Niger Delta

Ekpeye Monarch Admits Eze Igbu Orlukwo Into Council

Published

3 years ago

July 26, 2023

His Imperial Majesty Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III of Ekpeye land has admitted His Royal Highness Eze, Frederick B. Uwame, regent of Eze Igbu Orlukwor into the fold of Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs.
The ceremony took place, last Saturday, at his palace in Ula–Upata Community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The monarch stated that Orlukwor clan had already existed, and he, as the Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, as the Chairman, Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, owed the people the blessings needed to accomplish any lofty ideas.
“It is a great day for the people of Ekpeye ethnic nation to gather at the palace of Eze Ekpeye Logbo III for the warm reception of Igbu Orlukwor.
“Igbu Orlukwor had already been received to the Supreme Council by my predecessor, Late His Imperial Majesty Eze Flt. Leut. Robinson O. Robinson, the Crocodile of Africa, in his life time.
“By the Ekpeye bye-law of 10th August 2010, Igbu Orlukwor was among the seven Igbus in Ekpeye Kingdom that signed the bye-law which is yet the working document of the traditional institution in Ekpeye today”, he noted.
He reiterated the need for people to put aside their personal interests for the common good of the generality, adding that the issue of autonomy should not be misconstrued to tear apart Ekpeye Kingdom.
According to him, Ekpeye craved for peace and development, and his reign could not divide Ekpeye Kingdom, and that it would rather put structures that engender peace and development of Ekpeye Kingdom.
He, therefore, seized the opportunity to call on irate youths of Ekpeye to lay down their arms for peace and development to thrive.
Speaking, the Igbu Orlukwor people, who were popularly known as O’ group, in their address, expressed gratitude to His Imperial Majesty and Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for the opportunity granted them to introduce the regent of Orlukwor Kingdom.
“Igbu Orlukwor has great respect for Ekpeye throne and had keyed into Ekpeye Social Structure by adopting the Eze Igbu, Eze Emene, Eze Nwe Ula, and Eze Nwe Obodo hierarchy, and accordingly sub-divided Igbu Orlukwor into four groups, comprising Emene Owu Orlukwor, Emene Ugbokor Orlukwor, Emene Egbeleta Orlukwor, and Emene Ikega Orlukwor.
“Before the advent of colonialism in Ekpeye land, the seven O’ group villages in South East of Upata district: Obumeze, Odiabidi, Ogbele, Okomoma I, Okoma II, Okporowo, and Oshiugbokor had formed a joint community government for the purpose of defending themselves against external aggression and for resolving inter community conflict”, they stated.
The group said Igbu Orlukwor was long ago in the organogram during the recognition of the various clans of Ekpeye Kingdom by the first and foremost Ekpeye monarch, His Majesty Eze Ashirim Unoshi in 1974, which included Ahoada, Akoh, Upata I (U group), Upata II (O’ group), Igbuduya, and Ubie.
They noted further that HRH Eze Williams E. Unugboji was the incumbent leader of the Igbu Orlukwor when the kingship stools were created by Ekpeye and later recognised and classified by the Rivers State Government.
The O’ group noted that the Kingdom’s leadership provided the incumbency platform on which HRH Eze Unugboji was accorded recognition, adding that his domain, however, transversed the whole of Upata clan.
Speakers at the occasion included His Majesty Eze Cassidy W.O Ikebhidhi, Eze Igbu Akoh II of Ekpeye land; and His Majesty Eze Arc. Nnamdi Obuzor, Eze Odiokwu I of Ekpeye Kingdom.

By: Agimo Emenike Benson

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.