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”.
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor
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