A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo Central, Chief Francis Inegbeniki has insisted he had no plan whatever to disrupt Saturday By-Elections as alleged by Edo Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Emperor Jarret Tenebe.
Tenebe, had alleged Inegbeniki was mobilising youths from neighboring States to disrupt the elections on Saturday in Esan Land (Edo Central Senatorial District)
The APC chieftain also called for probe of Inegbeniki over the alleged murder of Police Inspector Unoh Akor.
But, in his reaction on Friday, Inegbeniki described the allegations by Tenebe as malicious, false and misleading.
“My attention has been drawn to a press release signed by Emperor Jarret Tenebe, where my name was mentioned as one of those mobilising thugs to disrupt the Saturday election in Esan Land (Edo Central Senatorial District).
“I take exception to that reckless statement. It is clear Tenebe should not be taken seriously. Jarret is known for talking before thinking.”
Inegbeniki urged all peace loving people of Edo Central Senatorial District to go about their civic duties by going out to vote on Saturday.
“Once again, I deny any involvement in the death of the Police man, Inspector Unoh Akor, I was not on Airport road on the day of the incident neither did I plan or conspired with anyone.
” I am innocent of the allegations. It is now clear that it was Jarret Tenebe that framed up the allegations against me just to smear my hard earned reputation. I was not involved..”
Calabar, the Cross River State capital, came alive on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, in a display of pageantry, promise, and progress that will be remembered for years to come. The city was abuzz with celebration as Governor Bassey Edet Otu, backed by the Federal Government, unveiled a quartet of transformational initiatives and projects, all in a single day, signaling the dawn of a new chapter in the “People’s Paradise.”
The special guest of honour, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presided over the events in what felt less like routine governance and more like a festival of milestones. From aviation to education, from enterprise to digital innovation, the day’s activities painted a bold picture of Cross River’s determination to rise above past limitations and seize its future.
The day began with a gathering at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, where dignitaries, business leaders, and everyday citizens converged to witness the commissioning of two state-of-the-art Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jets, each with a 100-passenger capacity.
The aircraft, newly acquired for Cally Air, are to be operated by ValueJet Airlines pending the state’s Air Operator’s Certificate. For Governor Otu, this was more than an addition to a fleet; it was a strategic leap to make Cross River a year-round tourism and investment hub.
“Tourism is the heartbeat of our economy, but it cannot thrive without seamless connectivity,” Otu declared. “These aircraft are bridges to opportunity, prosperity, and a sweeter future for our people.”
Vice President Shettima, delivering President Tinubu’s message, hailed the move as “an economic catalyst” and pledged the Federal Government’s support for sub-national investments that create jobs, attract visitors, and promote trade.
With this, Cross River now boasts a fast-growing fleet: two Boeings and two Bombardiers, with plans for more acquisitions. Coupled with the ongoing construction of the Obudu International Cargo Airport and the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, the state is positioning itself as a logistics and tourism powerhouse.
From the airport, the celebration moved to the heart of Calabar, where the remodeled and fully digitalized Cross River State Library Complex was unveiled. The transformation is striking: blending a traditional public library with a cutting-edge ICT Hub that offers free access to e-learning platforms, coding labs, and digital entrepreneurship resources.
“This is no longer just a library,” Otu remarked. “It is a gateway to the future, especially for our young people. Here, knowledge meets innovation.”
The facility reflects the administration’s vision to make Cross River a digital hub in Nigeria’s South-South region, empowering its youthful population to compete in the global knowledge economy.
The day’s final stop was the 8th Expanded National MSME Clinic at the Calabar International Conference Centre, a vibrant convergence of small business owners, startup founders, and federal agencies.
Here, the Vice President announced the disbursement of ₦250,000 unconditional grants to selected outstanding entrepreneurs in Cross River. “This is part of our resolve to take the Federal Government’s support directly to the doorsteps of businesses nationwide,” Shettima said.
Governor Otu, on his part, pledged continued support for small enterprises, stating, “Beyond agriculture, we are building an economy where MSMEs thrive and drive innovation.”
More than the individual projects, the day carried a symbolic weight: the Federal Government’s open endorsement of Governor Otu’s development agenda. In each speech, Vice President Shettima praised the governor’s vision, describing his leadership as “what strong sub-national governance should look like.”
For many Cross Riverians, the events represented a turning point, not just in infrastructure, but in confidence. Hoteliers see steadier guest flows on the horizon. Event planners anticipate renewed conference tourism. And young innovators now have a physical space to grow ideas into enterprises.
Tuesday’s four milestones: two new aircraft, a digital library, an MSME boost, and federal validation are interconnected steps in a broader strategy to make Cross River a competitive player in tourism, trade, education, and technology.
As one tourism entrepreneur, Bassey Ekefre, put it, “These planes don’t just carry passengers; they carry the promise of a new era for Cross River.”
With each smooth take-off from Calabar, each student logging onto a digital course, and each small business receiving a lifeline, the “Season of Sweetness” extends its reach, proving that with vision, partnership, and action, a state can indeed spread its wings and soar.
…says scheme created without bias towards ethnicity
…reaffirms support for Otuaro’s leadership
Socio-cultural crusaders in the Niger Delta, the Izon Cultural Heritage Centre (ICHC), have cautioned some stakeholders in the region against misrepresenting the mission and vision of establishing the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The coordinator, ICHC, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, on Wednesday, issued this statement against the backdrop of comments made by a certain official purportedly representing the Olu of Itsekiri in the PAP.
The ICHC boss asserted that the PAP was established as a federal initiative aimed at addressing the needs of its documented 30,000 beneficiaries from the region, and not to cater to the interests of any traditional rulers or their councils.
He said the Amnesty Programme is intended for the empowerment, reintegration, and welfare of beneficiaries from various ethnic groups in the Niger Delta, without favouritism or bias towards any particular group.
He said the ICHC is strongly opposed to any attempts to suggest that the PAP operates under the influence of the Itsekiri traditional authorities.
Kemepadei emphasised that the programme is independent and should not be subjected to directives from any monarch’s palace.
He urged monarchs and their representatives to avoid statements that could incite discord or spread misinformation about the PAP.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability within the region, which, according to the group, is crucial for governance and development.
Kemepadei reminded all stakeholders that the focus of the PAP had shifted from disarmament to reintegration, asserting that the Itsekiri community, like all other ethnicities, must understand this shift, and any prior claims for disarmament cannot be revisited.
The ICHC boss advised monarchs to uphold the dignity of their offices and act with the integrity expected of their thrones, suggesting that if any monarch seeks to become involved in the PAP as former militants, they should pursue reconciliation through appropriate channels with their state governments.
The statement noted, “The ICHC strongly condemns the recent remarks by the Itsekiri Council’s representative, who has attempted to mislead the public by suggesting that the PAP under Dr. Dennis Otuaro is skewed against the Itsekiri people.
“Such claims are not only false but are calculated to stir unnecessary ethnic tension. While the representative claimed he had been involved in the disarmament phase years ago, he should know that that era is over.
“The PAP is now in its reintegration phase, which operates strictly based on the existing list of beneficiaries, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, and others alike, without room for ethnic favouritism, blackmail or political manipulation.
“We remind him that his appointment as sole Itsekiri representative to the PAP Office in 2024, courtesy of the Olu of Itsekiri’s recommendation, does not confer authority on him to dictate programme policy or undermine the Administrator, as the PAP cannot answer to the palace.
“The PAP is a Niger Delta-wide peace instrument, not an ethnic bargaining chip for palace politics.”
Kemepadei reiterated the ICHC’s full confidence in the leadership of Dr. Dennis Otuaro, who, since assuming office, had worked with diligence, inclusivity, and commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted, “His (Otuaro’s) track record of engaging stakeholders across ethnic divides, and ensuring fairness in programme delivery stands as a testament to his capability and dedication to the beneficiaries.
“Let it be known: the PAP belongs to the entire Niger Delta, not the Itsekiri people and its continuity and success demand unity, not division.”
The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, His Majesty Udurhie I, has implored the dederal government to urgently intervene in the worsening condition of federal highways in the Southsouth region.
The monarch, while describing the roads as “death traps” stated that not only are lives threatened, the situation was crippling economic activities, and fueling insecurity in the region
Speaking at his palace in Jesse, Ethiope West council area of Delta State, the traditional ruler said the state of key federal roads had reached an alarming level, listing critical but severely deteriorated routes such as the Benin flyover, Benin-Sapele, Sapele-Warri, Warri-Ughelli, Ughelli-Patani, Patani-Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt-Eket, and Port Harcourt-Calabar roads.
“We no longer have roads in Southsouth Nigeria. What we have now are not motorable roads, they are death traps,” Udurhie I declared.
He particularly criticized the slow pace of work along the Benin-Warri route, citing the Ologbo section of the project.
“Go to Ologbo, the contractors are just rigmaroling in one spot. For three years now, they’ve not moved. If they finish one side, they put up a barricade, and you expect all the trucks from Northern and Western Nigeria heading to the Southsouth to squeeze through? It’s unacceptable,” he lamented.
Continuing he said: “You want to go to Calabar now? Prepare yourself for a two-day journey.
“If you venture onto those roads, people trekking can meet you, dispossess you of your valuables, and trek back.”
The royal father called on the Federal Government to take advantage of the short dry season in the Niger Delta to fix the worst portions, noting that many failed sections span only two to three kilometres.
Expressing optimism in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, the monarch stressed the urgency of deliberate action.
“I know that the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for this country. But in meaning well, we desire special attention in the Southsouth,” he said.
Following incessant attacks by faceless groups allegedly from Warri, a group known as the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) has reiterated that the attackers never embraced the Presidential Amnesty Programme when it was proclaimed by then President, late Uma’ru Yar’Adua in 2009.
This was contained in a response to the latest attacks, which IPDI said were by those described as manipulative Internet groups.
The statement IPDI reacted to was co-signed by the accusing group’s National President, Comrade Ozobo Austin and National Secretary, Comrade Peter Luke, last Sunday.
According to IPDI, it was becoming evident that the incessant attacks on the Administrator of the PAP, Chief (Dr) Brutu Otuaro, were borne out of primordial sentiments because he is an Ijaw man from the famous Gbaramatu Kingdom.
The reply stated in part that, “The attention of IPDI has been drawn to a statement by a pseudo and non-existent group to blackmail the revered and most performing administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro.
“We are, however, not perturbed, knowing fully well the Presidency and all well-meaning Niger Deltans could attest to the credible performance of Dr Otuaro.
“It is becoming evident that the incessant attacks on the Administrator of the PAP Dr. Otuaro, are borne out of primordial sentiments because he is a Gbaramatu Ijaw man.”
The statement read further that; “It is ignorance that makes the cat to attack a lion for a fight and believe that they are of the same breed if they all have black spotted skins, what the miscreants and mischief makers do not know is that IPDI is a revered rights advocacy group, known for its proactiveness in the defense of Niger Delta rights against oppression and marginalization over the years, so describing IPDI as faceless group is laughable and it shows the level of ignorance.
“We wish to reiterate that no disarmament and demobilisation of the Presidential Amnesty programme was held in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. The first, second and third phases of the programme were held in Agbarho and 3 battalions in Delta State.
“We are using this medium to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the National Security Adviser to caution the concerned youths, and if the government fails to call them to order, their activities may disrupt peace and stability in the Niger Delta”, the statement added.
The Coalition of Niger Delta Youth Stakeholders (CNDYS) has expressed strong support for the recent statement made by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s candidacy for the 2027 general elections.
Following an emergency consultative meeting, the coalition praised Otuaro’s “bold and strategic” call for regional unity in backing President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Convener of the CNYDS, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, emphasised that President Tinubu’s administration had shown an unprecedented commitment to the peace, stability, and development of the Niger Delta.
The coalition pointed to significant initiatives, including increased budget allocations for education through PAP, support for the South-South Development Commission, funding for the Niger Delta Development Commission, and various vocational training and empowerment programmes, as evidence of the President’s dedication to the region.
Kemepadei affirmed that Dr. Otuaro’s assertion reflected the confidence the Niger Delta people have in President Tinubu, citing his track record over the past two years in promoting peace and socio-economic growth as substantial proof of his genuine partnership with the region.
The coalition’s Convener also urged their constituents to remain vigilant against political actors attempting to disrupt unity and progress ahead of the elections, highlighting the importance of collective action for the region’s advancement.
“We call on all Niger Delta youths, community leaders, and stakeholders to resist the antics of desperate politicians and stand solidly behind the only candidate with a proven agenda for our people; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement said.
Reaffirming their unwavering position, Kemepadei stated: “We wholeheartedly restate our full backing for Dr. Dennis Otuaro’s timely and visionary call to rally the Niger Delta solidly behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
“Dr. Otuaro has shown true leadership by placing the collective interest of our region above personal or partisan considerations. His proactive engagement with stakeholders and his steadfast commitment to peace, development, and empowerment perfectly align with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He further commended Otuaro for leveraging his office as PAP’s Administrator to expand life-changing opportunities for ex-agitators and youths through enhanced education, vocational training, and post-training empowerment programmes.
He pledged, “We stand with Dr. Otuaro because his message is the message of progress. We commend him for echoing the aspirations of the Niger Delta people and for defending our collective future under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure that President Tinubu’s second term mandate is delivered, so that the gains we are witnessing today will not only be sustained but multiplied for generations to come.”
Cross River State Deputy Governor Peter Odey has described as “unholy and unjust” the plight of the displaced inhabitants of Bakassi Peninsula following its ceding to the Republic of Cameroon and the consequent loss of 76 oil wells.
Odey, who spoke at the inaugural Nigeria International Coastal Border Platform Summit in Uyo, lamented the condition of the residents as an “international, African, and national abandonment.”
Speaking before an audience of coastal state Deputy Governors, maritime experts, security chiefs, lawmakers, and traditional rulers, Odey said: “We talk about international cooperation, yet the people of Bakassi have been left behind—forgotten by both the international community and the Nigerian state,” he declared. “Since the unjust and unholy ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula in 2012, our people have been living as strangers in their own country. It is an affront to justice and humanity.”
The Deputy Governor painted a stark picture of the conditions in Bakassi, lamenting the absence of any meaningful intervention from either national or international bodies.
“That area has been abandoned without a single form of sustained support—no international assistance, no African solidarity, no tangible action from our own national government,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “We cannot, in good conscience, continue to hold conferences and issue communiqués while a whole community languishes in despair.”
Odey urged the newly inaugurated platform to go beyond rhetoric and make the Bakassi question a central focus of its agenda.
“I hope and I pray that part of our deliberations here will look into the plight of the impoverished and forgotten people of the Bakassi Peninsula,” he said. “May these deliberations inspire innovative solutions, foster unity, and pave the way for lasting partnerships that protect our oceans, respect our borders, and restore dignity to the displaced.”
The summit, declared open by Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, attracted a high-powered delegation, including the Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Surv. Adamu Adaji; a representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral E. I. Ogalla; lawmakers from coastal states; top government functionaries; and community leaders. The event featured technical paper presentations by maritime and border governance experts.
At the close of proceedings, the Chairman of the Platform and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, presented a 10-point communiqué, co-signed by deputy governors of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo States. The resolutions included harmonizing maritime laws, strengthening community-based intelligence networks, integrating climate resilience into border policy, and dedicating part of maritime tax and oil revenue to coastal security.
While the summit’s resolutions spanned a broad spectrum of maritime governance priorities, Odey’s words hung in the air, a reminder of the human face behind border politics.
“We can protect our waters and secure our borders,” he concluded, “but if we fail to protect the humanity of those who call these borders home, we will have failed in the very mission that brought us here.”
The Nigeria International Coastal Border Platform Summit, though focused on broader maritime and border governance issues, now bears the added weight of Bakassi’s story—one that Rt. Hon. Peter Odey insisted must no longer be told in the past tense.
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, will turn fifty next week.
However, contrary to the expectation of many, he will be marking his birthday differently. He decided to convert it to a festival of ideas and debates through the presentation of two books authored by him and his colleagues.
Although many of his friends and associates would have wished for a more elaborate celebration, his decision is a reaffirmation of the value he places on scholarship and intellectual inquiry.
I have glanced through both books and can confirm that they demonstrate a courageous and forward-looking attempt to proffer pragmatic solutions to lingering Niger Delta questions.
Through his writings, he revealed his evident passion for the region and his desire to leave it in better condition than he found it. One thing every reader will likely acknowledge is the author’s intellectual honesty.
He was frank about the historical challenges of the region and boldly admitted the misadventures of the past. However, he offered himself as an instrument for a conscious and deliberate recalibration through a pathway full of hope and optimism. It was as though he was somewhere quietly preparing himself and incubating ideas for such a leadership role ever before his appointment.
His preference for intellectual pragmatism in resolving the problems of the Niger Delta is not a one-off affair. He has recruited several academics on sabbatical leave from renowned universities across the region, who are embedded as researchers in core departments within the Commission.
Sometime in 2019, our firm was engaged to support NDDC’s efforts to rebuild partnerships with development partners and the private sector. However, a few weeks after we submitted our roadmap and started work, the management of the Commission at that time was removed. The preceding management did not pay much attention to the plan we submitted until Dr. Ogbuku and his team came on board.
As part of his deliberate efforts to re-engineer the Commission’s perception positively and encourage them to partner with donors and the private sector, he invited us. Supporting NDDC’s work the past two years has further revealed Dr. Ogbuku’s personality and style to me and my team.
He puts no one in doubt about his progressive disposition and solution mindset. He is ever willing to listen to new ideas and allows positive initiatives to thrive. I recall a time when the Registrar of the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, visited Port Harcourt and requested to see him.
He agreed to meet with him but got very busy with work. When I reminded him, he graciously allowed the Registrar to meet with him in the evening at home. That is how far he can go when he gives you his word.
A few times when our work got caught in some bureaucratic inertia, he intervened with a depth and understanding that we did not expect. His engagements with donors and investors within and outside the country consistently inspire positive feedback, suggesting that the NDDC now enjoys improved trust from stakeholders.
Many members of staff share the view that Dr. Ogbuku possesses excellent administrative acumen and an inclusive governance approach. Multiple sources within the staff have confirmed to me that the current management of the Commission is likely one of the best in terms of staff welfare.
Many innovative welfare schemes have been introduced to boost staff morale and enhance professionalism. Such an approach confirms that the Managing Director is someone who regularly and willingly listens to the pulse and concerns of his subordinates.
Working with or around Dr. Ogbuku, you will readily observe that he is a rallying point and a gifted connector of people from diverse political persuasions – whether you are his schoolmate, neighbour while growing up in Port Harcourt, or kinsman in his village.
You can rest assured that he will create time out of his hectic schedule to listen to you. You may underrate the versatility of his emotional intelligence until you engage him.
He may not be perfect in this regard, but I have heard some of his childhood friends commend him for not letting the glamour of the office distract him from his old friends or childhood associates.
I do not envy Dr. Ogbuku’s job. It appears quite complex, extremely demanding, and involves managing divergent stakeholders who often seem entitled. However, I admire how he quietly but distinctively discharges his duties in a manner that leaves everyone sufficiently engaged.
His display of political wit, dexterity, and versatility suggests that he has more to offer the region beyond his current position. I wish him good health and wisdom in delivering positive developmental footprints in this current position and beyond.
Uche Igwe, Ph.D, is a political economy analyst and visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science. You can reach him at u.igwe@lse.ac.uk
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, High Chief Michael Johnny, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to stand firmly on its report on the concluded fresh ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.
Johnny, gave the advice on Sunday in Warri, while reacting to comments made by an Itsekiri chief, Ayiri Emami.
Johnny, Agadiwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, warned that the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) cannot be intimidated or blackmailed into tampering with the delineation field work reports already concluded in Warri Federal Constituency.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Adviser NSA and the Inspector General of Police, will never interfere or compel the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to compromise its integrity and reputation as the Electoral Umpire was determined to stand by its reports on the fresh Ward delineation as presented to the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri stakeholders..
“ I want to believe that my friend, Ayiri Emami did not acknowledge the existing laws and constitution when he said INEC should have gone back to the Supreme Court, to do what exactly?
“ Commendably, as a law-abiding agency, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, in full compliance to the Supreme Court judgement swung into action immediately. The practical field work carried out by INEC was purely on areas, communities and population. And the outcome confirmed that Ijaws were majority in Warri Federal Constituency. Even the Itsekiri cannot dispute this fact”
“Contrary to the false claim by Ayiri Emami that INEC conducted the fresh Ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency on projected census, there is nothing like “ Projected Census” in the Electoral Act or National Population Commission NPC. The Ayiri Emami’s allegations against INEC over allocation of Wards, was not true and entirely misleading, as INEC has no power to allocate Wards, rather INEC worked with facts and the reality on ground.”
According to Johnny: “ Ayiri Emami should know that it is not the fault of INEC that Itsekiri are minority in population. The Ijaws we are majority because we marry more wives and produce more children”
He explained that the fresh Ward delineation is not in any way an existential challenge to our Itsekiri brothers and neighbours in Warri Federal Constituency as claimed or wrongly insinuated by Ayiri Emami.
“ It is important to state that the Itsekiri have no local government created for them alone. The Itsekiri shares Warri North Local Government with the Ijaws, the Itsekiri shares Warri South West with the Ijaws and likewise the Itsekiri shares Warri South with the Urhobo and Ijaw, which made up the Warri Federal Constituency. Therefore, in the Warri Federal Constituency, the House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats are not exclusively for only the Itsekiri as Ijaws and Urhobos were also entitled to the elective positions”
*Maybe I should also educate or remind my friend, Ayiri Emami that Federal Constituencies or State Constituencies were not created for ethnicity.
“ It just happened that Burutu, Bomadi and Patani were distinct Ijaw Federal Constituencies and State Constituencies. The Warri Federal Constituency and State House of Assembly seats are for the Ijaws, Urhobos and Itsekiri people in the Warri Federal Constituency. We must embrace the fact and move forward”
“ I urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NSA, IGP and the leadership of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to ignore Ayiri Emami’s outburst and allegations against the commission and its officials who conducted the Delineation field work”
The ex-chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC will not go back on the field work reports on fresh Ward Delineation; the exercise was thoroughly conducted.
“ Nobody should blackmail INEC, the electoral umpire had done the needful and corrected the political anomaly in Warri Federal Constituency. INEC had successfully implemented the Supreme Court judgement on fresh Ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency”
“ As rightly mentioned by Ayiri Emami that there will be no fight over the fresh Ward Delineation, the Ijaws and I, Chief Michael Johnny do not want to fight as well.But I can say that Itsekiri and Ijaws of Gbaramatu in Warri South West have a common enemy which is “ UNDERDEVELOPMENT”. This is what we should focus on to address and lay a solid foundation for peace and development for the future generations”
He further noted: “ The Gbaramatu man is not responsible for the underdevelopment in Itsekiri land, and the Itsekiri man is not responsible for the underdevelopment in Gbaramatu land. We must have this in mind. In conclusion, I urge my friend and brother, Ayiri Emami to leave INEC alone and allow the Commission to do their constitutional work unhindered on the fresh Ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency.”
The Ijaw leader said the perceived intimidation and blackmailing of INEC must stop henceforth.
A High Court sitting in Benin City has struck out a suit filed by the Otaru of Igarra, His Royal Highness Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II, seeking to restrain members of the Eziobe group of clans in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, from using the title “His Royal Highness.”
The Otaru had approached the court to declare that the use of the appellation “His Royal Highness” by the Eziobe group was illegal, misleading, and an encroachment on his traditional authority as the paramount ruler of Igarra and the Akuku clan.
He also asked the court to interpret and enforce a judgment delivered in 1985, which he claimed barred individuals within the Eziobe group from styling themselves as “His Royal Highness.”
The Otaru further objected to the proposed installation of a new traditional title holder by the Eziobe group, to be known as Oshinoyi — a position intended to represent the broader Igarra community, excluding the Akuku clan.
The suit, filed under Suit No: HIG/39/2023 at the High Court of Justice, Edo State, Igarra Judicial Division, was instituted by Oba E.A. Saiki, suing for himself and on behalf of the Five Other Ruling Houses of Igarra and the Akuku Clan.
The Defendants include HRH Barr. S. S. Mayaki, sued on behalf of members of the Eshimozoko family (excluding dissenters),
HRH. Aliu Ogbodo Suleiman, representing the Anona family,
HRH. Sunday Otaru, for the Anonyete family,
Hon. Sunday Saiki, sued on behalf of members of the group styled Eziobe Clan of Igarra.
Also joined in the suit by a court order were Chief Charles Shanu Aiyelabola ( the Akuta of Igarra) and Alhaji Dahiru Bayode Daniyan (the Oga of Igarra), for the Ezidowo group of families of Igarra, Oba Lawani Daudu, the Odafe of Akuku,
S. O. Akao, representing the Akuku community.
These parties were all accused by the claimant of unlawfully adopting the style “His Royal Highness” and attempting to institutionalize rival traditional authority structures outside the jurisdiction of the Otaru.
However, the case took a different turn as the court, presided over by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, declined jurisdiction and struck out the matter.
In a ruling, Justice Okungbowa held that the court could not entertain the case because a similar suit on the same subject matter (Suit No. B/553) is currently pending before the Fugar High Court — a court of coordinate powers. As such, entertaining the suit in Benin would amount to an abuse of court process.
The defense team, led by Barrister Razak Isenalumhe, had argued that the existence of the pending Fugar case rendered the present suit incompetent. They maintained that no court can override or interpret a decision from a court of equal standing while the matter is still active.
Justice Okungbowa agreed with the argument, stating that the High Court in Benin lacked the legal authority to revisit or enforce a judgment delivered by another court of equal rank. He subsequently struck out the application.
Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Barrister Topa Jatto, one of the defence lawyers, described the judgment as “a victory for law and order.”
“This decision reaffirms the principle that no court can assume jurisdiction over a matter already being adjudicated by another court of equal status. It’s a solid win for judicial discipline and due process,” he said.
Also reacting, a representative of the Eziobe group of clans, Mr. Moses Skinner Gadimoh, welcomed the ruling and offered his interpretation of its broader cultural implications.
“Under Nigerian law, the use of the title His Highness or ‘His Royal Highness’ is not exclusive to any individual or traditional institution unless expressly reserved by statute or gazetted recognition,” Gadimoh explained.
“While traditional authority should be respected, the court cannot be used to settle cultural or customary rivalries where no legal breach has occurred. Unless it is tied to a gazetted chieftaincy position, the use of the title *His Highness or ‘His Royal Highness’* cannot be legally restricted.”
The ruling has sparked widespread jubilation among the Eziobe group of clans, many of whom gathered at the palace of *the Oshemdase of Igarra* to celebrate what they called a landmark victory for fairness, recognition, and cultural plurality.
According to Elder Obed Abogunmoza, “This judgment has bolstered the Eziobe family’s confidence in the other pending matters, and they are optimistic that subsequent judgments will resolve the longstanding dispute.
“It will also reaffirm the distinctiveness of the Eziobe clan and its royalty. And clearly differentiate it from the Eziezu family while establishing the Eziobe clan’s unique identity and royal heritage”.
