Rivers
Group Decries Claim Over Bukuma Royal Stool
The Council of Chiefs in conjunction with the amalgam of all statutory bodies in Bukuma, “Agum Itu Omora”, Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, has decried claims by one Mr. Precious Elekima that he is the paramount ruler of Bukuma.
In a Vanguard news report of Thursday, January 23, 2025, titled: NNPCL Disobeys court order on cluster establishment, Mr. Precious Elekima was addressed as the “Paramount ruler of Bukuma”.
Reacting to the claims of Precious Elekima, the Chairman of Agum Itu Omora, Dr. Igbarima Alex, said it was a “gross misinformation, a deliberate intent to mislead the public and an affront on the sensibility of the people of Bukuma Community to address Mr. Precious Elekima as ‘Paramount Ruler of Bukuma’.
He stated that King Stephen J. Tobins, Akee X remained the only recognized Royal Highness of Bukuma.
According to Dr. Alex, while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, His Highness Tobins is recognized by the Rivers State Government and is a member of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and can only be derecognised by the Rivers State Governor.
He continued that “the claims of one Mr. Precious Elekima over the royal stool of the community is spurious and lacks validity, for there cannot be two monarchs in a community at the same time.
Speaking on behalf of the Council of Chiefs of Bukuma (Agum), Chief Usman Ngeribo Douglas, the Public Relations Officer of the Council, also stated that there was no time Precious Elekima was installed a Chief in the community.
Giving historical antecedents of ascendance to the royal stool of the community, he said Precious “is not an installed chief of Bukuma and does not belong to the Royal family, and so cannot be a traditional ruler of the community.
“Ascendance to the kingship stool of the community alternates between the Attah and Alalibo Families of Krigbo Group of families since the reign of King Akee (1771-1801) who succeeded King Odu of the extinct Omoh Group of Families.
“Historically, the 10 kings that have ruled the Bukuma Community from the 16th Century A.D. when the people settled at the present place of abode, none is from the family of Mr. Precious”.
He stated past monarchs from Krigbo Group of Families as: King Akee IV (1771-1801); King Ekine, V (1801-1838), King Attah, VI (1840-1884); King Alalibo, VII (1886-1904); King Ikiriko, VIII (1906-1952); King Stanley Tobins, IX (1962-2005).
“To put the records straight, the present King, Stephen J. Tobins, X was installed in 2013 and was subsequently recognized by the Rivers State Government”, he added.
Douglas urged the public, the Rivers State Government, Degema Local Government Area Chairman, NNPCL, AGIP, NLNG and all multinational companies to discountenance claims of Precious as being the monarch of Bukuma Community.
The spokesmen described such claims as “the antics of a self-seeking and over ambitious personality that can only happen in this case only when elephants can fly like birds”.
Continue Reading
The Mentoring and Career Development Institute of Nigeria (MCDI) has inducted about 150 new members into various categories of membership during a special induction ceremony and dinner in Port Harcourt.
Aimed at expanding the institute’s membership base, the event offered new inductees an opportunity to engage with senior members and integrate fully into the organisation’s professional network.
The induction ceremony was part of the 2025 national conference of the institute.
National President of MCDI, Dr. Collins Edebiri, administered the oath, while the new members promised to carry out their duties faithfully, following the institute’s rules and constitution.
Dr. Edebiri emphasised the institute’s core mandate of instilling values that will shape individuals and institutions.
He emphasised the theme of the conference, “Mentoring for Individual and Corporate Leadership”, noting that last year’s focus centred on national development and value reorientation.
Edebiri explained that the induction ceremony is a key feature of the institute’s annual conference, though inductions also occur quarterly.
On the criteria for membership, he said the most important factor is the desire to be mentored or the readiness to mentor others, and urged the new inductees to become ambassadors of value-driven leadership in their respective workplaces.
Guest Speaker at the ceremony, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who was a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), shared her experiences from her early days in journalism, attributing much of her professional growth to strong mentorship.
She encouraged members to embrace mentorship as a catalyst for personal and societal advancement.
Seminitari was later presented an award.
New members, including Wisdom Egberi Woniepiriye, and Mrs. Grace Ajinwanyiekwu, expressed their excitement and hope to be mentored well so they can eventually mentor others.
There were a dinner and networking session, marking another success for MCDI in its efforts to build leadership values nationwide.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has commended a renowned fisherman, Mr. Ricky Brown Owunari, for what it described as a remarkable stride in global engineering content creation.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Association, weekend, the SPE said the patented “Dewaxer Flow Enhancer and Downhole Tool” had secured official endorsement under U.S. Patent No. 12,448,868 B2.
They said the development has been highlighted as a significant indicator of Rivers State’s growing intellectual and technological capacity, with observers noting that such breakthroughs position the state as a rising hub for innovation.
According to those familiar with the innovation, the achievement serves as proof that Niger Deltans have moved beyond the era of militancy and are now producing world-class content, research outputs, and technical solutions.
The SPE officials described the patented technologies as timely tools designed to tackle wax deposition in crude oil wells, a major challenge that frequently disrupts production and increases maintenance costs.
They further stressed that the milestone underscores the need for Rivers State to invest more in supporting innovators whose works demonstrate global potential.
Industry experts revealed that the tool originated from years of field observation, experimentation, and rigorous research aimed at improving flow assurance in challenging well conditions.
They also urged the Federal Government to show greater appreciation for home-grown innovations, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally recognise and encourage technological breakthroughs emerging from the Niger Delta.
Stakeholders at the event warned against piracy, emphasising that unauthorised copying of patented technologies undermines national progress and discourages genuine innovators.
Analysts observed that the breakthrough strengthens the narrative of a new Rivers State built on creativity, content development, and technical excellence rather than conflict.
The session concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between government authorities and industry players to protect intellectual property and position Rivers State as a greenhouse for innovation-driven content.
The content, The Tide gathered, is expected to solve critical challenges in the oil and gas sector, as well as other relevant areas of the national economy.
By; King Onunwor
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned against mass abductiond and targeted killings in Nigeria.
President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, who gave the warning, noted that Nigeria was faced with a growing wave of violence following fresh attacks in Kebbi and Borno States.
The association issued the warning after terrorists attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga on November 17.
According The Tide’s source, the gunmen killed a teacher and abducted at least twenty-five students during a shootout with security personnel.
The President said the latest attack shows the country has become unsafe for schoolchildren and civilians.
He further noted that Nigeria also lost Brigadier General M. Uba earlier that day in an ISWAP ambush in Borno State.
According to Osigwe, the nation was witnessing a rise in terrorism, kidnapping, and lawlessness that has overwhelmed security agencies, adding that rural communities, travellers, farmers, and security officers are all exposed.
The NBA President also warned that Nigeria was facing a dangerous breakdown of public safety.
Quoting recent reports, he said about 145 people went missing in mass abductions across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara within four days.
“The country must stop recording deaths while hoping for peace through negotiations with terrorists”, he said.
The NBA further revealed that recent intelligence alerts, including the DSS warning of ISWAP plans to strike in Ondo and Kogi, show a widening threat.
Osigwe questioned why terrorists still control forests and highways without challenge, with criminals levying taxes on communities, displace families, and attack convoys.
The NBA demanded an urgent national security overhaul with transparency and strong political will.
Osigwe, however, praised the teacher who died in Kebbi while protecting students.
By; King Onunwor
-
News4 days agoRSG Woos Investors As PHCCIMA Unveils Port Harcourt Int’l Trade Fair
-
Sports3 days agoBarca Impress On Return To Camp Nou
-
Niger Delta3 days agoTraditional Ruler Seeks End To Benin Artifacts Unauthorized Promotion
-
Sports3 days agoSunderland Fall At Fulham
-
Sports3 days agoBundesliga: Oliseh Stars As Bayern Rebound To Thrash Freiburg
-
Sports3 days agoOgoni Nation Cup: Victory Against Amee Base Excites Coach
-
Sports3 days agoForest Embarrass Liverpool At Anfield
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoNERC Sets December 31 For CSP Registration, Mandates N100,000 Non-refundable Registration Fee