Bolouwei of Niger Delta, Tunde Smooth to Attend 2025 ljaw Media Conference as Father of the Day

The Bolowei of Niger Delta, Chief Tunde Smooth, has agreed to serve as Father of the Day at the forthcoming Ijaw Media Conference slated on 17 December, 2025.

The annual gathering, now in its second year, is organised by the Ijaw Publishers Forum and will focus on the theme “Safeguarding Niger Delta’s Natural Resources for Future Generations”.

Chief Smooth received the formal invitation on Tuesday when members of the Central Working Committee, led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo, visited him for a brief meeting.

During the visit, Akemotubo noted that this year’s theme reflects growing concern over the pressure on the region’s land and waterways. 

He stated that the forum aims to deepen public awareness, encourage fair and responsible reporting, and call attention to the duty of leaders to preserve the region’s heritage.

He observed that Chief Smooth’s longstanding contribution to cultural advancement and his steady involvement in regional affairs made him well suited for the honour.

Chief Smooth welcomed the delegation and spoke on the need for cooperation among community groups, professional bodies and traditional institutions. 

He praised the Forum for its efforts to use media as a means of protecting the interests of the Niger Delta and assured them of his full support for the conference.

He also appealed to other stakeholders across the Ijaw nation to join in initiatives that safeguard the environment and strengthen the region’s future.

Oborevwori Woos Investors, Says Time To Invest In Delta Is Now, Orders Immediate Rehabilitation Of Failed Sections Of Ubeji/Egbokodo/Refinery Road

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called on investors particularly Deltans at home and in the diaspora to take advantage of the state’s steadily improving socio-economic climate to invest in the State. 

The Governor who made the call on Friday in Ubeji, Warri South Local Government Area, while inaugurating a multi-million-naira hospitality and tourism investment, the Swiss International Rancho Valerie Hotel, said; “the time to invest in Delta State is now.”

 

“Warri is rising again, Delta State is progressing steadily. The shadows of yesterday have given way to the bright possibilities of today and the greater promises of tomorrow,” the Governor declared.

 

Saying the hotel is a bold testament to the rising economic profile of Warri, Oborevwori ordered the immediate rehabilitation of failed portion of the Ubeji/Egbokodo/Refinery Road. 

He said the new hospitality facility reflects the renewed confidence investors now have in Delta State, adding that Warri is reclaiming its place as Delta’s commercial and tourism hub.

 

According to him, the establishment of the hotel will not only provide premium accommodation,  but also stimulate local enterprise, create jobs, enhance community peace, and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic growth of the state.

 

He said: “This hotel is not just another project; it is a clear statement that Delta State is open for business. It affirms that our state is safe, investor-friendly, and capable of hosting world-class hospitality and tourism ventures".

 

Governor Oborevwori praised the hotel’s owner, Mr. Mode Akoma, describing the project as an inspiring story of vision, resilience, and determination. 

He commended Akoma’s choice to invest in his home community rather than elsewhere, calling it a demonstration of deep commitment to Delta’s development.

 

“If you had invited me to commission a hotel you built outside Delta State, I would not have attended. But I am proud that you chose to develop your community. This project brings jobs, brings peace, and brings progress,” he added.

 

The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to infrastructure renewal, enhanced security, and investor-friendly policies under the MORE Agenda. 

While congratulating the owners and management of Swiss International Rancho Valerie, he emphasized that the success of such projects underscores the limitless investment opportunities available in Delta State.

 

Earlier in his welcome address, General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Todowede Opeyemi, said the facility would provide exceptional hospitality services that meet international standard.

 

He added that the management is committed to contributing to the state’s development by helping unlock Delta’s rich tourism potential.

 

“Every guest who visits us deserves more than just a stay; they deserve an unforgettable experience, one that reflects our culture, our hospitality, and our warmth as a people,” Opeyemi said.

Ekanpou gives mother-inlaw, late Mrs. Margaret Ekotoro a befitting final burial rites at Kalafiogbene community in Delta

Francis Tayor

Kalafiogbene Community in Bomadi  Local Government Area of Delta State was on Thursday filled with personalities from all walks of life across the Niger Delta region, as the remains of late Mrs. Margaret Alhaji Ekotoro Oruserikeme, (Nee Okunbiri), the Rev. Mother of the CDGM Church Worldwide, and a great mother in-law of the famous Niger Delta born award winning literary icon cum member of the Delta State Board of Student Bursary/Scholarship, Dr. Ekanpou Gogi Enewaridideke, as he bids final farewell to his departed mother in-law in historic way to the amazement of family, friends, dignitaries and well wishers that graced the occasion.

The late Margaret Ekotoro was a renowned successful business woman and fashion designer in Western ljaw who lived a well fulfilled life in serving humanity and God over the past Nine decades before passing into eternal glory at age 99.

She was a devoted christian and the Rev. Mother of the Christ Divine Gospel Mission (CDGM) headquarters, Elohim City Zion, Kalafiogbene Community.

Meanwhile, the body of late Margaret Ekotoro leaves Safe Haven Hospital Mortuary Service Okumagba Layout, Warri at about 10:15AM on Thursday 27 November, 2025 in a motorcade to Miller Jetty NPA via speed boat to Kalafiogbene Community for christian funeral/night burial.

The corpse arrived Kalafiogbene at about 12:30AM for a brief stop over at her father's compound before onward procession to Elohim City Zion for lying in state.

Delivering his sermon at the funeral service, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Emomotimi Felix Timbor  described late Rev. Mother Margaret as a great woman that created positive impact in the church in particular, and the society in general.

Dr. Timbor said resurrection and judgement were at hand, hence he admonished believers as well as sinners for a positive change of heart as there is no repentance in the grave.

While praying God Almighty to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest, Timbor charged her children to immortalize their late mother legacy by promoting the good traits she radiated while on earth.

Immediately after the sermon and funeral service in accordance to the zion church doctrine, the remains of Mrs . Margaret Ekotoro was taken to the graveside and interred in her compound at about 5:30PM at Elohim City Zion.

However, At the grand reception/night social wake keep, Dr. Ekanpou was joined by family, friends, well wishers among other sympathizers to give his wonderful mother in-law a befitting final burial rites.

The social wake keep  was eventful and colourful as the children and inlaws of Mama danced with their loved ones and well wishers to the melodious and captivating sound beats of the king of ljaw owigiri highlife music South-South Region, Chief. Barrister Smooth alias the Paddle of Niger Delta.

Sympathizers where served with good meal and assorted drinks as Barrister Smooth thrilled guests with electrifying performance at Kalafiogbene community school field till dawn.

Mama was survived by 8 children, 57 grand children and 39 great grand children among which are; Mrs . Evelyn Bekere Kemasuode (JP), Chief. John Ekotoro, Mrs. Queen Makaraba, Comrade Elder Boro Ekotoro, Comrade Seaman Ekotoro, Hon. Monday Ekotoro, Mrs. Lucky Layefa Ekanpou and Mrs. Happy Gbenekama Truston.

Photo credit: Congress Newspaper

CAESAR IN ROME KILLS PIRATES, AMERICA SAVES CITIZENS, NIGERIA HOLDS FUNERALS

--Three Kidnaps, Three Nations  ... and One Giant Slap of Reality -

History has an odd sense of humour. It loves to tell the same story over and over, only changing the names of the characters. More than 2,000 years ago, Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates. The pirates thought they had pulled off the crime of the century. They demanded a ransom. Caesar, cool as the moon on a calm night, paid the ransom and walked free.  

But Caesar was not done. He went home, raised a naval force, hunted those pirates down, and wiped them out. Every last one of them. That’s what strength looks like -- it speaks softly, then strikes like lightning. Caesar didn’t send them a warning letter or hold a press conference. He showed them the kind of power you don’t forget.  

Fast forward to our own times. An American missionary named Philip Walton is kidnapped near the Niger–Nigeria border. The kidnappers probably thought it would be a long holiday for their wallets. But within hours, American intelligence was already racing towards the truth. Within days, U.S. Special Forces landed on foreign soil, stormed in like shadows in the night, grabbed their man, and flew him home. No noise. No delay. No excuses. Just capability at work.  

In every age, nations are tested. They face moments when their strength is questioned, their resolve challenged, and their pride wounded. Some rise to the challenge with swift and decisive action, showing the world that their people will never be abandoned or forgotten. Others remain silent, leaving events to write a story of weakness.  

Long ago, Caesar himself showed what strength meant. In distant lands, when Roman pride was threatened, he acted with speed and force so overwhelming that no one doubted his power. His enemies understood that harming Rome came with a cost too high to pay. That was the magic of strength -- it was not just the ability to defend, but to make the very idea of attack seem foolish.  

Today, America still shows that lesson. When her citizens are taken, far away in foreign lands, the weight of the nation is felt in moments. Rescue missions thunder across skies and seas, and everyone -- friend or foe -- knows that American lives are not up for negotiation. They are reclaimed. The act itself is more than a rescue; it is a warning. It says to the world: "We do not ask, we take back what is ours."  

But then came our moment, here in Nigeria. A Brigadier General, Uba -- not just a soldier, but a living emblem of our proud military -- was captured by insurgents. His life was stolen in violence, and his death left more than a family grieving; it left a nation questioning itself. There was no daring rescue. No show of strength to shake the forests and deserts where the killers hide. No retaliation so decisive that it echoed in the hearts of those who would try again. Only silence. Only loss.  

It is in moments like this that the difference between nations becomes sharp and clear. In one place, the enemy feels fear before they act. In another, they act without fear at all. Strength is not boastful. True strength is like a wall silently guarding a city, making attacks rare because attackers know they will be crushed. Weakness invites trouble. Where there is no credible response, danger grows bold.  

We must understand the lesson. Terror cannot be tamed by weak words. Criminals cannot be frightened by polite warnings. Extremists cannot be stopped by hesitation or delay. A state must have speed to move, power to strike, and the will to punish. Without those, nothing is safe -- not the cities, not the villages, not the people themselves. The nation’s pride becomes empty, and its enemies grow in confidence.  

If Nigeria is to change its story, it must embrace the truth: the military must not only defend but deter. Deterrence is like a shadow of power that follows an enemy long before they plan an attack. It is the knowledge that if harm is done, great harm will be returned. Punishment, swift and certain, is what makes the world step back. This is what keeps nations respected, feared, and often left alone.  

In this hard world, there are truly only two kinds of nations -- the ones whose citizens are rescued, and the ones whose citizens are mourned. We must choose which kind we wish to be. Strength is not arrogance. It is survival. History has never been a safe road; it has always belonged to the nations powerful enough to walk it without bowing to fear. And Nigeria must decide -- now -- that it will be one of them.

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State

Just-ln: Former Nigeria President, Goodluck Jonathan Caught in a Military Coup, Trapped in Guinea-Bissau

Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is reportedly among several high-profile leaders trapped in Guinea-Bissau following a sudden military takeover in the country.

Jonathan, who traveled to Bissau on a peace and mediation mission ahead of post-election consultations, finds himself in the midst of a volatile situation as soldiers seize control of key state institutions and abruptly halt the electoral process.

Early reports indicate that heavy gunfire resounded across the capital, Bissau, as the military asserted control, blocking major routes, shutting the nation’s borders, and placing political leaders under heavy guard. The coup leaders have justified their actions by claiming they aimed to “restore order” amid escalating political tensions.

Diplomatic sources confirm that efforts are currently underway to secure Jonathan’s safety, alongside other diplomats and officials ensnared in the turmoil. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing to facilitate his evacuation should the situation deteriorate further.

The atmosphere remains fluid, with regional organizations such as ECOWAS and the African Union closely monitoring developments and assessing potential intervention measures to prevent further destabilization in the already fragile West African sub-region.

The Economic Times Nigeria will continue to monitor the situation and provide timely updates as more details emerge.

Life After Grief: How Loss Creates a New Kind of Strength_By William Z. Bozimo

There comes a season in every human journey when the world suddenly becomes quieter. The phone stops ringing. The familiar footsteps fade. The laughter that once filled a room soon becomes a memory’s echo. In that stillness, we then discover a kind of loneliness that only grief can teach. 

Grief is not a visitor we invite. It often arrives without knocking; sometimes sudden like a storm, other times slow like a long twilight. It then rearranges the emotions of the heart and shifts our priorities. It exposes how fragile and precious the human journey truly is. But beneath its heavy cloak lies a strange transformative truth, proving that grief has the power to remake us.

When we lose someone, we also lose a part of ourselves. But in the process of all the sadness, we inherit something: their lessons, plus all their unspoken wishes; their stories and unfinished dreams. The people that we mourn become the silent architects of our becoming. Their absence in our lives will now become the compass that changes our direction afterwards.

Amidst the sober reflection following every loss, many will discover a new strength. Not loud but steady. That is the strength to wake up to a new day and chuckle without guilt. The peace to honour their memories without feeling like drowning in them. The willingness to fall in love again after the anguish. Grief is a sculptor that chisels away the unimportant and refines the fundamental. 

It also teaches empathy in a world that is so quick to judge and too slow to understand. It deepens the soul and widens the heart. Those who succeed through grief often communicate in a manner that the world desperately needs. If love is the gift that we show to our loved ones while they are still alive, then grief is the proof that the gift was real while it endured. 

And so, life after an intense misery becomes a subtle rebirth, and not a return to who we used to be before grief. But an emergence into who we will now become; an individual shaped by memories, grounded by all the sad experiences, and strengthened by the pain he survived. In the end, grief doesn’t destroy us. It remakes us; calmly, painfully, and beautifully. 

For those loved ones we lost, they never truly leave. They forever take a place in the deepest chambers of our hearts, becoming the invisible companions who walk with us into every new chapter.

✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

HON. TITO ZUOKUMOR: THE RARE GEM OF THE NIGER DELTA SOIL:- The Principal Who Led with a Loving Heart

-- A Sun Over Our Shores: A Brother to All --

Friends, family, brethren of the Niger Delta,  

today our hearts are heavy, yet filled with honour.  

We gather beneath the same clouds that once watched over him ,

a man whose name we speak not lightly,  

but with reverence, gratitude, and the calm pride of memory.  

Hon. Tito Ware‑ebi Zuokumor was not just among us ,

he was within us,  

running through our lives like the hidden streams beneath the mangrove roots,  

streams that feed even the deepest parts of our land.  

Honourable Tito Ware‑ebi Zuokumor…  

a son of Ojobo’s ancient oil‑blessed soil,  

born where the air smells of river and history,  

where the sunsets paint gold across the waters.  

He rose from that soil like the great iroko tree,  

offering shade to the tired,  

strength to the weary,  

and beauty to all who beheld him.  

He was the torchbearer in Oporomo Kingdom,  

a voice pitched strong for the Ijaw nation,  

a pillar who carried the weight others could not.  

Honourable Tito Ware‑ebi Zuokumor…  

our anchor in the tempest,  

that palm tree which never breaks though the wind may rage,  

that bridge over turbulent waters when our creeks swelled with trials.  

A rare gem indeed -- gold refined by fire and struggle,  

yet soft to the touch like morning dew resting on a plantain leaf.  

When storms came, he stood;  

when hope waned, he gave it life again.  

He was a principal by title and a principal by deed,  

for in his classroom of life everyone learnt a lesson  

in dignity, compassion, and the graceful power of humility.  

His authority was never about command , 

it was the natural respect given to a man  

whose every decision was woven with love and fairness.  

He led by walking among his people,  

by sitting under the same sun,  

by listening to the same drums.  

He stood in the Niger Delta struggle not as a distant observer,  

but as one of its sacred lifelines.  

Like the elder in the folktale who wrestled the crocodile to save the village child,  

he risked much to save many.  

His hands worked rough but gave soft rewards;  

his feet walked far but left gentle prints;  

his voice rose clear like the early morning songbird,  

calling all to remember our strength and unity.  

Tito gave without trumpet sound ,

no public display, no boasting.  

His giving was quiet but powerful,  

written upon the hearts of those  

whose cups he filled in their dry seasons.  

He was the bread for the hungry fisherman who returned without a catch,  

the counsel for the young leader unsure of which path to take,  

the laughter for the widow who felt forgotten.  

We called him friend.  

We called him brother.  

But in truth, we called him our own flesh,  

for his heart saw only family, never strangers.  

In the African folktale of the traveller and the hearthfire,  

there is one home where warmth never dies,

Tito was that home.  

He took everyone in, fed them,  

spoke with them as equals,  

and sent them away with courage in their pockets.  

Ah, the Delta mourns tonight.  

The creeks whisper his name like an old song,  

the mangroves bend as if bowing in prayer,  

the waves carry a gentler rhythm,  

as though even they know the water’s chief helper has departed.  

His absence is a hollow no tide can fill,  

a silence deeper than the riverbed where moonlight never reaches.  

We weep… but we remember.  

We remember the man who stood firm in the wind,  

whose voice was a shield when others stayed silent,  

whose courage was the spear that chased shadows away.  

We remember the smile that could lift the tides  

and the words that could steady any sinking boat.  

Even now, his love is a current running through our days.  

Even now, his courage whispers in the ears of young men preparing to lead.  

Even now, his generosity hangs in the air  

like the scent of ripe guava in the dry harmattan season.  

Honourable Tito…  

rare breed among men,  

gold in human flesh,  

sun over our shores,  

teacher of loyalty,  

keeper of hope,  

brother to the brokenhearted.  

We shall hold your name as a prayer in the night,  

as a promise in the morning,  

as a banner in the storm winds.  

We shall tell our children of the man  

who gave without counting the cost,  

who lived less for himself and more for the whole people,  

like the wise elder in the tale  

who planted mango trees not for himself,  

but so another generation might taste sweetness.  

And so, in this hour of remembrance,  

we bow our heads but raise our hearts.  

For though the earth now cradles your body,  

your spirit still hovers over the Niger Delta like light upon water,  

your laughter still hums through the creeks,  

your kindness still breathes in the mangroves.  

Goodbye, dear brother and friend.  

May the tides carry you gentle as a mother’s hand.  

May God’s light guide you safely into His harbour of peace.  

May your golden heart rest knowing it beat with the rhythm of the people.  

And we shall say…  

You were our heartbeat,  

our pillar,  

our rare gem,  

our sun,  

our Angel in human form —  

and your light shall never go out.

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State

DR. OTUARO: From Classrooms to Calm Waters: How Education is Restoring the Niger Delta--Planting Seeds of Knowledge to Harvest Peace--

In the oil-rich Niger Delta, where the tides have long carried both wealth and unrest, a quiet but determined force is reshaping the story. That force is Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, a man whose vision shines like a lighthouse guiding ships safely to shore. He stepped into leadership not merely to keep the fragile peace afloat, but to anchor it firmly to something lasting -- education.  

For Dr. Otuaro, peace is not an abstract dream but a house built brick by brick. And the bricks, he believes, are not guns nor gold, but minds enlightened through learning. Having lived and breathed the struggles of the Niger Delta, he knows that without developing people’s skills and knowledge, any peace achieved will be like a sandcastle washed away by the next wave of trouble.  

When he took the helm of the Programme in March 2024, he found an existing scholarship scheme, but rather than merely preserving it, he breathed new life into it like fresh rain on thirsty soil. The numbers speak for themselves – in less than two years, Dr. Otuaro has opened the door of higher education to over 7,700 students in Nigerian universities, in addition to sending 162 young men and women to pursue postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom. His achievements dwarf those of his predecessors, showing his tireless resolve to make education a river that flows freely to every corner of the Niger Delta.

He inherited just under two thousand students in Nigerian institutions and a handful abroad, but he refused to settle for mediocrity. With a budget that was not nearly enough, he sought and secured more funds to reach his ambitious goals. It was as though he looked at the horizon and saw generations of children whose futures depended on his willingness to act -- and he acted.  

Under his watch, the scholarship scheme has been protected from exploitation. No longer can shady hands snatch opportunities meant for deserving youths. With uncompromising firmness, he warned that the Programme’s scholarships are gifts of the people’s trust, not commodities for sale. His administration's insistence on fairness has been like a fresh wind clearing away the dust of corruption from the system.

In person, Dr. Otuaro speaks to students with warmth and conviction, urging them to not waste the rare chance that has been given to them. He reminds them that the government’s investment is a seed they must nurture through diligence, discipline, and a hunger for excellence. For him, each graduate is not just a statistic, but a beacon of hope for their community – proof that knowledge can break chains and open doors to a more harmonious future.  

Beyond the classrooms and lecture halls, Otuaro understands the deeper magic at play. When young minds are sharpened through learning, they return to their families and villages as agents of stability and progress. Poverty is weakened, crime loses its appeal, and communities begin to dream again. This, he believes, is how the Niger Delta will find its enduring peace – in the hearts and minds strengthened by education.

Through his reforms, expansions, and steadfast belief in the power of learning, Dr. Otuaro is not merely administering a Programme; he is writing a new chapter in the Niger Delta’s history. His vision stretches far beyond today – to a time when the children of fishermen, traders, and farmers will walk the halls of universities, their futures lit by the torch of opportunity.  

And so, in the calm glow of his work, one truth stands radiant: peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of hope. Dr. Dennis Otuaro is planting this hope in fertile ground, believing that someday, the Niger Delta will blossom into a garden where knowledge and harmony grow side by side. 

EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State

NNAMDI KANU: THE IMPERATIVE OF A POLITICAL SOLUTION_By: Senator Henry Dickson

I join well-meaning leaders, the people of the South East, and indeed well-meaning Nigerians to call for a political solution that will lead to the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on terms that will bring about the cessation of violence, the return of normalcy, and full integration for all.

This is not just for the people of the South East; I believe that this is a sentiment shared by all well-meaning Nigerians who want a united, peaceful, and just nation for all.

All Nigerians must condemn violence, especially the type that has occurred in the South East in recent years, as well as the terrorist activities in the northern part. Our sympathy must be for all victims and the losses they have incurred and continue to suffer even to this day. As a former police officer and a senior lawyer (former Attorney General), I feel personally touched when security officers are attacked and killed. We condemn violence and lawlessness wherever they occur.

The Nigerian state and its institutions have reacted in the typical manner every state must respond to a challenge of this kind to its sovereignty. This is the historical reality from Mandela to Boro, and up till date, around the world. The above examples and several others globally also show that reactions by the state, by way of arrest, trial, sentencing, and even conviction and execution of agitators, do not end agitations.

The solution usually lies in the initiation of a political process, midwifed by broad-minded leaders who place the national good over personal, political, and regional biases.

Legal processes do not address separatist agitations that are political and economic in nature. Historically, arrests, trials, convictions, and sentencing—even executions—do not solve these kinds of agitations. After the legal processes, what must follow is a sincere and holistic political solution that will create public confidence and sustain patriotism by all. The challenge is to create a Nigeria that all can trust and believe in, one they can fight and die for if necessary. This is the lesson from the arrest, trial, and sentencing of Nelson Mandela, who was convicted and jailed for 27 years, and that of Isaac Adaka Boro, who led the first separatist agitation against Nigerian statehood. In all these cases, genuine progress only emerged when broad-minded leaders initiated a political process that placed national interest above personal or political grievances and biases.

A more recent example is the peace process initiated by the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration, during which the government engaged leaders and agitators on resolving the Niger Delta crisis. This led to the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which has brought relative peace and stability to the region to the benefit of the entire country.

This was what General Gowon did, even after Boro and his comrades had been sentenced to death. He accepted the peace process spearheaded by the leaders of the Ijaw and Niger Delta, led by Harold Dappa-Biriye, and granted Boro full pardon. Not only that—he made it possible for them to join the federal forces to strengthen the defence of the Niger Delta areas which they knew better than the federal troops. And Boro and his comrades died fighting for a Nigeria they initially fought against. I call that leadership, vision, and broad-mindedness. Instructively, General Gowon took these decisions at the age of 32 in the midst of an unprecedented national crisis. 

It was a pleasure that, as Governor, I invited General Gowon, who is a father, to my state to lay a wreath in their memory at the Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park, which my government built, where I buried Boro’s bones after retrieving them from the Lagos cemetery after over 50 years.

At this time, it is the duty and responsibility of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not as a politician but as a statesman and the leader of Nigeria, to, with this conviction and sentencing irrespective of the outcome of the appellate processes which the defendants are entitled to pursue), begin a peace process that will get Nnamdi Kanu and the tendency he represents in the South East to renounce violence as a tool for pursuing their separatist agenda. The President as a national imperative should Initiate a broad peace process that will address historical imbalances, injustices, and grievances in all parts of the country and lay a foundation of a new nigeria founded on fairness, inclusion and justice for all. 

This is why we have continuously advocated for a restructured Nigeria, and the President—who was one of the leaders of this movement in NADECO and the Alliance for Democracy—is in a better position to make it happen. He will have our fullest support in doing so.

In view of the climate of instability and insecurity in the country, my advice to the government and security agencies is to take utmost care of the custody and safety of Nnamdi Kanu while legal and political processes last. He should not only be kept in a secure facility, he should be treated humanely, fairly, and safely.

With the prevailing security challenges, which have overstretched the security forces, our nation should avoid opening new battlefronts, to enable the security agencies concentrate maximally on flushing out terrorism and banditry ravaging parts of our country, especially in the North.

The President will have my full support in mobilising our national resources and working with allies to stop the ongoing ridicule and attempt to destroy the Nigerian state through persistent terrorist and fundamentalist jihadist attacks and ransom-induced banditry.

I call on the people of the South East, particularly the youths of Igboland, to be calm and join in the political processes that will deliver a restructured Nigeria that will work for all and address all grievances.

As Chairman of the South-South Senate Caucus, and as one of the leaders, I have started the process of reaching out to our colleagues in the South East and across the nation to ensure that the right steps are taken for the good of the country.

As everyone knows, I am available for any engagement that can lead to a restructured Nigeria that will work for all.

HSD.

Takeme and the narrative of Non-performance and Performance_By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou Ph'D.

There is a raging narrative in town. Chief Dr. Julius Takeme, the Executive Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area,  is the centre of this raging narrative in Burutu Council. Among professional rumour-mongers and wishy-washy thinkers, the raging narrative has bred flighty flights that endanger true perceptions and views. From the beloved gramophones of the anchors of this raging narrative no force can drown the resultant  verbal decibel, stridently amplified like the strings of a guitar twanged to capture the attention of all in a gathering. That Takeme the Executive Chairman of Burutu Local Government has done nothing in Burutu Council since he became the democratically elected chairman is quaintly intriguing.

Everywhere one turns to in Burutu Local Government Area, the narrative rages like harmattan fire, conquering and ravaging swathes of raffia palm forests. On the raging narrative that Dr. Takeme has done nothing in Burutu Council I journeyed to Burutu recently. Like the 'Egeretukpa' light fondly used by nocturnal hunters of animals and fishes in Arekandugo creek, I cast my investigative eyes on Burutu and saw the narrative  in clear outlines.

It would not be a fairytale to drum everywhere that Takeme has not done  anything developmentally meaningful and stunning in Burutu when the bandwidth required to trace the marks on the envisioned development  map conceptually created  is visibly beyond reach. On bandwidth deficiency  traceable to gratuitous policy analysts,  it is safer to drum everywhere  like the coucal (Otiti bird) that Takeme has done nothing in Burutu. Rather unapologetically, this is the path we must travel today, but not without the  verifying echoes of my visit to Burutu.

I am a seasoned forester accustomed to walking steadily on forest paths paved with 'Okekeye' wood. The seasoned forester I am for decades, I FOOTED around the headquarters of Burutu Council on 15 November 2025 . This is purposely done to be fully grounded and updated on the drummed developmental nothingness of Takeme in Burutu. Before me stood a 2.1 kilometres of internal roads around the council. Somebody told me it was a project taken on by Takeme. Within the radius of the council stood some new buildings alongside some renovated buildings, all numbering over eight. These buildings were speedily brought into existence within the one hundred days of Takeme's chairmanship. I asked if these were the only markers of Takeme's performance. Without responsive words I was only signalled to continue my 'legging'. So I continued my foot journey like the typical forester on the wooden handle of whose axe carried horizontally on the left shoulder hangs a piassava basket that still cries to be filled with both live and dead grubs

Walking some distance from where I saw both the new buildings and the renovated ones, a gigantic edifice sprang up before me  - a gigantic edifice in its embryonic stage of development. I saw engineers  and many others at work. I inquired what it was. They told me it was the rumoured  secretariat currently taken on by the council's chairman with amazing speed  -  an amazing speed strategically targeted to guarantee a comfortable and spacious working environment for  council staff and visitors. Clearly, this is  bound to enhance the productivity of the workers. It is likely to be a stunning architectural piece where all the departments in the council will be accommodated when completed. 

Some visible  distance away from the ultra-modern council secretariat I was conducted round another architecturally stunning gigantic building. It is another ultra-modern building specifically designed as a building for the conduct of legislative business among the elected councilors representing the various wards. When completed, it will be the centre for conduct of legislative business in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The headquarters of Burutu Council has a paramount ruler. Darkness walks the streets of Burutu as a paramount ruler at night.Takeme has dethroned this paramount ruler of darkness through the installation of solar-powered street lights. At night darkness no longer intimidates and rules the streets of Burutu since everywhere is now illuminated. Walking on the streets of Burutu, night has become another designated period of brightness that drives darkness from the streets of Burutu.The worrisome arrogance of darkness is no more.

What about the free medical attention given to all sons and daughters of Burutu that suffer afflictions of the eyes. People afflicted with problems of sight are freely given medical attention, including surgical operations where the health conditions demand it. For the poor the free medical attention powered by Takeme is a 'medical manna' from Heaven designed to make them healthful and increase their productivity at work.

Specifically targeted at those  with eye  health challenges, a free eye care programme has actually  kicked off in Burutu . The free eye programme started on 25 November 2025 and will  end in 30 November 2025. Within this designated period, 500 free cataract operations, 1000 free post-op medication packs, 500 free sunshades and 5000 free reading glasses will be given to people whose medical conditions require them. By this approach to health, afflicted people are given hope and lifeline. Even after all these activities envisioned to address the health challenges of Burutu people, some analysts would still deafen the world with the anachronistic mental poison that the chairman of Burutu Council has done nothing for Burutu in development terms. Can an afflicted society grow developmentally when their health challenges are not tackled rightly?

Takeme was democratically enthroned as the Executive Chairman of Burutu based on his promises of rapid development that draws on the resources of technocrats. Yet, even before a year old in his chairmanship, there is already a narrative that he is doing nothing in the council. There are echoes of idiosyncratic pathology in this narrative woven around Takeme.

On earth there are designated policy critics/analysts who who take on their task without a framework that guides their analysis of policies and executed government projects. For such critics and analysts, their success lies in producing acidic fury and the famous Shakespearean nothingness that subvert and derail the developmental trajectory  of a given administrator as this acidic fury and meaningless clangour only provoke distraction and stray from the developmentally healthy path.

The raging narrative on Takeme must be engaged 'juxtapositionally' for the production of healthy, balanced and believable result when one realises that Takeme has a development vision that aligns with the MORE Agenda of Governor Oborevwori of Delta State. Critics without a  theoretical framework required to be drawn on for a believable analysis habitually forget this component of criticism and policy analysis and end up embarrassingly as  jarring notes.

Dispel all hesitations.Let all the Burutus subscribe to the narrative oath that Takeme has done nothing in Burutu. Yes, Takeme has actually done nothing, but I saw gigantic secretariat and legislative house being constructed! I also saw 2.1 kilometres of internal roads completed and other completed projects already highlighted. Could all these existing projects be projects powered by Artificial Intelligence in Burutu Council? Have we progressed digitally to the height where AI-powered projects could be physicalised?

Probably, the critics and analysts of Burutu Council would have struck a chord if they had said Takeme's best in performance does not meet their prescriptions and expectations. The zero-performance attributed to him killed the merit in their criticism of the chairman's approach to council administration because the available performance statistics contradict and invalidate their dramatised categorisation of Takeme in development terms. Could this be the equivalent of baying for one's blood without a just cause?

Some people are blessed with discernment while others labour to have a sprinkle of discernment. To all those endowed with discernment, they know that it is the man on the dugout canoe the hippopotamus seeks to destroy in the guise of searching for the dugout canoe.There is something quaintly interesting about the refrain that Takeme has done nothing in Burutu. To retain the quaint gratification the narrative refrain provokes, let us unceasingly parrot that Takeme has done nothing in Burutu, even when the apostles of this narrative refrain share a buried ironic alignment with it in undertones rather than in overtones. In the deeply buried thoughts of the apostles of the narrative refrain, Takeme is a developmentally healthy tree with buds bound to produce healthy and delicious fruits when his ongoing   pioneering legacy projects are eventually completed.

 Philosophically for Izonebi Alfred, only a ripe bush mango attracts attention. Evilly purposed or benevolently purposed, Takeme perpetually lives on the lips of people because he is a ripe bush mango with a characteristic magnetic pull. Therefore, it must now be comfortably settled that the narrative that Takeme has done nothing for Burutu must be a quote misquoted; it must be the product of a misunderstood phenomenon but now understood and mastered with all the nuances clearly identified, without being further puzzled and gaslighted by bandwith-deprived and vengeful policy analysts strategically at work for spatial visibility.

Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State

Just-ln: Lawuru to Serve as Guest of Honour at Ijaw Media Conference 2025

The President of Egbema Brotherhood, Alaowei Promise Lawuru, has accepted to serve as a Guest of Honour at the forthcoming Ijaw Media Conference 2025.

The annual event in its second edition is put together by Ijaw Publhlishers Forum, with the theme w Media Conference, themed "Safeguarding Niger Delta's Natural Resources for Future Generations".

The youthful politician cum businessman received invitation to serve the role on Monday when a delegation of the Central Working Committee led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo paid him a courtesy visit on Monday.

In his presentation, Akemotubo explained that this year’s theme was chosen out of concern for the growing strain on the region’s land and waters. 

The Publisher of WaffiTV stressed that the forum wants to strengthen public understanding, support honest reporting, and encourage leaders to protect what the Niger Delta holds for the next generation, adding that Lawuru’s history of service and steady involvement in community work made him a natural choice for the role.

Chief Lawuru welcomed the invitation and spoke warmly about the need for shared responsibility among stakeholders and groups such the IPF.

He commended the Forum for using media to defend the region’s interests and promised full support for the conference. 

Lawuru further urged other stakeholders across the Ijaw nation to lend their weight to efforts that safeguard the environment.

Unlawful Disconnection: Agbarho Residents Issue NERC, BEDC 48 Hours Deadline to Restore Power Over Blackout or Ready for Legal Battle

Some aggrieved residents in Agbarho layout have petitioned the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),  Asaba, BEDC headquarter, Abuja and Delta state government to intervene by appealing  to them to call to order the Agbarho branch, Benin Electricity distribution Company (BEDC by reconnecting residents properties which were disconnected within 48 hours.

The petitioners described the  disconnection an  unlawful action  and want the firm to reconnect them within two days or seek redress for justice, fairness and equity.

The petitioners, Olorogun Ezekiel Okorode Esq.pnm and Mr. Cletus Opukeme who signed the petition for and on behalf of the affected aggrieved residents in New Agric phase two layout, Agbarho town in Ughelli North LGA Delta state.

According to the petitioners ” Despite the ongoing petitions before BEDC Management and the NERC Asaba Forum concerning the unilateral, unjustified migration to Band A and the accompanying fraudulent estimated bills of ₦95,000 to ₦100,000 monthly imposed on mostly unmetered residents.

What makes your conduct even more high-handed and indefensible is that upon receiving the outrageous estimated bill of ₦95,000, I still acted in good faith and made a substantial payment of ₦30,000. Yet, rather than acknowledge this demonstration of responsibility, you escalated your vendetta, choosing instead to target and disconnect multiple homes in the community without notice, contrary to all known NERC regulations”

The petition which also copied BEDC headquarter, and Delta state government, reads below in full:

MR EBUKA ANTHONY .

STATION MANAGER,

BEDC, AGBARHO .

PETITION:RE = YOUR UNLAWFUL DISCONNECTION, ABUSE OF POWER, AND WILLFUL DISREGARD OF PENDING PETITIONS BEFORE BEDC & NERC ASABA FORUM — DEMAND FOR RECONNECTION WITHIN 48 HOURS

Dear Sir,

I write in the strongest terms to condemn your vindictive, malicious and completely unlawful disconnection of electricity supply to several apartments in New Agric Layout, Agbarho, despite the ongoing petitions before BEDC Management and the NERC Asaba Forum concerning the unilateral, unjustified migration to Band A and the accompanying fraudulent estimated bills of ₦95,000 to ₦100,000 monthly imposed on mostly unmetered residents.

What makes your conduct even more high-handed and indefensible is that upon receiving the outrageous estimated bill of ₦95,000, I still acted in good faith and made a substantial payment of ₦30,000. Yet, rather than acknowledge this demonstration of responsibility, you escalated your vendetta, choosing instead to target and disconnect multiple homes in the community without notice, contrary to all known NERC regulations.

Your actions violate:

1. NERC’s Connection & Disconnection Regulations 2007, which strictly prohibit disconnection while a billing dispute or petition is pending.

2. NERC Customer Protection Regulations, which forbid disconnection of customers who have made part-payment on a disputed bill.

3. Established BEDC procedures requiring proper notice, due process, and respect for ongoing regulatory complaints.

4. The principle that unmetered customers must not be subjected to arbitrary tariff bands without meeting required conditions, including metering.

This reckless, punitive approach has caused economic losses, including the destruction of stored food, disruption of business activities, and significant domestic hardship for families, children, and the elderly. Your conduct has also heightened communal tension, as your actions appear targeted, personal, and deliberately confrontational.

Let it be stated clearly that you acted outside your lawful powers, and therefore you bear personal liability for the damages caused. Corporate cover does not protect an official who acts contrary to regulations and outside the scope of his lawful authority.

OUR DEMAND

You are hereby given 48 hours (2 days) to:

1. Reconnect all disconnected apartments in New Agric Layout;

2. Cease further harassment and illegal disconnections pending NERC’s determination of the petition;

3. Comply fully with NERC regulations governing complaint resolution, metering, and billing.

 

FAILURE TO COMPLY

Upon your failure or refusal to act within 48 hours, I will proceed to:

Institute legal action against you personally, as well as BEDC;

File a formal misconduct petition before NERC Abuja for disciplinary sanctions;

Seek damages for economic loss, destroyed food items, emotional distress, and regulatory breaches;

Escalate the matter to civil-rights bodies and the press.

Let this serve as your final notice.

Yours faithfully,

Olorogun Ezekiel Okorode Esq.pnm.

For Myself and on Behalf of Affected Residents of New Agric Layout

Agbarho, Delta State

PRESS RELEASE: AGBARHO BEDC STATION MANAGER CONTINUES VINDICTIVE DISCONNECTIONS DESPITE PENDING PETITIONS AND GOOD-FAITH PAYMENT BY RESIDENTS

Residents of New Agric Layout, Agbarho, have condemned the ongoing vendetta-style disconnection spree carried out by the Station Manager of BEDC Agbarho Business Unit, describing his actions as lawless, intimidating, and a reckless abuse of office.

This development occurred despite pending petitions before BEDC and the NERC Asaba Forum challenging the unilateral migration of the community to Band A and the issuance of fraudulent estimated bills ranging from ₦95,000 to ₦100,000 monthly, even though most residents are unmetered.

In a shocking twist, one of the complainants—who had been handed an outrageous estimated bill of ₦95,000—made a good-faith payment of ₦30,000. Yet the Station Manager allegedly ignored this and intensified his targeted disconnections, escalating tension and communal discomfort.

Residents have reported significant economic losses, including spoilt food items due to lack of power, disruption of business activities, and severe domestic discomfort. Many describe the actions as punitive, deliberate, and intended to intimidate residents who dared to question the unlawful tariff migration.

The residents insist that they will not be cowed, and have vowed to pursue legal redress, including proceedings against the Station Manager in his personal capacity, for violating NERC regulations and inflicting unwarranted hardship on the community.

They call on NERC, BEDC Headquarters, and the Delta State Government to intervene urgently to restore fairness, order, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Featured Article: WHEN KINDNESS BECOMES A REVOLUTIONARY ACT_ By William Z. Bozimo

There was a time in life when kindness was as common as the morning sun. A neighbour’s pot cooked for the street, doors stayed open, and a child could drink water from any neighbourhood without fear of poison or scepticism. We walked in a world where humanity was not a performance but a natural reflex. Today, that world now feels like a faded photograph; though precious, it is trapped behind glass.

Somewhere along the way, kindness became expensive. Distrust became cheaper than laughter. We began to weigh generosity the way merchants weigh gold, and became afraid that giving too much would make us poor, forgetting that the soul only dries up when it stops flowing. Now we live in an era where compassion is treated like a rare currency; often earned by a few, earnestly desired by many, and replaced with emojis, slogans, and digital applause. 

Help is now packaged for the camera, internet, and the newspaper headlines while generosity has become the new loudspeaker. Empathy now needs an audience before it breathes. But the truth remains: kindness is not weak, nor is it naïve. Kindness is a rebellion in this instant because in a world that teaches people to harden their hearts, the ones who choose softness are the warriors. In a generation where some individuals are trained to look away, the one who bends to lift another is already disrupting the system.

When a society celebrates cruelty, the peaceful soul becomes a threat to the hierarchy of things. No accomplished revolution ever started with bullets; they all began with just an open heart. Things like a stranger offering shelter to the displaced, a friend sharing their food with others, a nurse choosing patience instead of anger, a leader listening instead of shouting, and a citizen refusing to hate some people for no justifiable reason just because others persuaded them to do so. 

Such a great mindset changes more destinies than we all can ever imagine.

Kindness is not just about what you give, it is more about what you risk for others such as the risk of always being misunderstood for your compassion and often taken advantage of, while you give without receiving anything in return, and carrying someone else's weight while your own knees are still trembling. And yet, the brave ones still choose it. For in every society; both the broken and blessed, some people cling to kindness like a sacred duty.

They are the ones who will rise before dawn to care for the elderly who need assistance. The ones who pay school fees for a child they may never meet again in their lifetime. The ones who forgive those who hurt them, even when every emotion screams against it. The ones that would lend their time, strength, voice, and resources without asking for any credit whatsoever. They are called the true revolutionaries. The world will not get better because we built higher walls or sharper weapons. It will recover because ordinary people choose extraordinary compassion.

The world will get better if someone decides to carry light into another person’s darkness. Charity that is quiet and unadvertised still exists. So, if you come across this write-up and your heart still bends towards goodness, do not think of yourself as soft. You are a rare gem, you are strong, and you are part of the quiet army fighting to return humanity to itself. And in this age of cold hearts and loud cruelty, your kindness is not just a virtue, it is a revolution.

✍🏽 William Z. Bozimo

Veteran Journalist | Columnist | National Memory Keeper

Service of Song for late Rev. Mother Margaret Ekotoro Holds Today 25 Nov, at Ojikpata in Oruwhorun Town

The families of Ofomuware and Asamabiri of Kalafiogbene Community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, has announced the final burial rites of their beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother, late. Mrs. Margaret Alhaji Ekotoro Oruserikeme (Nee Okunbiri), the Rev. Mother of the CDGM Church Worldwide who passed unto glory at the rightful age of 99.

According to the burial programme signed by the duo, Mr. Moses Edougha and Chief. John Ekotoro stated as follows:

25th Tuesday November, 2025:

Service of songs at John Ekotoro Street, Ojikpata in Oruwhorun Town by the second transformer, opposite the White House after Railway.

Time: 4PM Prompt.

Final Burial Rites:

27th Thursday November, 2025:

7AM: Body leaves Safe Haven Hospital Mortuary Service Okumagba Layout, Warri via NPA Waterside to Kalafiogbene Community, Bomadi LGA, Delta State.

9AM-5PM: Religious Commendation/Requiem Service and lnterment at the Christ Divine and Gospel Mission (CDGM), Elohim City Zion Kalafiogbene. 

6PM Till Dawn: All night social wake keep.

Music by Chief. Barrister Smooth, the Paddle of Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, it will interest the public to note that, the deceased is the beloved mother of the popular Warri based marine business Don and great philanthropist, High Chief. John Ekotoro whose good legacy is felt across the entire ljaw nation in particular, and Niger Delta at large.

However, the family and children of the deceased has use this medium to invite friends, loved ones, well wishers and the general public to join them on Thursday 27 November, 2025 at Kalafiogbene Community in given their departed mother a befitting final burial rites.

Chief Dr. Julius Takeme's Tentacles of Development_By: Yerinmene Ekanpou

Everything on this planet earth has a traceable beginning. Anything without any traces of beginning does not  have a real beginning. In the beginning the land was without form, void . And darkness was upon the surface of the land . Crickets were seen  chirping day and night in the land due to lack of infrastructural development. The people have been waiting for a man to rescue them from developmental darkness. From the incessant darkness and incessant chirping of crickets in the land the people actually needed a developmental redeemer with a vision . 

After a long wait,  the developmentally audacious man of the people  has finally emerged and  that man is Dr. Takeme the Executive Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area.The Burutu Council Chairman has begun to devour  the land developmentally, warding off the incessant darkness and  the crickets chirping incessantly. 

The chirping crickets have been driven away  from the land; in their place solar lights have been installed in Burutu, using his  tentacles of  development . Who could this outstanding man be ? He is the  man the people of Burutu clamour because he has a vision for the people.

 Dr. Takeme has spread his tentacles of development over the land. The tentacles of development spread, he has created huge impact and brought development to the  land within a short period of time since he assumed his political office.  The celebrated Olotu of Obotebe Kingdom is doing wonderfully with his tentacles of development in Burutu Council.

Takeme  assumed office on July 15th 2024. Right from his assumption of office as chairman, he has been very productive in the discharge of his duties and as a result of this development, the entire Burutu people are excited. 

Some persons may be tempted to dismiss this piece as a praise-singing one without some examples given. Notably, among some of Takeme's projects are  construction of ultra modern public toilet in Burutu community; rehabilitation of official residence for heads of departments; construction of principal secretary’s residence; construction of Burutu Customary Court President’s official residence; establishment of First Bank branch in Burutu community; distribution of palliatives to flood affected communities; distribution of health materials to Labuloseigha and Ofougbene communities; reinstatement of sweepers to sweep Burutu community; recruitment of security personnel and appointment of credible personnel to the executive arm of government . Projects currently in progress are the construction of ultra modern Burutu secretariat and construction of Burutu legislative chambers. These are major infrastructural projects designed to provide modern and conducive environment for all categories of workers in Burutu Council. 

 Towards better health for Burutu people,  25th of November to 30th November 2025  will be declared a Period for free eye cataract and free surgery that will take place in Burutu, and this is  initiated by Dr. Takeme. This free eye programme is another window created by Takeme to assist people who have eye problem and other physical health challenges to be given free medical attention in Burutu Council. 

 For those who have physical health challenges, they should  participate in this free health care programme that is initiated by Burutu Local Government Council under the auspices of  the Executive Chairman of Burutu Local Government Arrea, Chief Dr Julius Takeme .

The ongoing ultra modern secretariat complex and the state of the legislative Chambers are expected to stand as significant development markers for Takeme when completed. 

By my reasoning drawn from the development projects of Takeme highlighted above, everyone in Burutu Council is hereby implored to support the Executive Chairman  towards the realisation of his development vision. However, on the part of Dr. Takeme, I am very sure that he will always maintain the tempo of his development vision until his tenure is gloriously over. 

 

Yerinmene Ekanpou writes from Burutu, Delta State.