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GDI Endorses Wike For 2023 Presidency
Ahead of 2023 Presidential election, a renowned social crusader in Niger Delta, Grassroot Development Initiative (GD) has endorsed Governor Nyesom Wike to contest for the Presidency.
The group said the endorsement of Wike for the 2023 presidential race would rescue Nigeria from poverty, banditry, political recklessness and insecurity ravaging the nation.
The endorsement of Governor Nyesom Wke to the office of the president was made by officials of GDI led by Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martin Amaewhule, during GDI Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality Sensitisation Programme organised by the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality members of GDI in honour of Wike at Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
Amaewhule said Nigeria needs a workaholic and God fearing person like Wike to rescue the country from economic woes and poverty.
He noted that Wike as the grand patron of GDI deserves a vote of confidence, because, he had been tested as a leader who managed the scarce resources of Rivers State for years, delivering the dividends of democracy to the people .
He noted that Wike has brought development and political awareness to Rivers State and beyond.
“When somebody is doing well, you need to praise him, we are confidence of him, we are proud of him, we are passing vote of confidence on him and urging him to contest for the post of the president in 2023, GDI as a group are confidence on Nyesom Wike to lead the country to greater height”, Amaewhule said.
Leaders of the GDI across the four Ikwerre LGAs also took turns to call on Wike to consider the wish of the ordinary Nigerians who are yearning for a prosperous Nigeria and take up the responsibility to salvage the country from the incompetent APC-led Federal Government come 2023 general election.
The Secretary General of Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) Worldwide, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike told Nigerians that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike was the best presidential candidate for the country in the 2023 general election.
Nwanosike, who is also the chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, SAID, “Nyesom Wike has shown that it is possible to manage a people where boundary neighbours don’t hear each other. Rivers State is a mini Nigeria; is only a state where people live together yet they have different cultures and diversities.
“We are saying as a people, if Nyesom Wike has rebuilt Rivers State, when people predicted when they were about to leave office that they want to come and see how he will do the magic of paying workers’ salary, not to talk about doing projects. But Nyesom Wike has not only done projects that we can see, he has done projects that we can touch and projects that have changed our narratives as people of Rivers State.
“And so, as a people, we are here to announce to the world that we have a candidate that we are proud to sell to anybody. And his name is Chief Nyesom Wike. People call him different things in Nigeria of today. Some say he is the face of new democracy in Nigeria. Some say he is the Mr. VAT. Some say he is the Mr. Quality Projects. But I call him the deliverer, the capacity leader and the man that can transform Nigeria”.
Nwanosike recalled that when Rivers State was looking for who to rebuild the state in 2015, GDI identified Wike as such man and went round the state to preach about him to the people, saying that the result yielded a lot of good things for the state.
He said, “So many years ago, we came to the 23 local governments in Rivers State, and we came with a gospel from the Grassroot Development Initiative, and we told the people of Rivers State that we have identified a man that can rebuild the dead Rivers State, as it was then under the leadership of one man that lives in Abuja.
“The people of Rivers State listened to our message, believed in our message, and gave the opportunity for our son and the pride of the Rivers people, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“You can see the results for yourselves. In all the 319 wards in Rivers State, in all sectors, in all spheres of our lives, Governor Nyesom Wike has broken all available political records in managing of our resources as a people. And so, we are proud to say that we as Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality people, under the umbrella of Grassroot Development Initiative, that Nyesom Wike is a man that we are proud of. And as Ikwerre people, we thank God Almighty for giving us such a leader that can be able to manage the resources of Rivers people, manage our diversity and manage our developmental activities as a people”.
The GDI national scribe assured Nigerians that they would never regret voting Wike as president come 2023.
Speaking on behalf of the Rivers State Executive Council members, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Barrister Olisaelloka Tasie-Amadi; and Sir Obiandu Owhochukwu, speaking on behalf of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, called on the Rivers State governor to present himself for the position of Nigeria’s president in 2023.
In his remarks, Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Barrister George Ariolu described Governor Nyesom Wike, as a revered leader who has the capacity and capability to move Nigeria forward.
Ariolu described Wike as an ambassador and a gift from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria.
He said as a believer of good governance, the yardstick to access a man who’s competent enough, is based on what he has done in the position he has occupied before and he’s still occupying, and Wike qualifies for that.
“Wike has transformed Rivers State. And there’s no doubt in my mind, I also know that there’s no doubt in our minds that Wike will replicate same at the national level. Nyesom Wike is a very young man that has the energy; he has the capacity and has capability to transform Nigeria.
“He has displayed his prowess and competence as a local government chairman; he did that as a minister of state, education. The records are there to show. Dear Nigerians, if you want to restructure Nigeria, if you want this country to move forward, look for a competent hand like Nyesom Wike. He is qualified for the Job”.
Speaking further, Ariolu seized the opportunity to thank GDI for standing firmly with Wike.
He said that’s what makes them formidable and unique.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr Chidi Lloyd declared that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has the wherewithal to salvage Nigeria from the mess the country presently finds itself under the watch of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.
Lloyd stated that the exemplary leadership displayed by the governor within his six years in office was a clear indication that he can change the narrative in Nigeria if given the opportunity to oversee the affairs of the country in 2023.
He said the people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality and Rivers State at large never had it so good in terms of effective leadership, stressing that Nigeria needs a leader like Wike to set the country on the path of economic growth and prosperity.
He lauded GDI for its roles on the state and beyond, just as he urged all GDI members to register for the ongoing voters registration exercise as to enable them exercise their franchise during the 2023 elections.
The Ikwerre cluster of the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) comprising of the four local government areas of Emohua, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, during the sensitisation meeting, compelled the governor to take up the responsibility to rescue Nigeria from the maladministration of the APC-led Federal Government.
In a motion moved by the Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martins Amaewhule, seconded by the member representing Ikwerre Constituency in the state Assembly, Hon Anslem Oguguo, and moderated by the Chairman of Emohua LGA and former leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr Chidi Lloyd, national, LGA and ward executives of GDI across the four Ikwerre-speaking LGAs through a voice vote, passed a vote of confidence on Nyesom Wike, and called on the governor to lead the mission to rescue Nigeria in the 2023 general election.
The sensitization meeting had in attendance, lawmakers, members of the State Executive Council, present and past LG council chairmen and top government functionaries who are members of GDI across the four Ikwerre-speaking LGAs of Rivers State.
The Vice Chairman of Emohua LGA, Mrs Edna Nyeche, Secretary of the council, Chief Vincent Chukwu, GDI Coordinator in Emohua LGA and State Youth Leader of PDP, Hon Ikpechi Oriji, former CTC chairman of Emohua LGA and Secretary of GDI in the LGA, Hon John Wokoma, Prof. Okey Onuchuku, among others were part of the delegation from Emohua LGA at the sensitisation meeting.
By: Chinedu Nwosu
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.
A support group, Peter Obi Our President (PETOOP), has inaugurated its members and state executives from Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River States in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, with a renewed call to mobilise grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Saturday, drew a large crowd of supporters and stakeholders from different walks of life, underscoring the growing political engagement around the group’s activities.
PETOOP said its core objective is to galvanise Nigerians across regions to support the presidential ambition of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, in the 2027 elections.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Okelechukwu Benjamin Okuolu, a former senatorial candidate for Rivers East under the Labour Party, described the group as a broad-based movement open to all Nigerians seeking good governance, stressing that it is not a political party.
Represented by Christian Ojukwu, Okuolu urged members to remain committed and make necessary sacrifices toward achieving credible leadership in the country. He expressed optimism about Obi’s chances in the next election cycle, citing what he described as the former governor’s leadership qualities.
Referring to the 2023 general elections, Okuolu encouraged members not to be discouraged by past challenges, but instead remain resolute and vigilant in future electoral processes.
He also commended the National Convener of PETOOP, Chief Magnus Oraka, for his mobilisation efforts aimed at fostering a better Nigeria.
In his remarks, Oraka called on members to remain courageous and steadfast, linking Nigeria’s economic challenges to what he described as leadership deficiencies.According to him, effective governance requires competence, foresight and experience in managing resources, urging Nigerians to prioritise these qualities in future leadership choices.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Coordinator of PETOOP, Mrs. Becky Napoleon, said the group represents a collective movement driven by conviction and a shared vision for national transformation.
She noted that the initiative is focused on inspiring action and generating practical solutions to the country’s challenges through unity and purposeful engagement.
“Our coming together is based on personal conviction and a shared belief in a better future for our country and generations to come,” she said, adding that meaningful transformation requires collective effort.
The Bayelsa State Coordinator, Mr. Ijaja Alabi, also addressed participants, aligning with the group’s message of unity and commitment to national development.
The event marks a significant step in PETOOP’s expansion efforts across the South-South region as it intensifies mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 elections.