Niger Delta
Jonathan, Ogbuku, Diri Preach Unity, Peace … As Bayelsa Clan Installs Monarch
Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said without unity and peace no community in the society can achieve any meaningful development.
He stated this at the coronation of a substantive king for the Emeyal Clan in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, King Wapaebiama David Amakiri, weekend.
Represented by a former Commissioner for Education in the State, Mr. Tobias James, Jonathan lauded the clan for their high sense of unity and love, noting that without love and peace the clan would not have been able to install a new monarch because progress would have been elusive.
The Tide learnt that Emeyal Clan is one of the four sister clans of the Ogbia Kingdom.
Jonathan advised the larger Ogbia Kingdom to learn to forgive one another and eschew rancour and acrimony, saying that the clan has once again demonstrated that with unity there is hardly any insurmountable obstacle and height in life.
“I want to thank the Emeyal Clan for their high sense of love, unity and commitment to progress and development. Without unity and love I believe this clan wouldn’t have been able to conduct an election which was regarded as very free, fair and peaceful which produced the monarch being installed here today.
“I also want to advise other clans and kingdoms in Nigeria to emulate the example of the Emeyal clan. I’ll also like to wish the new king well and success in his kingdom and reign. Emeyal clan has demonstrated to the world, especially the Niger Delta region, that indeed they’re a united, peace loving clan”, he said.
Presenting the staff of office, the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, cautioned against unlawful dethronement and acrimony, saying the Chieftaincy laws of the state were anti-illegal dethronement and unnecessary balkanization of kingdoms and communities.
Represented by the State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, the State Chief Executive congratulated the new monarch, saying Government was willing to continue partnering and protecting the royal institutions, saying they are an integral fabric of peace and development in the society as well as institutions for cultural preservation.
“This coronation and presentation of Staff of office to the Obanobhan (King) of Emeyal Clan demonstrates our height of respect and synergy expected from both Government and the traditional institution.
“As you may know, our chieftaincy laws and other extant instruments in our state concerning installation of traditional rulers were against unlawful dethronement.
“I, therefore, urge the entire clan to cooperate for the unity, peace and progress of this kingdom. I want to congratulate the dynamic and peace loving people of this clan for their continued show of affection and love for each other and their resolve to forge ahead in togetherness and unity”, the Governor said.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Niger Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, charged communities of the region to be more united in order to attract maximum benefits from the commission’s interventions, noting that without unity and peace there was nothing the agency could do in any disunited community or kingdom of the region.
He commended the Emeyal Clan and the people of Ogbia for disproving the alleged disunity in the kingdom.
“If anybody still believes that the Ogbia people weren’t united, I believe the crowd here, and the number of paramount rulers from various communities of the four different clans in this coronation ceremony has disproved them.
“As an agency, the NDDC can only operate in an atmosphere of unity, and peace. I therefore call on the Niger Delta communities to be more than ever be united and continue to eshew acrimony and disunity.
“Our mandate as a Commission is to develop within our capacity every community of the Niger Delta region. I want to equally thank the Emeyal Clan for the display of love, peace and cooperation among themselves and the communities of the clan”, he said.
The Tide learnt that the new Monarch’s coronation ceremony is coming after five years of interregnum upon the demise of the former substantive monarch of the kingdom, the late king George Adumein Lawson, which necessitated the appointment of an Acting monarch.
King Lawson, The Tide further gathered, died in 2021 and was interred months after.
Until his installation, the new substantive monarch was paramount ruler of Oruma (Yiba-Ama) Community, one of the twelve communities in the clan.
King Amakiri, who now goes by the appellation, Obanobhan 2nd of Emeyal Clan won a keenly contested election for the coveted stool in 2024, paving a way for his formal coronation and presentation of Staff of office by the Bayelsa State Government, last Saturday, at Emeyal Two Community, headquarters of the clan.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.
Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.
“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.
“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.
“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.
Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.
“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.
“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.
The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.
Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.
Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.
She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.
“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.
Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.
She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.
The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.
She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.
The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.
The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.
The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.
“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.
He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.
According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.
He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.
“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.
Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.
He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”
He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.
Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.
“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.
He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.
“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.
He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.
Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.
Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.
“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.
“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.
Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.
Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.
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