Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term to enable him continue the implementation of his “bold, daring and ambitious vision for the inclusive and sustainable development” of the country.

Fubara  gave the charge last Thursday while declaring open a meeting of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council  held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He  described  President Tinubu as a “dedicated  and highly patriotic” leader, who should be given a second chance, stressing that with him in the saddle, Nigerians should be rest assured that the nation is in safe hands.

He recalled the various achievements  of the Tinubu administration in the last three years  and projected that a lot more will be achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda,  if Tinubu is re-elected in 2027.

“We are all witnesses to the transformation of our battered economy and the ongoing infrastructural revolution, including the remarkable coastal road project in the southern and other parts of the country in just three years.

“Although challenges remain in certain regions, we all trust in Mr President’s  Renewed Hope Agenda and dedication to safeguarding our nation, transforming the economy and delivering equitable development to all regions.

“In football, the saying goes that no coach changes a winning team. Therefore, Nigerians have no choice but to support President Tinubu at this crucial time and work together to re-elect him in 2027 to continue implementing his bold, daring and ambitious vision for the inclusive and sustainable development of our nation,” he said.

Welcoming the royal fathers to the meeting, Fubara said their presence in Port Harcourt was  a testament to the fact that Rivers State is very peaceful and ready to host high profile visits, meetings and events as well as a confirmation of the unity of the people of  Southern Nigeria.

“Although we are ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse to some extent, the beauty lies in the fact  that we are all committed to being part and parcel or an ever- indivisible Nigeria, despite our differences. As a region, we have a duty to build our future together and promote the collective interests of our people for a better life which we can achieve more rapidly through collaboration with the Federal Government.

“Similarly, southern cooperation and solidarity will offer a clearer and more practical pathway for sharing knowledge and ideas, working together to realise the common goals and aspirations of our people for sustainable peace, security, and development,” he said.

The governor who acknowledged the strategic  position of the traditional rulers in Nigeria, stated that by being the  closest to the grassroots,  they serve as a link between the people and the government, wielding capacities and influence that extend beyond  their  ceremonial roles.

He  commended their  commitment to peace and progress of  southern Nigeria and urged them to stay vigilant and  focused on pursuing their  cultural, economic and political goals for the region and its  people.

Fubara  further charged  the  traditional  rulers to dwell on productive discussions that will foster peace, security and progress in  Southern  Nigeria  and the country at large.

The meeting which had in attendance traditional rulers from the South -South, South-East  and South-West zones of Nigeria,  was billed to discuss the roles of traditional institutions in promoting unity peace, cohesion and development across Southern Nigeria.

Among the royal fathers present at the meeting were the Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi;  the Co- Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council and Obi Obinugwu, His Majesty Eze Cletus Ilomuanya; the  Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; and the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers,  His Majesty, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, the Eze Oha Apara IV and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, amongst others.

The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, has been named Social Impact Man of the Year 2025 by Daily Independent Newspapers.
The award was presented at the Independent Awards 2025 Silver Jubilee Edition held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, as part of activities marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary of editorial excellence.
Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers, Steve Omanufeme, said the award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and transformative impact in their respective fields. He explained that recipients emerged through a rigorous process involving public voting, editorial board scrutiny, and assessment by a panel of judges.
Omanufeme noted that Zabbey’s selection reflects his outstanding contributions to environmental restoration and community development in Ogoniland through the Ogoni cleanup project.
With over two decades of experience spanning research, advocacy, capacity development, and administration, Zabbey has, within three years of leading HYPREP, implemented people-focused initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and restoring degraded ecosystems.
Under his leadership, the project has reportedly created more than 7,000 direct jobs and facilitated the training of thousands of youths and women in high-demand skills, including mechatronics, cybersecurity, commercial diving, underwater welding, and data analytics.
HYPREP has also trained over 5,000 beneficiaries across 21 vocational skill areas, providing start-up kits to support entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
In the area of environmental sustainability, the agency has established 31 environmental clubs in secondary schools and trained 2,500 youths with International Maritime Organization (IMO) certification to support shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration efforts.
The project has recorded significant ecological milestones, including the cleanup of over 1,000 hectares of shoreline and restoration of 560 hectares of mangroves. This progress contributed to the designation of Ogoni mangrove wetlands as a Ramsar Site of international importance.
Beyond environmental remediation, HYPREP has expanded its social intervention programmes to include educational grants and scholarships for over 1,000 students, support for small and medium-scale enterprises, and skills training for persons living with special needs.
Infrastructure and healthcare development have also featured prominently, with ongoing projects such as the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, a Cottage Hospital, the Ogoni Power Project, and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration. The agency has further strengthened emergency healthcare delivery by donating five ambulances to medical facilities in the region.
Additionally, potable water has been provided to more than 40 communities, alongside the construction of wind-powered water systems in underserved areas.
Speaking on the award, Zabbey described it as a validation of HYPREP’s integrated approach to environmental restoration, healthcare improvement, and economic empowerment.
“We remain committed to delivering a cleanup that not only restores the environment but also improves livelihoods in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
HYPREP, in a statement, expressed appreciation to the management of Independent Newspapers for the recognition, the Federal Ministry of Environment for its oversight role, and the Ogoni communities for their continued support and collaboration.
The agency was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland and restore areas impacted by oil pollution.

By: Donatus Ebi

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has awarded a total cost of ¦ 2 million against High Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi and other appellants in the protracted Eze Igbu Akoh II chieftaincy dispute, citing abuse of judicial process and disobedience of subsisting court orders, in a ruling that underscores growing judicial intolerance for procedural delays in long-running traditional leadership cases.
The decision, delivered on March 16, 2026, in Abuja by a five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, arose from a series of applications filed by High Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbidi and others against HRH Eze Godspower Okorobia Okpagi and seven others, in a dispute over the rightful occupant of the Eze Igbu Akoh II stool in Igbu Akoh Kingdom of Ekpeye ethnic nationality in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Court proceedings revealed that the appellants had filed multiple motions before the Supreme Court, including an application seeking injunctive relief and another seeking leave to amend a ground of appeal. However, both applications were later withdrawn by the appellants after the respondents had already filed responses and appeared in court on several occasions.
Although counsel to the respondents did not oppose the withdrawal of the applications, they strongly urged the court to award costs, arguing that the appellants’ conduct had led to unnecessary delays and avoidable legal expenses. The respondents maintained that the repeated filing and subsequent withdrawal of applications amounted to a deliberate attempt to frustrate the judicial process.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court struck out the withdrawn applications but took a firm stance on the conduct of the appellants, holding that their actions constituted an abuse of court process. The court further noted that the appellants had acted in violation of subsisting injunctive orders earlier issued by the High Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal, a development that weighed heavily in its decision to impose sanctions.
Consequently, the apex court awarded a lump sum cost of ¦ 2 million against the appellants in favour of the 1st to 5th respondents as a punitive and deterrent measure, reinforcing the principle that litigants must approach the court with sincerity and respect for existing judicial orders.
The ruling, however, is strictly procedural and does not resolve the substantive issue of who is the rightful Eze Igbu Akoh II. Rather, it deals only with interlocutory applications that were brought before the court and subsequently withdrawn, leaving the core dispute to be decided at a later date.
The chieftaincy tussle, which has lingered for years, can be traced back to a judgment delivered on March 14, 2018, by the High Court sitting in Ahoada, presided over by Justice T.S. Oji, which reportedly ruled in favour of Eze Godspower Okorobia Okpagi. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the opposing parties pursued appeals, leading to a prolonged legal battle that moved through the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt and eventually to the Supreme Court.
While Eze Okpagi has consistently maintained that he is the only duly elected candidate for the Eze Igbu Akoh II stool, according to the customs and traditions of the Ekpeye ethnic nationality, as well as based on favourable court rulings, High Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi has continued to lay claim to the stool, a situation that has deepened tensions and prolonged uncertainty within the kingdom.
The immediate implication of the Supreme Court’s ruling is that the appellants have lost all pending interim reliefs, having withdrawn their applications, and now have no active motion before the apex court capable of altering the current legal position. More importantly, the injunctions granted by the High Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal remain valid and binding, as they were neither set aside nor suspended by the Supreme Court.
This effectively places the respondents in a stronger position for now, as they continue to benefit from the subsisting judgments of the lower courts pending the final determination of the appeal. In contrast, the appellants must comply with the ¦ 2 million cost order and face a prolonged wait before the substantive issues in the case are heard.
Following the resolution of all pending applications, the Supreme Court adjourned the substantive appeal to March 19, 2029, a development that has generated mixed reactions among stakeholders, given the already lengthy duration of the dispute. The adjournment means that the final determination of the rightful occupant of the traditional stool will not be made for several more years, further extending a legal battle that has spanned nearly a decade.
Reacting to the ruling, Eze Godspower Okorobia Okpagi maintained that the decision reinforces the validity of earlier judgments in his favour, particularly as the Supreme Court declined to grant any relief that would have altered the status quo. He argued that the dismissal and withdrawal of the appellants’ applications confirm that the orders of the lower courts remain in full effect.
He further alleged that the appellants had taken steps inconsistent with those orders and accused them of employing delay tactics to prolong their hold on the situation, insisting that High Chief Ikegbidi should desist from parading himself as the Eze Igbu Akoh II pending the final determination of the appeal.
Legal observers note that chieftaincy disputes in Nigeria often become protracted due to their sensitive nature and the high cultural and political significance attached to traditional institutions, as well as the frequent filing of appeals and interlocutory applications that slow down the judicial process.