Opinion
ONELGA Dev Centres: Facts And Fiction
I am writing as the authentic voice of Ndoni District in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (the other District being Ogba/Egbema) to refute the malicious, fictitious and provocative piece published in your edition of Monday, 7th November, 2011, page 9, titled “ONELGA and Proposed Development Centres” in the pseudo name of one Gaddy Ominyanwa, said to be a public affairs analyst.
Whoever sponsored the thrash of a write-up is doing a great disservice to the cause of ONELGA. Well-meaning and true patriotic sons and daughters of Ogba ethnic nationality should rise up to condemn this nefarious piece, thrown in to cause disaffection and disunity in the local government. In the same vein, we shall congratulate his Excellency, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi for this laudable project, and ask him to ignore the distraction of un-informed detractors while concentrating on the establishment of the 40 proposed new Development Centres in the state.
The writer of the aforementioned destructive piece had the temerity to say inter alia that “on the geographical distribution of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, without reservation ONLEGA is the largest in the entire Niger Delta and Nigeria in general, comprising three (3) distinct nationalities viz: Ogba ethnic nationality which is made up of Omoku urban, Egi, Igburu and Usomini, autonomous clans. Ogba ethnic nationality has over 40 autonomous communities, excluding hamlets and fishing ports along coastal area”. Then he went on “Egbema ethnic nationality consists of 3 autonomous communities while Ndoni Ethnic Nationality is made up of mainly Ndoni Community and about 6 hamlets along the coastline. “How vicious, how uninformed, and how irresponsible can this be?
Let me not speak for Egbema people as they have sons and daughters capable of stating their case.
Let me also say that I am thankful to God to be alive to speak about Ndoni because I was A MAJOR Player in the process of Ndoni joining the Rivers State in December, 1976, as a District in the old Ahoada Local Government Area.
Before that, Ndoni area was a Division in the then Warri province of the Bendel State. My humble self and late Amadi Emina were two of first officers to be transferred from Ibadan to Benin after the creation of Midwest Region.
After the civil war (1967-70), Ndoni remained a part of Bendel State, and in 1973, Governor Ogbemudia visited Ndoni, thereafter, he made Ndoni area a Division, with Ndoni as headquarters.
After the lrifeke Commission of enquiry in 1975 (appointed by the then Head of State, Late Murtala Muhammed), Ndoni was transferred to the East by the Murtala Mohammed Administration. The transfer did not take effect until after the Mamman Nasir Commission of Enquiry in 1976, which sat for about a week at Ndoni, and in the end recommended that Ndoni Area, East of the Niger should be merged with Rivers State. This merger took effect in December, 1976. I was one of the leaders of the team that represented Ndoni at the Commission. According to the statistics at the time Ndoni Area east of the Niger had 69 towns and villages, settlements, etc. divided into four clans, namely; Ndoni clan, Aboh clan, Onya clan, and Adiai clan. How then could any one in his right mind, with any sense of propriety and decency say that “Ndoni ethnic nationality was made up of Ndoni Community and 6 hamlets along the coastline”.
Ahoada LGA was then very unwieldy. At the stakeholders meeting attended by representatives of all communities and traditional rulers in the then Ahoada LGA held in Omoku before the break-up of the LGA, it was agreed that the best arrangement was to accord a local government status to each of the then four districts namely, Ekpeye-Engeni District, Abual-Odual District, Ogba-Egbema District and Ndoni District. This was the recommendation that was forwarded to the then military government. I was part of the stakeholders meeting. The Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze Robinson O. Robinson, chaired the meeting.
How it then turned out that all, except Ndoni was not made a local government of its own had remained a mystery.
For more enlightenment, let it be said that Ndoni District is the only window the Rivers State now has to the lordly River Niger which is the main artery of trade between the Niger Delta and the rest of the country, right from the colonial days when trading companies like John Holt and UAC used flat-bottom ships to ply the water ways of the River Niger from Warri, Burutu, Forcados, to the hinterlands up to Onitsha, Lokoja, Markurdi, Gongola, and even Garua in the Cameroons.
Ndoni District, apart from being a major oil and gas producer from wells in the district, especially Obiofu, Utuechi in Adiai clan in the South (wells which are the main suppliers of gas to the Agip Gas plant at Obrikom) to wells at Agwe, Ishukwa, Ase Azaga in the North (wells which some other states had tried unsuccessfully to corner) is very rich and productive in many other respects.
With the beautiful river sand beaches, Ndoni District is a first class tourist attraction, begging to be developed to world class standards.
And for the building industry, Ndoni District has some of the best river sand and gravels. Or shall we talk of the timber, lumbered at almost every part of the District. Indeed, Ndoni District is really an enviable economic asset to Rivers State, nay to our great country, Nigeria.
Finally, I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency, the one and only Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State to graciously come to the rescue of Ndoni people and complete the new Bridge across the Onite Creek, which is about 80% completed, but now abandoned.
Chief Abulokwe was former chairman, Rivers State Civil Service Commission
Joseph Abulokwe
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.