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The Real Story Behind Rivers Creation
Mrs Ella Prest, an indigene
of Rivers State is over 80 years and a living witness to some of the major activities that led to the emergence and development of Rivers State. As an octogenarian who personally know s some of the actors in the agitation, formation and development of Rivers State, she gave a vivid account of how Rivers State came into being and the personalities behind the creation.
Reason For The Struggle
The reason for the struggle for the creation of Rivers State was to allay the fears of marginalization, promote development and support the proper identification of the Riverine people as a distinct group in the former Eastern Region of Nigeria. This was firmly supported by the British Government, Nigerian Government and all political parties and was fought primarily by the chiefs and people of the riverine areas of the former Eastern Region.
The People, Their Identity
Rivers State, surrounded by rivers and seas, and rich in human, mineral and natural resources, is situated in the South South of Nigeria with Port Harcourt as its capital. The Rivers people consisting of Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ibani, Nembe, Yenagoa, Okrika, Ahoada, Ogoni, Opobo – Nkoro and Bile are a minority group in the southern part of the former Eastern Region along the coastal areas of Nigeria. They are mainly traders, fishermen and farmers. Most of them live on small islands and towns along the Atlantic Ocean and the creeks. They embraced education due to their early contact with the Europeans in the 17th – 18th century and a good number of them were highly educated and qualified in their various fields. The dominant group in the Eastern Region are the Ibos who live on the mainland area. They are farmers and traders with a totally different history and culture from the Rivers People.
The chiefs in the riverine area were very civilized and powerful because of their early trade contacts with the Portuguese and other Europeans that first came to the area now called Nigeria in the 17th to 18th century. Due to the lucrative trade with these riverine chiefs, the British Government in 1884 declared sovereignty over the rverine areas by establishing it as the Oil Rivers Protectorate which was confirmed in the Berlin Conference in 1885. The Oil Rivers Protectorate was administered by the British Foreign Office. This means trading with Europeans in what is now called Nigeria started in the riverine areas of the Niger Delta, Badagry and Lagos. The Rivers chiefs traded with the early Europeans in palm oil/kernel, timber and slaves in exchange for canons, coral beads and clothing. Abonnema established in 1882 was a major sea port.
The Willink Commission Report, July, 1958
This report highlighted the fears of the minority groups of the former Eastern Region and identified them as very distinct groups with a different culture from the dominant group of Eastern Nigeria. The report proposed an area for a Rivers State to be comprised of the whole of the Rivers Province which will include the Divisions of Brass, Degema, Ogoni, Port Harcourt and Ahoada together with the Western Ijaw Division from the Western Region and two small sections in Eastern Region from outside the Rivers Province, Opobo and Andoni being one, Ndoki the other.’ This confirms the claim of the riverine people as a distinct group in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria.
The anxiety about possible neglect of their area and the fear of marginalization, compelled the chiefs and people of Rivers area to form various political and pressure groups like The Ijaw Rivers Peoples’ League established on November 18, 1943; Ijaw Union, Calabar, Ogoja, Rivers State –supported by the Action Group; with Chief H. Dappa Biriye (Ibani) from Bonny as Secretary and Chief Thom Manuel (Kalabari) from Abonnema as President; Rivers State Congress (RSC.)/ Niger Delta Congress, supported by the Northern People’s Congress led by Chief Melford Okilo (Izon) from Yenagoa, and Chief H. Dappa Biriye (Ibani) from Bonny, and finally Rivers Chiefs and Peoples’ Conference (RCPC) which embraced all the sections of the riverine area, initiated and led by Chief P.G. Warmate of N.C.N.C, the ruling party in the then Eastern Region where the Rivers people were domiciled.
The RCPC eventually served as the umbrella party for all the Rivers People, irrespective of their political beliefs and differences, in the struggle for the creation of Rivers State. Chief Ordu of the N.C.N.C. from Etche was also in attendance. Chief P.G. Warmate moved the motion, seconded by Chief D.S. Oribo which gave birth to the formation of the Rivers Chiefs and Peoples Conference on 4th July, 1956 at the Rex Cinema Hall in Harbour Road, Port Harcourt. Chief P.G. Warmate further moved and was seconded by Chief D.S. Oribo for the nomination of His Royal Majesty, Francis Alagoa – Mingi X of Nembe as the Protem Chairman and Chief Harold Dappa Biriye as Protem Secretary.
This became the first effective political platform for the creation of Rivers State. It was also as a result of the Rivers Chiefs and Peoples Conference (RCPC) that the Eastern Regional Government accorded a distinct seat out of two seats intended for chiefs of former Eastern Nigeria at the Constitutional Conference in London in 1957.
Chief Dappa Biriye, being the Protem Secretary of the Chiefs and Peoples Conference (RCPC), was nominated to represent the RCPC in London in 1957 for the Nigerian Constitutional Conference and other events in 1958. Chief P.G Warmate, a top member of the NCNC, the ruling party of Eastern Nigeria, was responsible for the formation and eventual acceptance of RCPC by the then Eastern Regional Government. The Rivers Chiefs and Peoples Conference, (RCPC) became the first effective political platform for the creation of Rivers State.
These historical facts were supported by previous publications (Ref. Nigerian Tide of August 13th, 1999. Focus – 9.), and Chief E.D.W. Opuogulaya’s book – History of the Creation of the Rivers State of Nigeria.
At the time of the initial struggle, the Rivers People made several petitions and demands for state creation. These were rejected on the floor of the federal parliament. The reason given was that Rivers State was not viable for that in spite of the full commercial activities going on and the abundant resources of the area. Chief Melford Okilo, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa wept openly when these decisions were taken. Chief Okilo was one of the primary activists in the struggle for the creation of Rivers State.
Isaac Adaka Boro And His Volunteer Freedom Fighters
Isaac Adaka Boro (Izon) from Yenagoa, an undergraduate from University of Nigeria, Nsukka and his fellow undergraduate freedom fighters, declared war on the Federal Government, demanding a Niger Delta Republic without which the Rivers people would no longer support the Federal Government in the civil war. The rebellion lasted 12 days. With him were Sam Owonaro (Izon), Nottingham Dick (Izon) , Nyanayo (Nembe) and Okumaye (Buguma) and many other university undergraduates from the state, who took up arms and were arraigned for treason. They were defended by Chief GKJ Amachree QC. This rebellion constituted one of the major pressures on the Federal Government for the eventual creation of Rivers State.
Apart from these activists, all the Rivers men and women were in the struggle because they all agreed to work under one umbrella irrespective of their political differences as people of one destiny to make this happen.
Finally, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the Military Head of State, immediately after the Nigerian civil war, turned Nigeria into a 12 state nation. Rivers State was one of those 12 states created on May 27, 1967, with Port Harcourt as the state capital. Lt. Cmdr. Alfred Papapreye Diete Spiff, now the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, from Nembe, was appointed by the Federal Military Government as the First Military Governor of Rivers State.
It was, however, not immediately possible to move to Port Harcourt due to the ravages of war in the Eastern Region. It was, therefore a government in exile run from No. 24 Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, the then Federal Capital of Nigeria. So, prominent Rivers indigenes like Chief GKJ Amachree, from Buguma contributed most of the resources needed, including his office, to co-ordinate the Rivers State Military Governor’s Office in Ikoyi, Lagos and Port Harcourt, the State Capital, until 1st September, 1968.
While the military governor’s office was still in Lagos, Chief Dr. Melford Graham-Douglas, from Abonnema, was made the first administrator by the Government. Mr. Ken Sarowiwa, (Ogoni) from Khana was appointed the Administrator for Bonny, and Captain Elechi Amadi, an Ikwerre man from Alu, was also appointed the Administrator for Port Harcourt, until 1968 when the military governor took up office in Port Harcourt, the State capital.
Some of the key actors of the struggle include the following: Chief Godfrey Kio Jaja Amachree Q.C
Chief Godfrey Kio Jaja Amachree, (Kalabari) from Buguma was the first Nigerian-born Solicitor General in 1958 and by the time the colonial administration’s Legal Department was transformed into the Ministry of Justice, he also became the first Permanent Secretary.
Chief GKJ Amachree was among the first Nigerian lawyers to be admitted to the Inner Bar in Britain as a Queens Counsel at the age of 43 and was also the first black Under- Secretary General to the United Nations. He was the first Nigerian to own a private jet. He was also a key figure in the struggle for the creation of Rivers State. He was the wealthiest Rivers man who used his wealth to create wealth for the Rivers man and woman by the establishment of the Rivers State Pan African Bank Ltd, and became its first chairman.
Also, Chief W.O. Briggs, Kalabari from Abonnema was the first Federal Minister of Education from the Rivers area. He was also reappointed as Federal Minister of Trade in 1971.
Naval Lt. Cmdr. Alfred Papapreye Diete Spiff
Lt Cmdr. Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, (Nembe) the first Military Governor of Rivers State took up office at the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt on 1st September, 1968. He was a young but mature, patriotic, selfless and a listening governor; a true Rivers Son. He was supported at different times by two able Heads of Service, Chief Daniel Kalio, (Okrika) and Chief W.S. Tieinabeso (Kalabari) from Buguma, and patriotic commissioners including Prof. Isaac Dema from Abua as Chairman, Civil Service Commission, and Super Permanent Secretaries of Rivers origin who were transferred from the Federal/State Public Services to serve in Port Harcourt.
Diete Spiff made Port Harcourt one of the best state capitals in Nigeria with most of the infrastructure necessary for governance and development.
A special mention must be made of Chief (Dr). Napoleon Graham- Douglas (Kalabari), from Abonnema who was the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice who produced the document on Abandoned Property Law that enabled Rivers State indigenes to own landed properties in Port Harcourt and other parts of the Rivers State. Chief Eke Spiff (Nembe), the Permanent Secretary for Land and Housing Port Harcourt, with Chief C.T.Horsfall (Kalabari), from Buguma, the Surveyor General, in the same Ministry, should also be commended for preserving the State lands for good use by the Government and people of Rivers State.
The Nigerian Tide and Radio Rivers should be commended for their part in disseminating information and news in the various major languages of the State, in Ikwerre, Kalabari, Khana, Izon, and Pigeon English which gives the true identity of the Rivers People.
Ironically, the Rivers State that was rejected as not viable has become the goose that laid the golden egg, providing almost 97% of Nigeria’s income. Unfortunately the wealth enjoyed by the whole country is yet to be beneficially applied to the people of our State.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of Rivers State, we should reflect on the goals and aspirations of our founding fathers and see how far we have gone and plan for the future as a united people with one goal and one destiny. A golden jubilee is historically and biblically an important landmark. Our Governor Nyelson Wike who is at the helm of affairs at this point of our history is not only blessed but is saddled with the enormous responsibility of fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers and the people of Rivers State.
Ella Prest
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) said over 17 million Nigerians travelled out between 2023 and 2024.
This is as the association announced that it would be organising a maiden edition of Eastern Travel Market 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital from 27th to 30th August, 2025.
Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Hope Ehiogie, disclosed this during a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Ehiogie explained that the event aims to bring together over 1,000 travel professionals to discuss the future of the industry in the nation and give visibility to airlines, hospitality firms, hospitals and institutions in the South-South and South-East, tagged Eastern Zone.
He stated that the 17 million number marks a significant increase in overseas travel and tours.
According to him, “Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people traveling out of the country in 2023”.
Ehiogie further said the potential of tourism and travel would bring in over $12 million into the nation’s economy by 2026, saying it would be a major spike in the sector, as 2024 recorded about $4 million.
“The potential of tourism and travel is that it can generate about $12 million for the nation’s economy by 2026. Last year it was $4 million.
“In the area of travels, over 17 million Nigerians traveled out of the country two years ago for different purposes. This included, health, religious purposes, visit, education and others,” Ehiogie said.
While highlighting the potential of Nigeria’s tourism, he said the hospitality industry in Nigeria has come of age, saying it is now second to none.
The Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone further said, “We are not creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth.”
He said the country has a lot of tourism potential, especially as the government is now showing interest in and supporting the sector.
Ehiogie emphasized that NANTA has been working to support the industry with initiatives such as training schools and platforms for airlines and hotels to sell their products.
He added, “We now have about four to five training schools in the region, and within two years, the first set of students will graduate. We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTA, Stephen Isokariari of Dial Travels, called for more support from the industry.
Isokariari stated, “We need to work together to grow the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.”