Niger Delta

Monarch Hails Fubara Over Traditional Rulers Council Chairman’s Appointment, Projects Delivery

Published

2 years ago

June 24, 2024

The Nne-Nwe Eli Emohua and President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, Eze(Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, has poured encomiums on Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for the recent appointment of the Paramount Ruler and Eze Oha of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo as Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers by the Governor, describing the gesture as a right step in the right direction and a welcomed development.
Eze Onuekwa, who gave the indication while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the appointment of the Obio/Akpor monarch was well-deserved, going by his sterling leadership qualities.
He said the appointment is not only a stabilising force but a healing process for the traditional institution in the State, that would steer it away from unnecessary parochialism, redundancy and controversies, to a direction of unifying and harmonising traditional rulers in the State, as dependable and reliable partners and allies of government in the development of the State.
While further commending Governor Fubara for his timely intervention in rescuing the traditional rulers council from drifting to the abyss of despair and hopelessness, Eze Onuekwa said the Governor has by such an appointment given the traditional rulers a new sense of purpose and direction, and therefore, enjoined the new council chairman to justify the confidence reposed in him by not only carrying along all members of the council but also taking the traditional institution to glorious and enviable heights.
He said the removal of Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse as chairman of the traditional rulers council is particularly instructive, and appealed to traditional rulers in the State to remain apolitical and abstain completely from politics so as to win back the respect they used to have back in the days before they became political appendages to government, as they are seen today.
Eze Onuekwa, who described the removal of Ohna Awuse as the chairman of the council as good riddance to bad rubbish, noted that the appointment and elevation of the Emohua monarch in the first place were mired in dire controversies and disputations, stressing that all the chieftaincy positions the former chairman had occupied were only got through political patronage from the benevolence of Chief Nyesom Wike, who was his protege while growing up.
“The truth remains that Ohna Chief Sergeant Awuse was undemocratically foisted on the council without consideration to due process, and for this, some members had abstained from the council since the day he was pronounced till date,” he said, and described the new chairman of the council as a competent, cerebral and mature jolly good fellow, who he said is capable of rewriting the ugly chapters of the council for good.
He said he was duly elected the Nne Nwe Eli Emohua by the Mgboh Royal Ruling House on January 29, 2022 while his installation to occupy the stool and throne of his father and forefathers was allegedly truncated by a former Governor of the State.
On the strength of this, the chartered insurer and legal luminary described himself as a traditional ruler of repute, and appealed to Governor Fubara to help him reclaim his stolen stool.
Eze Onuekwa also applauded Governor Fubara for his peaceful disposition and the monumental achievements recorded by his administration in the past one year, especially in the execution and delivery of people-oriented projects.
He also used the opportunity to tell the world that there is peace in Rivers State, contrary to the pictures being painted by certain persons in the State who are calling for a state of emergency to be declared in the State.
While denouncing the purveyors of such ugly narrative, the monarch said the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the State has continued to encourage businesses and investments to thrive and flourish, describing the calls for a state of emergency as self-serving and mischievous.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.