Rivers
Igbu Akoh Monarch Condemns Killing Of DPO …Wants Perpetrators To Face The Law
The Paramount Ruler/ Eze Igbu Akoh ll of Igbu Akoh Kingdom in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, HRM Eze Godspower Okorobia Okpagi, has condemned in strong terms the gruesome murder of the Divisional Police Officer ( DPO) of Ahoada Police Division, SP Bako Angbashim in Odiemudie Community in the local government.
SP Angbashim was last Friday murdered in cold blood in a gruesome and babaric manner by certain criminal elements, who are still at large, with the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, placing a N100million bounty on the head of the prime suspect and his criminal gang.
Reacting to the development, Eze Okpagi said in an interview that he was highly pained by the sad incident, as the slain DPO was deployed to Ekpeye land by the police hierarchy and the government to actually fight for the freedom of the people and liberate them from the vestiges of criminality and other social vices, which had ravaged the area since 2015.
He noted that the hoodlums, who hacked down the DPO had been having a field day in the area since 2015, under the care of the suspended Hon Cassidy Ikegbidi, who arrogated to himself the Eze Igbu Akoh ll paramountcy, contrary to the customs and traditions of the Ekpeye people.
The monarch affirmed that the deplorable security situation in Akoh Clan was so bad that cult boys had a free rein, as they presided over and decided family cases, misunderstandings between husbands and wives and land matters while the so-called Paramount Ruler of the Kingdom helplessly watched them.
“It is unfortunate for them to kill an innocent man, who had come to fight for our freedom. And because his actions were detrimental to their operations, they conspired and killed him. It is unacceptable. They butchered him like an animal. No reasonable and responsible government would tolerate that. Bako was sent to us by the government and he was doing a nice job, and cleansing the area before he met his untimely death. His murder is very very unfortunate”, he said.
Eze Okpagi thanked Governor Fubara for his prompt intervention, saying, all those involved in the dastardly act must be made to face the law.
“It should not end there. There should be no politics in this. This is because we are all human beings. Those responsible must face the law,” he said, conceding that the Odiemudie Community, where the DPO was killed is in one of the sub-clans in Igbu Akoh Kingdom.
“We live in the communities. We interact. We know what has been going on there. We had written series of petitions to the government. I personally wrote the Governor over the security threat to my life. And the death of SP Bako has affirmed all our fears,”he said.
It would be recalled that in the wake of the murder of the DPO, the Rivers State Government wielded the big stick, and promptly suspended indefinitely Hon Cassidy Ikegbidi, who before this time, had been entangled in series of litigations, challenging his claim to the Igbu Akoh chieftaincy stool.
Most recently, specifically, on June 5, 2023, the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, dismissed for lack of merit, an appeal he filed challenging an earlier judgment of March 14, 2018, given by the High Court in Ahoada, voiding his ascension to the throne of the Eze Igbu Akoh ll. The court ordered all the parties to submit themselves for an election as contained in the Ekpeye Bye-Law of 2010 on the Qualification and Procedure for the Election of an Eze Igbu in Ekpeye land.
Available records show that Hon Ikegbidi did not submit himself for an election as directed by the court and never participated in the election conducted by a duly constituted Electoral Commission, the basis for which the Court of Appeal dismissed his suit.
In spite of defying the High Court order of March14, 2018, even without any proof and evidence that Hon Ikegbidi has secured a stay of execution of the Appeal Court judgment of June 5, 2023, he has continued to parade himself as the Eze Igbu Akoh ll, contrary to the customs and traditions of the Ekpeye people.
Conversely, Eze Okpagi, who submitted himself for an election and won, as required by the Ekpeye Bye-Law and the Constitution of Akoh Communities was coronated on June 30, 2018, amid pomp and pageantry as the authentic Eze Igbu Akoh ll by the Igbu Akoh Owhor Holders and Akoh Council of Chiefs, under the auspices of His Imperial Majesty Eze Robinson O. Robinson of blessed memory.
It is also on record that the Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs had on May 1, 2018 withdrew chieftaincy titles conferred on Hon Ikegbidi for not following due process in ascension to the stool of Eze Igbu Akoh and for illegally coronating himself as Eze Igbu Akoh ll in the night, when Akoh people were yet to elect their Eze, among other offences and misconduct.
Again, Eze Okpagi, on June 21, 2018, had duly endorsed and signed, as the authentic Eze Igbu Akoh ll, a letter of appreciation by the people of Akoh under the auspices of Igbu Akoh Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, thanking former Governor Nyesom Wike for upgrading the Eze Igbu Akoh stool to First Class chieftaincy status.
It is interesting to note that on August 1, 2023, the lawyers to Eze Okpagi petitioned the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council against the suspended Hon Cassidy Ikegbidi over acts of criminal intimidation and conducts capable of causing inter-communal war and breakdown of law and order in Igbu Akoh Kingdom.
The lawyers had also on August 18, 2023, written the Rivers State Government through the state Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, on the wrongful recognition of Hon Cassidy Ikegbidi as Eze Igbu Akoh Kingdom, and urged it to “suspend the certificate of recognition granted him by the state government as Eze Igbu Akoh as well as all the benefits he now receives from the state government by virtue of his mischievous misrepresentation of facts before the last administration”.
“Conversely, we appeal to you based on the foregoing to use your good offices to recommend to the Rivers State Government to grant recognition to our client as the authentic Eze Igbu Akoh by virtue of the judgment of the Court of Appeal”, the lawyers pleaded.
The Rivers State Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to operators and occupants of an illegal dumpsite located in a residential and an industrial area along Danjuma drive, off Peter Odili Road, in Port Harcourt, to vacate or be forced out.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, issued the order during an on-the-spot visit to the area along with the enforcement team of the Ministry.
He condemned the use of the large hectare of private land by scavengers as a dumpsite in an unauthorised area to gather and sort solid waste for recycling.
Hon. Bipi said operating such dumpsite in a residential and industrial area portends grave environmental and health risk.
He also condemned the conversion of the area to a slum accommodation with shanties and illegal structures by the scavengers and other individuals.
Bipi wondered why the property owner would allow such illegal activities in his property in an area designated as residential and industrial zone.
He warned that the State Government would commence the clearing of the dumpsite and demolition of all shanties and illegal structures in the area at the expiration of the seven days deadline.
The Commissioner reiterated the unwavering determination of the Ministry under his watch to mitigate the proliferation of illegal structures and slums in Port Harcourt and other parts of the State.
On his part, the Chairman, Special Committee on Development Control of the Ministry, Tpl. David Ogbanga, said the existence of such slum is impeding the efforts of the Ministry in promoting sustainable urban development in line with the United Nations Goals on Sustainable Development.
He said besides its negative impact on urbanization, slums act as a breeding ground for miscreants and promotion of social vices. Ogbanga decried the pollution of the environment as a result of activities of the operators of the illegal dumpsite and the slum dwellers.
He vowed that in the coming days the Enforcement Team will go tough on slum dwellers and operators of such unauthorized dumpsite in Port Harcourt and its environs.
By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Charity Amiso
The House of Representatives member representing Port Harcourt Constituency 11 in the National Assembly, Hon. (Mrs) Blessing Amadi, has called on government at all levels to give more attention to the promotion of indigenous cultures and languages.
She stated this at the just-concluded Ogbakor Ikwerre OPA Branch Cultural Day at Rumuekini, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The lawmaker, who expressed concern over the danger of extinction being faced by indigenous languages and culture, said the situation needs serious government attention.
She also called on Ikwerre parents to bring their children up in the ways of the culture and traditions of the Ikwerre nation and commended the organisation for its effort in sustaining Ikwerre cultures and traditions.
Also speaking, the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, Eze Godspower Onuekwa, said Ikwerre as an ethnic nationality has distinct dressing, language and culture
Onuekwa said the organisation is working hard to ensure that the Ikwerre language and culture do not die.
He also tasked parents in Ikwerre land to teach their children the Ikwerre language and culture.
Speaking on the topic, “Dressing As An Expression of Cultural Identity”, Professor Matthew Wegwu explained the need for an ethnic group to strictly ensure its traditional attires are not abused, but worn in a proper manner in order to prevent misidentification.
He said parents must do more by advising their children on proper dressing in order to avoid being abused by following current trends in the society.
The OPA Branch Chairman of the association, Eze Chris Onunwor, and the Programme Planning Committee Chairman, Dr. Ovuchi Agwu, said the programme was organised to celebrate Ikwerre cultural heritage and urged all hands to be on deck to ensure the preservation of Ikwerre culture.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of awards to distinguished and long serving members of the association, drama presentations and wrestling bouts.
By: John Bibor
The Rivers State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has sealed some oil and gas service Companies and training firms at the Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout of Port Harcourt over non-compliance with the Physical Planning Law and Regulations of the State.
The Commissioner, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, who led the enforcement team on the action, accused the companies of flagrant violation of standards and procedures of the Nigerian building codes and regulations of the Ministry while carrying out development projects in their premises.
He said the companies failed to comply with the requirements on the monitoring, verification and compliance exercise carried out by officials of the Ministry.
The Commissioner also frowned at the companies for also failing to honour invitations extended to them by the Ministry over the issues.
Hon Bipi said the sealing of premises of the defaulting companies was done with human face and within the ambit of the law.
He clarified that it was not meant to disrupt the operations of the companies but a necessary action to compel them to comply with safety, quality and other regulatory standards of the building industry.
The Commissioner assured that the affected companies will be unsealed as soon as they send their representatives to the Ministry to resolve the outstanding issues.
On his part, the Chairman of the Special Committee on Development Control of the Ministry, David Ogbanga, explained that the companies failed to provide relevant documents required of them, which include previous and current plans with elevations and setbacks, previous and current development permits and approval on fencing and renovation as well as Urban Infrastructure Support Plans.
He said others include Demand Notices and evidence of original receipts of payment, Reports of relevant professionals on subject plan, as well as Location Map and Survey Plan.
Ogbanga said the companies were duly served with notices of enforcement, which include that of contravention, stop work and seal-up, in accordance with relevant sections of the Physical Planning and Development Law of the State before the execution of the action.
He said the affected companies will remain sealed until their Managements demonstrate seriousness and willingness to resolve the outstanding issues.
The Chairman of the Special Committee on Development Control further stated that this will serve as a deterrent to non-compliant companies and corporate organisations in the State.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
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