will never cede its rightful position to any ethnic group in Warri North after decades of suffering and marginalization, and urged President Tinubu to intervene to ensure peace, equity, and justice in Delta State.

How British Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval was Assassinated in 1812 by John Bellingham while on Seat

The killer spent 6 years being tortured in Russian prisons.

But he wasn't a terrorist or spy.

His motive? Something so shocking it's almost unbelievable:

Let's start with betrayal.

In 1812, Prime Minister Spencer Perceval walked into Parliament like any other day.

Minutes later, he lay dead on the floor—shot through the heart:

The killer didn't flee. He calmly sat down and said:

"I am the person who shot the Prime Minister. My name is John Bellingham."

He wasn't a spy or revolutionary.

He was a merchant with a grudge over...paperwork:

Bellingham was a businessman trading with Russia.

But in 1804, disaster struck:

• He was falsely imprisoned in Russia

• His travel papers confiscated

• And his business destroyed

The British government's response?  "Not our problem."

Bellingham spent 6 brutal years in Russian prisons:

• Tortured regularly

• Nearly died from conditions

• Marched through streets in chains

When he finally escaped to England in 1809, he wanted one thing:

Compensation:

For 3 years, he followed protocol:

• Filed endless petitions

• Wrote every government office

• Begged for hearings

Each response? "Fill out more forms."

Then in April 1812, a civil servant made a fatal mistake...

The civil servant told him:

"You're free to take whatever measures you think proper."

Bellingham took this literally.

He bought two pistols, had a special coat pocket sewn, and waited in Parliament.

At 5:15 PM, Perceval entered.

Bellingham stood, walked directly to him, and fired point-blank into his chest.

The Prime Minister's last words:  "I am murdered!"

The killer sat down and waited for arrest:

The trial stunned England.

Bellingham's defense was simple:

"I tried every legal channel. The government left me no choice."

The shocking part?

Many people sympathized with him:

A French observer wrote:

"You taught ministers they should do justice when asked."

But sympathy wouldn't save him.

After a one-day trial, Bellingham was hanged:

His last words were chilling:

"I feel no hate for Mr. Perceval. But he led the government that refused me justice."

The aftermath changed Britain forever:

• Government reformed complaint systems

• No PM has been assassinated since

• New protections for citizens' rights

Sometimes the deadliest threats aren't enemies...

They're ordinary people pushed too far:

The final irony?

Parliament later investigated Bellingham's claims.

He was right—he was owed compensation.

But it was too late for both the merchant and the Prime Minister he killed over paperwork.

This story isn't just about paperwork or bureaucracy.

It's about what happens when systems meant to serve people become their prison instead.

When efficiency trumps humanity.

When following protocol becomes more important than doing what's right:

Opinion: “The Silence That Sits on Power: A Nigerian HardTalk”_By William Z. Bozimo.

He sits upon the hill where eagles rest, and where the burdens of a bruised republic nest. They call him Jagaban, the Lion, the Sage. Now he governs a land exhausted by age. But where is the roar, the promised flame? Or is this silence part of a longer game? We asked him for a subsidy, and he pulled the plug. Swift and sudden like a magician’s shrug. Yet, people are left in petrol queues feeling famished.

If suffering is now the new down payment for greatness, where then is the blueprint to gauge lateness? Oh, there was once a fire blazing in his campaign chest where talks of reformation and corruption were suppressed. But now the lion paces in careful silence, as wolves return to loot with defiant violence. Is he watching… waiting… and building his case? Or has real power simply fled the place? Can a second term redeem the first? Or will the river drown before it’s nursed?

.

We whispered of Naira’s haemorrhage and theft, and he spoke in riddles, then turned to the left. The Central Bank spins, the Bureau stutters and markets flutter like trapped butterflies in gutters. He understands that politics is a game of breath timing, long silence, and a dance with death. But Nigeria is no chessboard of pawns and kings, so delay invites deeper and darker things. Sir, while you watch the clock and count your foes, the nation limps barefoot on burning coals. 

Nigeria bleeds, not in metaphors alone, but in kidnaps, hunger, and marrow to the bone. Was it calculation or an emergency of will that made restructuring stand so still? Will you wait for re-election applause before justice is unchained and truth gets laws? Strategic patience may win you Abuja's keys, but history listens to broken families’ pleas. You spoke of a good legacy that is expected to begin now, not just in promises tucked in a distant vow, but in true fulfilment. 

Sir, if you must strike, then strike in light, not in backdoor deals or midnight flight. Tell us the plan, even if it burns. Let governance be where transparency returns. Is this the calm before a cleansing storm? Or complacency dressed in seasoned form? For silence may be golden in royal rooms, but very pricey in nations with too crowded tombs. A federation fraying from norm to deform. So please, Mr. Jagaban, arise like a thunder, or history will tear your statue asunder.

Mr. President, there is power in restraint but it's dangerous when restraint turns faint. Delay may suit the tongue of a tactician, but the stomach speaks no such politician. How long shall the poor endure this wait before patience curdles into hate? They say that your eyes are fixed on 2027 but will a second term unleash your might, or simply dim this country’s light? Nigeria is no ladder for cautious ascent, it is a soul in torment. Let this not be the tale of one more king who delayed so long and finally lost everything.

The eagle does not wait to flap its wings, it simply soars when winds and justice sing.

Sir, play the long game if you must, but play it loud, fair, and earn our trust. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

Oromoni appreciates Gov. Oborevwori, Delta chairmen of council, traditional rulers, family, friends and well wishers over successful burial of his wife

Francis Tayor 

The Executive Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Chief. Sylvester Oromoni has extended his heartfelt gratitude to family and friends, especially the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, Sir. Monday Onyeme, the SSG, Dr. Kingsley Emu, the various LGA council chairmen of the state, traditional rulers, family members, friends, community leaders, the press, members of God's Grace Ministry lnt'l Church Worldwide and well wishers across the country over the successful burial ceremony of his beloved wife and mother of his children, late. Mrs. Evang. Rosemary Oromoni whose burial took place last weekend Saturday 9th August, 2025 at Ogbe-ljoh Warri kingdom.

According to the statement released on Friday 15th August, 2025 and signed by himself, Oromoni said:

" To His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State, members of the State Executive Council, my fellow Chairmen of Councils, the Christian body, especially the Bishop and members of God Grace ministry, our dear friends, colleagues, traditional rulers, community leaders, and well-wishers,

" We express our deepest gratitude for your support during the passing and funeral of my beloved wife and mother of our children, Late Mrs. Rosemary Oghevwaire Oromoni. Your presence, prayers, and kind words brought us comfort and strength in our time of grief, making a difficult period slightly more bearable.

" May God bless and reward you abundantly for your kindness and support", the statement added.

Yours sincerely,

Hon. Sylvester Oromoni

Chairman, Warri South West Local Government Council.

2026 lNC Presidential Election: High Chief (Dr.) Se-Alabo Nengi James, A Strong Living Partner in Progress_By: Warefa Pereke

In the dynamic and often challenging landscape of Nigerian politics and society, true leadership is measured not only by words but by a consistent and active partnership in the progressive advancement of civilization. High Chief (Dr) Alabo Nengi James, OON, a distinguished and respected figure, has demonstrated this commitment throughout his career. His bid for the presidency of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) is a powerful call to bring this spirit of partnership and progress to the forefront of the Ijaw nation’s leadership.

Dr. Nengi James is more than a list of titles; he is a man of action who has consistently engaged with the issues that define the modern Ijaw experience. As a career administrator, mediator, and arbitrator, he has honed the skills necessary to build consensus and manage the complex affairs of a large organization like the INC. This administrative prowess is the foundation upon which he has built a reputation as a civil society practitioner, a rights advocate, and a public policy specialist—roles that have seen him actively engage with government and other stakeholders to champion the cause of his people.

His profound commitment to the progressive advancement of civilization is most evident in his pioneering work as an ecologist and environmentalist. Dr. Nengi James is the progenitor of the concept of “Oceanification,” a term he created to describe the devastating encroachment of the ocean on Ijawland and the wider Niger Delta. This is not just a scientific observation; it is a declaration of a critical human rights and environmental crisis. His book on the subject, Oceanification: Environmental, Ecological and Socio-Economic Impact in the Niger Delta, is a testament to his intellectual leadership and his dedication to providing a clear, evidence-based platform for advocacy. By bringing this issue to the national and international stage, he has acted as a living partner in the struggle for the survival of Ijaw communities.

Furthermore, his philanthropic work as the founder of the Nengi James Foundation and his accomplishments as an entrepreneur, show a practical understanding of how to build and sustain a prosperous community. He understands that progress is not just about political power but also about economic empowerment, social justice, and the well-being of every Ijaw man, woman, and child.

His experience as the National Vice President 2 of the Ijaw National Congress and his roles in various other organizations prove that he is not a newcomer to leadership but a seasoned figure who has already been actively shaping the future of his people.

In High Chief (Dr) Nengi James, OON, the Ijaw nation has the opportunity to elect a president who is a genuine partner in progress. He is a leader who has demonstrated a clear understanding of the past, an active engagement with the present, and a compelling vision for the future. His presidency would be a commitment to a new era of proactive, intelligent, and compassionate leadership for the INC, one that is truly dedicated to the progressive advancement of Ijaw civilization.

Ijaw Publishers writes President Tinubu, demands sack of NCDMB Executive Secretary, Agbe over incompetence and ethnic bias

The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has thrown weight behind Niger Delta stakeholders' called for the removal of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe over poor performance and abuse of power, citing incompetence and alleged ethnic bias. 

This was contained in a statement signed by its national president Comrade Ozobo Austin, Comrade Kagbala Ezekiel, Spoksman and Comr Tare Magei, secretary on Friday.

According to the group, the Executive Secretary has failed to promote the renewed agenda of President Bola Tinubu but instead uses his office to advance an Itsekiri agenda.

The Ijaw apex media organization said Agbe was among people fueling the fresh crisis in Warri, turning his office to Olu of Warri private company, where only the Itsekiris were being engaged and empowered.

The IPF alleges that the Executive Secretary has demonstrated incompetence in his role, failing to effectively promote Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry, adding that the Executive Secretary was using his office to promote the interests of the Itsekiri people, rather than working in the best interests of Nigeria and its people.

The IPF had called on President Bola Tinubu to remove the Executive Secretary from office, noting that his removal would help to restore confidence in the NCDMB and ensure that the organization is able to effectively promote Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.

The IPF urged President Bola Tinubu to put a system to monitor the Nigeria content development board to ensure that public officials work in the best interests of the country and its people, rather than advancing personal or ethnic agendas.

The media chieftains said the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was established to maximize the participation of Nigerians in oil and gas activities, integrating oil-producing communities into the value chain, fostering institutional collaboration, building local capacity, and linking the oil and gas sector to other sectors of the economy, emphasised that Agbe has failed, refusing to engage and build capacity among Ijaw and Urhobo critical stakeholders of the oil producing communities.

They maintained that Agbe instead of delivering on his mandate of focusing on maximizing the utilization of Nigerian resources (goods, services, and assets), attracting investment, and promoting local manufacturing and service provision, he now used the government funds to building ethnic militia groups against Ijaw and Urhobo people in Delta State.

The group stressed that Agbe activities now posed several threats to the peace in Niger Delta, citing that he had abandoned his duty of monitoring and evaluating the performance of operators and service providers to ensure compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. 

The Ijaw media council threatened to stage a mother of all protests to shut down the local content head office in Bayelsa to force him out of office if the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu treats their call for the removal of Agbe with levity.

Controversial Ibom Air Passenger, Comfort Emmanson regains freedom as police withdraw charges

passenger accused of assaulting an Ibom Air staff on Sunday, Comfort Emmanson, has been released after a Lagos court struck out the five-count charge against her.

At a brief hearing on Wednesday, Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami of the Samuel Ilori Courthouse, Ogba, Lagos, dismissed the case following the decision of the Lagos Airport Police Command to withdraw the charges unconditionally.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Olubunmi Adeitan told the court the withdrawal was based on new facts presented to the command after Monday’s arraignment.