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

In the noisy market  of Nigerian politics,  

there is a  new festival --

 The Fence-jumping Carnival.

Every season, someone climbs over,  

landing softly into the open arms of the ruling party,  

like a greedy cat sneaking into the neighbour’s kitchen  

when it smells fresh banga soup on fire.  

They always say the same thing,

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

but if you look closely, you will see,

it's for the development of their own stomach 

If you peep under the big flowing agbada,

 you will find pockets full of personal dreams.

  

The defectors love sweet excuses 

They wave  flags and boast,  

“The sun is brighter in Abuja”  

But the sun does not move…  

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

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

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

“How much development did you see  

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

Did Bayelsa stop licking empty pots,

Is Bayelsa not still licking empty spoons?

Even with Timipre Sylver stirring the souo,  

and Lokpobiri adding the federal pepper and salt,  

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

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

The truth?

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

It is the sweet aftertaste of power 

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

They look at soft seats in Abuja,

Maybe a senate pillow for tired heads,

 or a Minister's chair with soft cushions,.

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

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

Abuja is the golden shade

under which politicians hide when the rain beats their ambition.  

They call it “strategic alignment,"”,  

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

Defection is now a virus. 

It is now a contagious fever,

It spreads faster than harmattan fire on dry grass.  

One governor coughs “APC”,  

another sneezes “PDP”,  

and yet another yawns ADC

And yet another craze a brand new party overnight.  

Soon every politician is infected by survival instinct,  

running to the ruling party like bees to sugar water.

No shame, no ideology, no beliefs ,

Only the sweet taste of survival

Like flies rushing to a plate of sugar 

Our politics is sick.

Our politics has caught a terrible stomach bug.  

It is political diarrhoea ,

leaders rushing from one party toilet to another,  

flushing away their old slogans ,

flushing away yesterday's promises,

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

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

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

while the people watch, holding their noses  

as the bad smell of political defections  fills the air. 

If defectors truly wanted to serve,  

If the detectors were really for the people,

roads would be built no matter their party colour.  

Water would flow even if their gowns were blue,  

Schools would blossom whether their caps were green.  

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

Even if the umbrella is the party badge.

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

They jump for themselves.

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

If the land is cursed,

If the gods do not bless the ground,

the harvest will still be empty.

 

And so the game continues, 

Jumping from party to party like a restless child,  

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

This is not service to the people, 

This is politics of the belly.  

It is political prostitution dressed in fine agbada,  

smiling for the cameras,  

while the masses chew on dry garri.  

Let the people remember:  

The defectors are not chasing the sun for us.  

They are chasing their own shadows across the field .

And when night falls,

The shadow will disappear,

and the defectors will sit in the dark 

remembering the kitchen they abandoned.  

By then, the people will have moved on,  

looking for leaders who plant gardens,

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

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

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

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

changing colours like chameleons whenever the heat changes 

Until leaders cook with honest hands,  

the masses will keep chewing promises instead of real food.

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

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State

08134853570

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In his words, he said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tompolo has ten teetotaler tentacles.

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

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

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

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

Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let us learn to build good people around us.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

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

My children, gather close and listen well

You know I have seen many seasons come and go.  

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

but now there is a strange season in our land.  

It is the season of the Big Brother  

Ten harvests have passed since it first came,  

and every year it comes like a market day  

where the sellers display not farm produce,  

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

They call it “entertainment.”  

But my people,  

if a dance makes the ancestors turn their faces away,  

should that dance be done in the village square?  

When I was young,  

we learnt that the road to honour was long,  

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

But now, our sons believe  

that the road to riches is short and wide,  

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

Our daughters think  

that respect can be thrown away  

like the peel of an orange,  

as long as the world is watching.  

Ah! This is not the Nigeria we dreamt of. 

Look around you:  

our schools are like broken calabashes that hold no water.  

Our hospitals are places where the living go  

and the dead return.  

Our youths wander like goats that have lost the shepherd,  

but we pour millions into feeding this Big Brother house

Money that could mend the roof of a leaking classroom,  

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

money that could fill the pot in a hungry home,

instead, it buys glamour for a show  

that teaches the young to prize wealth without work.  

Tell me, my people,  

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

What fruit will come from a farm  

where weeds are carefully watered every day?  

Big Brother Naija fills young minds  

with a hunger for quick fame,  

but fame that grows overnight is like yam without roots,

one wind will topple it.  

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

I am saying: let our laughter  

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

sweet, earned, and shared with dignity.  

Let us put stories before the youth  

that sharpen their minds like the blacksmith’s blade,  

that remind them of the strength of their grandfathers,  

and the virtue of their grandmothers.  

Ten seasons we have danced to this noisy drum,  

but the song has brought no harvest.  

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

Perhaps it is time to break the drumstick,  

to let silence fall long enough  

for us to remember who we are.  

For a nation is like a garden:  

plant okra, you will pluck okra;  

plant shame, you will harvest disgrace.  

The earth does not lie.

My people,  

the choice of seed is in our hands.  

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town Delta State

08134853570

Lokpobiri lauds Tompolo on peace in Niger Delta, appeals to FG to expand the scope of Tantita, Maton contracts in South-South region

Francis Tayor 

Rivers State______The National President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, has lauded High Chief. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo for his frantic efforts in restoring peace in the Niger Delta region through his pipeline surveillance contract job by empowering thousands of youths, men and women in the region over the last three years, while appealing to the Federal Government for expansion of the scope of Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering contracts.

Lokpobiri made the commendation and appeal on Tuesday at the Community Critical Stakeholders Appreciation meeting held at the EUI Event Centre in Port Harcourt City, courtesy by Tantita Security Services Limited and Maton Engineering Nig Limited, two major oil and gas infrastructure surveillance contractors in the region.

The ceremony’s mandate was to review significant progress and officially appreciate the vital role community leaders and traditional rulers play in securing Nigeria’s critical energy assets.

Addressing a room filled with traditional leaders, security chiefs, and youth representatives, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr lauded the host companies for their consistently increasing capacity, which he directly linked to a crucial boost in Nigeria's daily oil production figures.

The IYC President then made a powerful and sincere acknowledgement of Chief Government Oweizide Ekpempolo (Tompolo), recognizing his "huge sacrifices and role in the sustenance of peace and security in the Niger Delta region."

“His name resonates positively with all sons and daughters of the region, especially given his background of the arms struggle,” Lokpobiri stated emphatically. “Today we are enjoying relative peace and security in the region courtesy of his efforts.”

Building on the proven success of the security contracts, the IYC leader pivoted to a demand for strategic expansion. Sir Lokpobiri strongly appealed to the Federal Government to significantly increase the funding and mandate of Tantita Security Services and Maton Engineering.

He argued that their capacity should be expanded beyond securing pipelines and oil infrastructure to include the protection of Terminals and well heads, ensuring they can continue to deliver maximally on national security and production goals.

Furthermore, Lokpobiri issued a passionate call for environmental equity, urging the Federal Government to immediately extend the ongoing cleanup exercise in Ogoniland to all communities across the entire Niger Delta region. He stressed that these host communities are negatively affected by daily oil exploration activities and deserve comprehensive remediation.

In commending the contractors’ leadership for their "human face" approach in involving critical community stakeholders, Sir Lokpobiri confirmed that the Niger Delta environment is “gradually healing” from the widespread damage caused by illegal oil bunkering and oil theft.

The high-level attendance underscored the deep commitment of regional stakeholders to maintaining this trajectory of peace and infrastructure protections.

Buhari: President Of Plenty Talk, Zero Work-The General Who Misplaced Nigeria_By: Ebikabowei Kedikumo

So, Buhari didn’t die in Abuja.  

He didn’t die in his hometown Daura.  

He didn’t even die anywhere near the soil he ruled over for 8 years.  

Nope -- the General coughed his last breath in London,  

inside a very expensive hospital bed,  

under bright foreign lights,  

surrounded by people whose English pronunciation could make BBC proud.  

Far away from the Nigerian streets that survived his “shhh” style of government,  

far away from the voices he decided to ignore.  

far away from the cries he closed his ears to.

He was 82.  

Nobody pulled out tissue paper.  

The soil did not sing.

The ground didn’t shake in sorrow.  

This wasn’t the passing of a hero,

it was simply the quiet end of an emperor 

whose throne was basically  

a fancy chair with nothing to show for it.  

For 8 whole years,  

Nigeria breathed the air of his “silent presidency.”  

Not the calming type of silence,

but that awkward silence you hear when NEPA takes light mid-conversation.  

It was heavy, useless,  

and you could almost slice it into pieces and serve it during dinner,

if only people had money for dinner.  

He watched students stand outside locked school gates,  

counting wasted years like old rusty coins.  

He watched mothers cry like taps left on,  

their sons lying on the road during #EndSARS.  

He watched herdsmen turn dark nights into bonfire disasters,  

villages disappearing in smoke.  

And through it all…  

he said absolutely nothing.

He spoke no word,

only the wind carried his indifference.

They called him “leader.”  

But wearing the title “leader”  

isn’t the same thing as actually leading.  

Leadership is not wearing a robe stitched from campaign lies.

He was like a watchman with one eye,  

but even that one eye was focused only on his own people,  

his own tribe,  

his own religion.  

The rest of Nigerians? Just shadows in his blind spot.  

He claimed Nigerian youths were lazy 

Yet, he was the one tying big heavy stones 

called unemployment, inflation, poverty and hopelessness to their feet.  

He locked borders like it was his private prison,  

shrinking food supply until even the smell of rice became a luxury memory.  

He turned the naira into something so light  

the wind could carry it away,  

and so worthless that market women started cursing at sunrise. 

The naira is today worthless like a used sanitary pad.

Eight years is enough to grow a whole forest of dreams 

But the General planted weeds instead,  

and kept watering them with excuses.  

He built roads of promises that led straight to disappointment,  

bridges of hope that collapsed before anyone could step on them.  

Every speech was like a riddle without an answer,  

every policy was a pot… but without fire.  

When Nigerians knocked on the door of change,

he opened it just wide enough to grab their votes,

then slammed it shut,  

sat on his empty throne,  

and watched the country crack like dry ground under hot sun. 

He is the General that misplaced Nigeria 

History will scribble his name somewhere in the corner,  

near other rulers who thought Nigeria was their personal farm.  

It will say:  

He came with a broom and swept away trust.  

He came with promises and left with disappointment.  

He came as a general and left as a ghost 

When the London death drums sounded,  

the River Niger didn’t blink.  

The Niger Delta did not bow its head

The harmattan breeze didn’t deliver any sad songs.  

Only the people muttered:  

“He’s gone… but the mess is still here.”  

The ruin remains 

Nigerians learn this:

Not every man who beats the drum knows the way to the dance ground.

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State 

08134853570

Chief. DSP. Alamieyeseigha: Matyred In The Cause Of The Ijaw Nation_By: Saibakumo Ahmed Eniyeketon

It is ten years down the memory lane. Yet tears are free gifts from God to enable us commune our inexplicable pains to Him in silence. The recollections of our weeping hearts will awaken memories from the slumber.  Yes; they scorned at Christ when he was crucified. They swore against Major Isaac Boro even before he was condemned to death. In late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s time he chewed his bite of his life – coffin bearers, clappers and dancers. Now, where is the voice of resource control?

It would go down in the annals of Niger Delta that two ‘unkindest cuts’ against the people of the Niger Delta region were the gruesome murder of Ken Saro Wiwa and Chief Diepreye Solomon Alamieyeseigha, the first executive governor of Bayelsa State. The reality everyday is that at the fullness of time, we, all mortals shall go the way of all flesh and return to the dust. Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha died at 62 years of age but his legacies will live on for hundreds of years to come.

The dateline was 9th December, 2009. All was set for a military take – over of the state apparatus of Bayelsa State driven by a Federal Government masterminded impunity. Albeit, the previous Sunday, news was agog that over two – third of members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly have been kidnapped in a Gestapo fashion into a luxurious bus and whisked to Abuja for unknown reasons. The impeachment notice has been served on the governor earlier and the state judiciary was already fixed in a dilemma between her rights and choices. That fateful Wednesday morning of 9th December, 2009, amidst the windy and stormy weather were rumors that the governor has relocated to his home town, Amassoma for safety. What was left of Yenagoa, the state capital was the blaring military sirens and the battle ready ground troops backed up by series of martial helicopters hovering over a little above our roofs. The message was clear, “This Egbesu Governor must be removed” I was in my office in hospital road, Yenagoa near the theatre of war, Government House. The roads were scanty and barricaded but left to the whims and caprices of military gun shots to scare away modicum of militants’ resistance from the natives especially among the youths. About three hours later, rumours became rife that the embattled Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha has been smoked out of his home town, Amassoma and now found refuge in the Bayelsa Commissioner of Police lodge near my office. The CP Bayelsa couldn’t help as he was sweating between the devil and the red blue sea. Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha was finally arrested right before the helpless Commissioner of Police and detained in his own ‘Creek Haven’ (Government House). NTA News headline 9pm Screamed, “ Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha has been impeached, flown to Abuja and charged for money laundering by the “Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)”. The footages of the network news displayed my dear Governor – General of the Ijaw nation being tied like a chicken doomed by a butcher and led to a waiting and active helicopter in the Government House.

As I sat in my sitting room watching the drama, my eyes became soaked and I could not withstand the sight. My heart could not weigh back the tears as they roll profusely and helplessly down my cheek. I went outside and stood by my window to peep into the weird newsreel. One of the saddest days in my entire life! The voice of the Ijaw nation has been disgracefully handcuffed and gagged. 

It was not that Governor Alamieyeseigha was a saint but the trademark of the Ijaw nation, the shameful embarrassment and the diabolical degree of betrayal by his own people for self – serving ends!

Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha was released on bail for medical attention at Dubai. There, some state governors and political allies visited him for the sake of solidarity. The Federal Government quickly filed a charge of mutiny against him in court. Governor Alamieyeseigha was finally incarcerated by the London Metropolitan Police on his return to Germany shortly he survived a surgical operation. 

The demonstrative drummers and dancers occupied the streets of Yenagoa with big banners and placards cherishing artificial intelligence images of the governor being dressed in disguised lady to evade security network in order to escape to Nigeria at the Airport. 

The coffin of Alamieyeseigha was displayed at the gate of Government House, Yenagoa by his own people, clamouring he should not come back to Yenagoa alive. We recall, that every national forum, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, the famed Governor – General of the Ijaw nation was never a pretender. He had questioned why the crude oil and gas from the Niger Delta is a national booty while mineral resources are owned by individuals and states? He has propagated the gospel of Resource Control to the extent that it became a religion in the Niger Delta. He would frequently recall how Los Angeles, a state between Southern California in the United States is the fourth largest economy in the world because of its oil wealth. He vehemently attacked the Nigeria obnoxious, exploitative, punitive, discriminating and unjust decrees such as the Petroleum Decree of 1969, the Land use Decree of 1978, the Gas Re – injection Decree of 1979. He was vocal everywhere challenging the legibility of the ugly vestiges of the colonial legacy where every Niger Delta community that draws the attention of the Federal authorities to their despicable plight becomes a terrorist camp or target for military expeditions while it is the reverse in other parts of the federation. He condemned them as acts of biased economic terrorism against the people of Niger Delta. He was fond of reminding the Federal authorities that Bayelsa State with longest coastline of 203 kilometers open to the sea has been eaten up by the ocean surge especially in the Koluama communities and called for Federal Government immediate attention. 

At the 2005 National Political Conference he was a ear - splitting voice for increased derivation formula and resource control. Yet, they hounded him from Dubai to London and was repatriated, tried, found guilty and jailed in Nigeria. He was granted Presidential pardon by his erstwhile deputy governor and protégé – son, President Godluck Ebele Jonathan on March 12th, 2013. The tragic travails took toll in his health and in his desperate fight for life, he found his last moments at the University of Port – Harcourt Teaching Hospital at exactly 9:06pm, October 10th, 2015.

At the aftermath of the Kaiama Declaration in 1998 and when he assumed office as governor of the only homogenous Ijaw state, he successfully blocked all state stratagem to exterminate active Ijaw youth leaders by the ‘Point and Kill’ Nigerian state. He was revered as the crown prince of the Niger Delta by the youths. He was a fearless commander and fighter in the epic battle for equity and fiscal federalism in Nigeria and was not just the Governor – General of the Ijaw nation. We would continue to reminisce his proactive leadership role during the Arogbo-Ijaw vs Ilaje war between 1998 and 1999 and the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and Ijaw Youths in Lagos 2002 when he had to cut short his trip abroad to visit Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State and brought the crisis under immediate control.

Throughout his life as governor, he never discriminated any Ijaw man from any part of the federation. He was heard as directing his cabinet members that the artificial creations of states and boundaries, their names for administrative convenience by the Nigeria state cannot obliterate our bloodhood as Ijaw people, a divine creation by the Almighty GOD. He had insisted, Bayelsa is the origin of Ijaws everywhere they are found in the world.

Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha provided scholarships in degree programmes even up to masters and Ph.D in foreign universities in Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Germany, Brazil. He sponsored founding academic staff of his newly established Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island to acquire more knowledge overseas, most of whom are now erudite professors in their various disciplines. He started the 500 – bed hospital in Yenagoa which today accommodates the Bayelsa Medical University. The Banquet Hall, the Azikoro Housing Estate, the Treasury House, Sani Abacha road, Yenagoa – Mbiama road are some of his lasting legacies.

The governor was hunted, harassed and humiliated to death yet he had the largest heart to forgive all traitors before his death. He publicly declared his forgiveness for his perceived enemy President Olusegun Obasanjo on grounds that he handed over leadership of Nigeria to his godson and brother President Goodluck Jonathan. Until his death he freely attended funerals and shared birthdays, marriages of his purported enemies when they lost their beloved ones or gave out their children in marriage. That is the spirit of the Ijaw man for you. He was so elated over Dr. Goodluck Jonathan meteoric rise to the Presidency but his health did not permit him to enjoy the fruits of his sacrifices.

The Governor – General of the Ijaw nation was one of the ever - lived Ijaw who loved his people to the bosom of his very heart. He could evince every sacrifice for his people. However, it is pathetic to add here, when excess money and power are wielded by a man, the beast in man cannot be submerged for too long. Sometimes we need to search ourselves inward because we are human.

Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha was clearly a normadic governor who was hardly sighted in Yenagoa. He was a tourist – governor and the engine room of the state and her resources kept crying for help. And his detractors among the natives took advantage of it.

Also, Governor Alamieyeseigha deadliest political risk was to threw caution to the winds against the electoral current of 2013. He was vociferous against the unconstitutional but purported third – term (behind the scene) ambition of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He mobilized political allies and publicly pitted his tent with Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was poised to unseat his boss. Indeed, President Obasanjo was pretty aware of the governor’s machinations and had on several private occasions vowed to bring Governor Alamieyeseigha down no matter whose ox is gored. The governor himself committed political suicide ab-nitio. It is a lesson for all Ijaw leaders. 

However, the role played by the Bayelsa political class was abominable in Ijaw norms. No matter how commendable our fathers and leaders we must shield them from external aggression. I would earnestly ask, where are the political gladiators who were desperate to take over the realms of affairs of Bayelsa State. Did they become the governors and ministers they bargained for? NO!!! Let everyone take retrospect and assess our criminal betrayal in the bloodhood and face the reality of human imperfections. We are all in same boat. The gas flares are still booming with acid rain and our fathers, mothers, children are instalmentally sentenced to early graves yet the flame of activism has been consumed by the primitive accumulation of useless wealth. All structures in Ijaw land has been monetized and they say it is “bad table manners to talk while eating”. 

My sincere condolences to my beloved Ijaw nation. Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s song has ended but the echoes of his melodies will continue to linger on. Adieu my beloved Governor – General, the Olotu of Olotus, the Ogbofini – Owei of Wilberforce Island, the Izon – Ebidou-Owei of Ijaw land, the Ganuwan Katsina. History and posterity would forever remain kind to you. Rest on our exceptional leader and defender of the Ijaw race and cause.

By: Saibakumo Ahmed Eniyeketon, writes from Yenagoa

The Jesus Christ in Margaret Ekotoro and 27 November, 2025_By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

I know there are doves of peace and meekness in every century. The dove of peace and meekness in Akugbene-Mein Kingdom is dead. She died on 14 March 2025 and will be home for final burial rites on 27 November 2025. With historical roots buried in Ogbotobo in Bayelsa State and Kalafiogbene/Adekagbene, Akugbene, Ayakoromo and Okoloba in Delta State, she is my mother-in-law named Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro. Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro is the great woman who died nobly and taught the world how to die nobly without the piercing claws and talons of death. Historically, she is the only woman by whose death even DEATH was too discombobulated, stunned, mystified and scared to claim responsibility because DEATH was rendered impotent and jobless, devoid of the famed arrogance on the said day.

Carefully kept chronicles recently dug up reveal that  Ewekere, the celebrated beauty queen of her time, from Ayabotu Family in Ayakoromo married Mr Mienye of Akugbene

and gave birth to miss Ayepreotukefiye. Ayepreotukefiye married Mr Okunbiri of Kalafiogbene/Adekagbene. It was a marital union between Mr Okunbiri and Ayepreotukefiye  which gave birth to Angosin, Dauebinemune, Margaret Eyorozide and Agnes in a family of four as siblings, though only Mr Angosin was of a different father by name Yekuwe. Margaret Eyorozide was the third child in her family of four siblings which now has Mrs Agnes Money as the only surviving sister. Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro was a widely  known devotee of God of the CDGM faith in Elohim City Zion, Kalafiogbene/Adekagbene.

Mrs Margaret Ekotoro  was not chosen by death; it was she who chose death when she saw that her earthly mission was over. Like Nostradamus and Jesus Christ in their varied psychic exposures, she knew her time and simply  beckoned on death to transport her to her new home without the characteristic claws and talons painfully dug into one's body until the last breath goes. Alas, it was death who cried   bitterly at being humiliated when she left the world proudly without pains and tears on her own terms of departure from the living world.

Sainthood is not a publicity gimmick; it is earned through sojourn on earth, particularly when the earthly engagements are over at death. This is the time keen observers, archivists, archaeologists and investigative writers begin to unfold the survey plan on the departed. Even the departed did not know the life led was rooted in sainthood. 

True sainthood comes after death. Interestingly, archival and archaeological excavations reveal late Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro is a saint who left this world on 14 March 2025 without any remembered resentment held against anyone over man-made injuries unjustly inflicted on her by benighted mortals. Her philosophy of forgiveness and forgetfulness was always acted out without words. When deliberately injured by benighted mortals, she swallowed the injurious pill calmly and meekly and showed by her deeds that she had long forgiven the offender without telling the offender openly your sins had been forgiven. Wordlessly, the heart was the headquarters of Mrs Margaret Ekotoro's meek philosophy of forgiveness and forgetfulness.

In mere mortals one can hardly find the behavioural landmarks of Jesus Christ. In Mrs Margaret Ekotoro one can find the behavioural landmarks of Jesus Christ. She was an embodiment of unfailing forgiveness and meekness who bore verbal  injuries occasionally inflicted on her by benighted mortals without resentment held against the offenders. Her unfailing forgiving spirit was always wordlessly communicated, only showing in her resentment-free interactions with people who have deliberately stung her like bees.Her story of forgiveness and meekness was always told in pragmatic terms through malice-free interactions with the offenders after the injuries had been malevolently inflicted on her.

Mrs Margaret Ekotoro devotedly worked for God until she attained the respectable position of ELECT MOTHER in the CDGM church. Until her death, she did not miss any CDGM convention. Every year she journeyed as a pilgrim to the Holy Land in Elohim City Zion of CDGM church in Kalafiogbene/Adekagbene to renew her annual vow with God for the protection of her entire family.

Mrs Margaret Ekotoro had ten children through marriage to Mr Ekotoro Oruserikeme of Ezebiri town  -  Mrs Evelyn Bekere Kemasuode,  Chief John, Mrs Queen Makarava, Bishop Boro, Comrade Seaman, Hon. Monday, Mrs Lucky Layefa Ekanpou and Mrs Happy Truston Gbenekama. Out of the ten children she had, two journeyed to the underworld before her while she left behind eight children at death. All through her earthly life she did not have a single  quarrel with any of her children or any other person outside her family. She was an embodiment of meekness as often preached by Jesus Christ. Her entire life was governed by meekness and this explained why she was always at peace with everyone without malice however the level of deliberate provocation.

Mrs Margaret Ekotoro engaged varied occupations that ranged from  supply and sale of drums,  ogogoro gin and Akoro wood business. The Akoro wood businesd  took her to Ijebu-ode and other cities in Western Nigeria. After all these occupations , Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro took up tailoring as her main engagement. 

With no prior training and apprenticeship, Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro suddenly decided to become a tailor after buying a machine. Rather miraculously, she became an excellent tailor without apprenticeship, specialising  in the 'making' of church garments. Her tailoring was restricted to  making of church garments ; this was borne out of her desire to contribute meaningfully to  the growth of Christianity on the CDGM platform and be on a favourable path with God. 

Mrs Margaret Ekotoro was a very godly woman who embraced christianity with enthusiasm. Her godliness inspired her to devote her tailoring to church 'garment-making' because she did not want any secular distractions from doing the work of God. Even at 99 she was still a master of her machine that gave her economic stability and joy as all her personal achievements were built from her tailoring profession. Until her death, Mrs Margaret Ekotoro could still  pass the thread through the needle in her machine without being aided by a pair of glasses. She had a bitter vision than the eagle until death came at 99.

Ijaws generally like music. Mrs Margaret Ekotoro was a great lover of Ijaw music who enjoyed good music. At her side, a constantly  blaring music from her gramophone  inspired in her hardwork and indefatigability when at work. Music was a special delicacy she enjoyed both day and night. Specifically, she enjoyed the musical masterpieces of King Robert Ebizimor, Bestman Doupere, Field Marshall Echo Toikumo and Hon. Agbeotu Teiyeibo. 

Mrs Margaret Ekotoro's love of Ijaw highlife music was laced with a bias, as it was  King Robert Ebizimor's music that always held her spellbound  much more than others and gave her the unfailing energy and inspiration to engage her machine both day and night without distraction. Buried in instrumentally and lyrically striking songs from her prized gramophone and her restless leg-driven machine, Mrs Margaret Ekotoro momentarily saw herself in another Heaven on earth where she knew no distraction.

 Machine and music virtually meant the whole world to Mrs Margaret Ekotoro whenever she found herself in the world of twosome communication between her and the two stationary objects, producing results that enlivened her economically, socially, culturally, morally, philosophically, psychologically and occupationally. Without the blaring music and the whirring or weaving noise from the machine around her, coupled with her programmed religious activities in the CDGM church, Mrs Margaret Ekotoro's life was incomplete.

The whole world appears to have agreed that Mrs Margaret Ekotoro was an amazing devotee of God whose interactions with people had the aroma of pragmatic Christianity. She practised what the Bible preached.

Mrs Margaret Ekotoro must be an intuitive person  -  indeed, a psychic! Intuitively aware of her prepared departure, she didn't go to bed at her usual time  of 8pm on 14 March 2025 because she knew she would be found dead by her children in the morning, which could be an inconvenience. She did not want to take her children unawares at death. She ate her meal with relish, drank coke and water and watched an interesting movie of her choice to the end. When all these activities were over, she visited the white house and eased herself shortly, sat nobly and happily on her bed and told her daughter, Mrs Happy Truston Gbenekama , that it was time for her to die. Mrs Margaret Ekotoro communicated that she wouldn't like to take her last breath right  inside the house and cause inconvenience. Her daughter understood this and rushed Mrs Margaret Ekotoro to a nearby hospital. Mrs Margaret Ekotoro smiled and took her last breath before the hospital. At the hospital the medical doctor confirmed that she had died one minute ago before the hospital. 

At death Mrs Margaret Ekotoro's last smile was radiant on her face as she lay spreadeagled on the hospital bed. Margaret died nobly because she did not want to take her children unawares at death. For her children and grandchildren to wake up in the morning and find her dead in her sleeping bed was what Mrs Margaret Ekotoro clairvoyantly avoided when she chose to die nobly without the piercing claws and talons of death. At death Mrs Margaret Ekotoro told the world how to die nobly without inconvenience to the living.

A phenomenally forgiving and meek mother-in-law has departed this world of benighted people. For a forgiving and meek woman who walked on the monotheistic path; for a forgiving and meek woman who loved her children and humanity with passion; for a forgiving and meek woman who died heroically without troubling her children by telling death to come upon her because she was ready; for a forgiving and meek woman who smiled before death and left a memorable smile on her face at death, signalling the fact that at death she was not sad but full of happiness and smile because the journey ended meaningfully; for a forgiving and meek woman who led a STAINLESSLY saintly and motherly life on earth, let the celebratory bells ring loudly for her on 27 November 2025 at Kalafiogbene/Adekagbene with her prized secular songs of King Robert Ebizimor, Field Marshall Echo Toikumo, Hon. Agbeotu Teiyeibo, Bestman Doupere and moving religious tunes from the CDGM church in Elohim City Zion. 

Many are the dead that have journeyed to the underworld, sometimes lukewarmly  celebrated, but this pioneer of noble death, Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro, is different. No dead deserves a better celebration than Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro who will feel more ennobled at death if her philosophy and ideals become the moral pair of compass for this generation and beyond, particularly in Ogbotobo, Ayakoromo, Okoloba, Akugbene and Kalafiogbene/Adekagbene communities where her true historical roots of origin lie buried in varying degrees. Home Mrs Margaret Eyorozide Ekotoro has gone at last without any medical doctor's overly dramatic, puny resuscitation mutilations on the untainted healthy body with which she came into this world.

Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State