Editorial
KING CHARLES III AND HOPE OF A NEW ERA.
By: Godknows Igali
Reminiscent of the time of his forebear, William the Conqueror in 1066 till modern era, Great Britain’s monarch, King Charles III, was coronated in the same Westminster Abbey in Central London on Saturday, April 6, 2023. Accompanied by perhaps one of the most colourful military parades ever seen in modern history, the new British sovereign mounted the 700 years old throne; grotesquely seating atop a not too Christianly “stone of destiny”. Although, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was amongst 2200 royals and world leaders invited to join the show-off of pageantry and opulence at the medieval era church, which interestingly is also a graveyard of some of humanity’s most impactful persons, for the first time, millions of people around the world watched the ancient religious ceremonials.
2. The last time when a king, being his grandfather, King George VI, was coronated in same venue was in 1936 and the realm was an empire, perhaps the largest political dominion in the world of that day. But during the seventy years reign of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, that great political entity splintered into at least fifty-six independent nations now held tenuously together by a loose contrivance of sorts known as ‘The Commonwealth of Nations’. So today, King Charles is coronated over a lonesome United Kingdom, safe for few voluntary dependencies which still owe direct fealty to the crown atop his head.
3. The question on the minds of diplomats and global watchers, therefore, is what lies beyond the rather idealistic ceremonials and pomp. That is, what does this royal ascension holds for Great Britain, which by all sums is still a great world power, and for the wider human community. This is more especially, as his mother enjoyed tremendous respect and weight on virtually every area of human experience and reality during her long reign.
PRIMAEVAL REFLECTIONS RECALLED
4. At the passing of the last British monarch, Queen Elizabeth 11, we had in a piece in October 2022, entitled “Why the World Stood Still for Elizabeth,” auspicated on the times that lie ahead.
5. Amongst other things, we had stated inter alia:
“The removal of the crown and sceptre
as well as the orb which were atop the Queen’s casket at the final commendation service at Windsor Castle signified the fact that it was totally over with her”.
“However, this in no way signifies the end of the seeming British imperial hold around the world, as dim as it may be”.
“No doubt that, at the age of 73 years (now 74 years), King Charles III is well prepared for the job; as he had the privilege to be tutored not only by his mother, by his father, Prince Philip and grandmother, Queen Mother, Mary. Furthermore, he was one of the first royals ever to obtain formal university education as he graduated from the University of Cambridge and also served in the Air Force and Navy, rising to very top levels”.
*”His entire life had been a product of protocol, regimentation, and confined preparations for rulership and leadership”.*
“However, the new king is also a man of his own mind. Perhaps due to his training in history and archaeology, he has also shown great interest in the conservation of historical monuments and architecture. Even more astounding is his work on the environment as he became a global champion for conservation, biodiversity, and fight against climate change and supported such non-classical interest as support for homoeopathy and alternative medicine”.
6. Indeed we had also stated further:
“Despite these modernist credentials, some continue to hold the view that his role as a monarch would be obscured by his mother’s long and celebratory rule, which had received the best of global appreciation”.
“Domestically, the royal family has its own bits of negative appreciation, particularly from so-called anti-monarchists, liberals and republicans, including many who posit that the monarchy is anachronistic and a drain to tax payers. Besides that, the British royal family with all its enormous wealth, which the Forbes Magazine places at $28 billion, is exempt from payment of taxes”
“But then, others argue that besides its symbolic worth, which makes it the centre point of British identity, the existence of the royal family and the monarchy is a major income earner for Britain. Indeed, some argue that, on average, the royal family rakes in about £2 billion earnings from tourism annually”.
7. Our conclusion then was that:
“Whatever the case, King Charles, who is known for his reformist ideas, seems to have started touching the right chords by his display of candour and leadership during the ceremonies leading to his mother’s interment. The openness and modernist twist to the hitherto ancient rites foretell a disposition towards formal modernisation of the monarchy to be in tune with what the public and the entire world want to see in the new dawn”
“Of particular note, King Charles III has to think of pragmatic strategies and personal charm to continue to keep the Commonwealth together. More importantly, maintain the titular headship of the other independent countries, especially in the Caribbean where his mother was Head of State and seem poised to follow the Barbados example, which in 2021, shook off the colonial hangover”. (Igali:2022)
PEEP INTO TOMORROW
8. On Coronation Day, the visuals of temporal power such as the orb, the sceptre and the three hundred and sixty years old St Edwards Crown, all of which were taken away at the last minute before his mother was intered were returned back to King Charles. Thus, symbolising his full imbuement with all human power, allowed by the laws of his country. Perhaps foreseeing his great responsibilities ahead, he had said as part of the ceremonials the words, which by the way never existed in the past, “I come not to be served, but to serve.
9. Though his powers are largely honorific, there is no doubt that his influence on both domestic and world affairs is enormous. It is therefore more likely that this new king who is an undisputed primus inter pares amongst world leaders will bare his fangs in various thematic issues more decidedly than his predecessors.
10. Domestically, he will have to evolve the right stratagems for containing a small but rising wing of anti-monarchy movement, all of which were sufficiently visible during the coronation extravaganza. Similarly, amongst other members of the Union, that is Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, the political movement and notions advocating for sovereign states continue to assume a skyward drift. This has to be handled with great swerve and tact in other to keep the house together.
11. However, following the recent decision of Barbados which transitioned to a Republic on 30th November, 2021, and existing moves by others such as Belize to follow suit, the new King has to work harder to maintain the status quo which confers a lot of prestige on his country’s fading imperial status. In the rest of the realm, there is equal amount of agitation for breakaway by the other sixteen sovereign states such as Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and others where the king will still be titular Head of State. Perhaps if the new King smells the coffee right, he may draw parallels with his late mother experience. Her inheritance on coronation day was a big empire but confronted by a fervour for decolonisation, she timeously yielded to grant independence to all who so desired.
12. For the rest of the Commonwealth, King Charles will need to adopt needed paternalistic outlook to keep this important, symbolic gathering knit and together into the future. At a time of great demand for common global citizenry, there will be the need to put a human face to the Commonwealth by making its constituent populations, some of whom are amongst the world’s poorest, have more beneficial lure. So beyond sports, cultural exchanges and high-level political interactions, other areas that pertain to social welfare, i.e. health, sanitation, fight against hunger and poverty as well as preferential entry access in terms of visas for qualified persons could be given more accent, Certainly these will ignite in a more profound manner, renewed spirit of common destiny.
13. The King assumes reign at a time that is also very much akin to when his mother found herself in the same role. In her case, it was season of “Cold War” and “Détente”; defined by tension and strained nerves between the super powers. The geo-strategic space is no less certain nowadays. For one, the war in Ukraine which is a major snare on modern civilization, still remains inflamed. Similarly, the relative ease in East-West rivalry which had occurred in the past 40 years and created a propitious atmosphere for more enthusiastic global discourse and engagement, now seems to be degenerating back to antimony and contention. So, there will be a great moral burden on the King as it was at the time of his mother to lend some level of quiet persuasive leverage for dialogue, and greater resort to harmonised thoughts.
14. This is same with respect to the various problematic themes such as climate change, fight against poverty and the question of human migration; all of which the King had previously shown particular interest and engrossment. Also gaining incandescent proportion is the question of uproar over so-called atrocious legacy of British colonial adventures. In some cases, there are rather chivalrous demands for reparations. Not that all these are new, but the progress in knowledge dissemination have helped to accentuate their importance. Needless *to* rehash that and other matters would compete for the new King’s attention
15. While all join to herald “God save the King”, what is certain is that, like rains which come just before spring, many await, that the reign of King Charles’ would be a harbinger for a safer, happier and prosperous world for all.
By Divine Perezide
Pipeline vandalism remains a critical threat to Nigeria’s economy, environment, and public health. Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has taken commendable steps to sensitize citizens, urging them to reject illegal bunkering and pipeline destruction. Their recent awareness campaign, visible in Warri and other key locations in the Niger Delta, emphasizes the need for collective responsibility in protecting national assets.
The messages on the Billboards read unequivocally:
“Don’t vandalize pipelines -Tantita sensitizes Nigerians
“Don’t vandalize pipelines. Say “No” illegal bunkering and don’t be involved in it. It’s dangerous to your health and our environment.
“Join us to save the environment and shore up the economic base of our Nation, Nigeria.
“TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited with a signpost to the People of Okere road and Ibo market in Warri, Delta State.
Signed:
“Management of TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited.”
The above signage has been seen in various strategic locations across major cities like Warri in the Niger Delta
As a nation, we must recognize that pipeline security is vital for economic stability and environmental sustainability. Authorities must complement such awareness efforts with stronger enforcement measures, ensuring that communities actively participate in safeguarding Nigeria’s energy infrastructure for future generations.
Being a Text of Keynote Address by Prof. Binebai at the March 29, IduwiniVoice Launching
Welcome seekers of truth and champions of justice. Today we gather on this sacred journalism ground where the majestic waters of Iduwini converge with the whispers of our ancestors, in the bold spirit of our gods of truth, justice, thunder and fire in the majestic presence of King Bosu Dio, the Ebenanaowei of Iduwini Delta, to inspire our quest for storytelling. Thus, it is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility I stand here to deliver a lecture on the digital tide and the upsurge of Avant-garde journalism with focus on Iduwini voice, a distinctive news media that expresses itself formidably and elegantly as a newspaper and television in the cyberspace. By nomenclature, it is a communal news tabloid that was established by Perez Klintin Bibaikefie, An Engineer, A mathematician, a public affairs analyst, an entrepreneur, a politician and a rising star journalist from Odimodi in Iduwini Kingdom. The idea of an Iduwini newspaper was mooted as far back as 2006. In 2021 Iduwini voice was adopted as a media organisations and by July, 2023 it was registered. Iduwini Voice came to join a league of avant-garde newspapers such as Gbaramatu Voice, The Liberator Newspaper before the recent emergence of Arogbo -IbeVoice, Congress Newspaper and others as kingdom news voices.
Journalism and the Ijaw nation.
Ijaw nation has experienced journalist in many faces of its manifestation and practice. Thus in this sacred space, let us remember the legacy of Ernest Ikoli, the father of Nigerian journalism who stood distinct as a first generation Ijaw Journalist and politician, who challenged the excesses of colonialism. May his promethean spirit infuse our words with power and our hearts with courage and light. The second wave of Ijaw journalism produced other veterans like Willy Bozimor, Owei Lakemfa, Charles Tambou, Barclays Ayakoroma, Simon Ambakederemo, Steve Waidor- Pregbagba, Patrick Brisibe, and Murphy Ganagana. These journalists were employed by mainstream Nigerian newspaper. They wrote for newspapers owned by none Ijaws. They did not have the privilege and opportunity to write freely on Ijaw issues. The Third wave of journalism in Ijaw land came with the introduction of indigenous newspapers in cold print. Their vision is to tell the Ijaw story from the Ijaw point of view. They are Presidor Ghomorai who founded Ijaw News, the first Ijaw Newspaper to be established in the early 90s. Followed by Alfred Egbegi’s Izon Link. Then came Oyadonghan’s Banner News, The Light jointly founded by Ebi Any Ozegbe and Ben Binebai, Creek News, Crystal Express, Dialogue, the National Reflector, Izon Apia, The Agenda, and a host of others. The proliferation of these newspapers in Ijaw land across the Niger Delta was propelled by the creation of Bayelsa state.
It is significant to note that the emergence of the digital tide gave rise to the fourth wave of journalism in Ijawland, and this has greatly transmuted the landscape of journalism in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger delta. It is an era of journalism creativity meets with activism, where courage challenges tyranny and oppression, where tales of freedom and resistance are woven against injustices, where subalternised voices are made loud. President Olusegun Obasanjo played a key role in introducing the Global System for Mobile Communication, GSM technology to the country. His government laid the groundwork for the launch of GSM services in 2001. This was a bold attempt to revolutionize telecommunication in Nigeria. In 1995 internet services were introduced earlier in Nigeria and early online platforms emerged, particularly email and basic websites. In 1999 This Day, a Nigerian newspaper launched its online edition. This was followed by the guardian. In 2005 blogging gained popularity and in 2007, social media platforms like Facebook and twitter gained traction in Nigeria. In 2012, Nigerian government gave legitimacy to blogs and social media as news sources. Historically, this era produced an avalanche of digital newspapers. Apart from the android Cellphones, powering citizen journalism, Advocacy Journalism, Guerrilla Journalism. Digital technology gave prominence to the emergence of avant-garde journalism in the creeks of the Niger Delta. Avant-garde journalism powered fresh variants of storytelling and challenging media journalistic norms of orthodoxy, characterized by its emphasis on innovation, experimentation, and creative risk-taking. This methodology has led to the development of new narrative forms, such as interactive and immersive storytelling. This brand of journalism amounts to an intersection of technology and journalism which explores the potential of digital tools to enhance storytelling and audience engagement.
The emergence of Avant-garde journalism particularly from the Ijaw area of the Niger Delta is a very formidable solution to the major problems of the Ijaw nation. Such as lack of voice and speakability. Before Avant-garde journalism Ijaw nation suffered voicing and adequate representation. The orthodox media operatives had the blank check to write anything they wished for the Ijaw nation. Avant-garde journalism from the Ijaw soil serve as counter narrative voices that present the authentic story of the Ijaw people. These news agencies from the riverine offer distinct viewpoints and insights shaped by their proximity to the local environment and its cultural significance. They possess intimate knowledge of marginalized environment, its dynamics, and the community, enabling in-depth reporting.
Characteristics Avant-garde of journalism
Avant-garde journalism from the Riverine effortlessly access remote areas and gather stories that might or may have been disregarded by mainstream media. They enjoy the trust of the local community, facilitating interviews and information gathering. They duel in their riverine environment consequently, they strongly capture and underscore environmental issues, such as pollution, conservation, environmental sustainability, eco-friendly practices, renewable energy transition, carbon neutrality, climate resilience, biodiversity preservation, waste reduction management, sustainable development, green infrastructure and environmental stewardship in the Ijaw areas and the Niger Delta. Avant-garde brand of journalism is community-centric because it focuses on the needs, concerns, and stories of the local community. It is hyper local because it covers news and issues specific to the riverine area. Most importantly, the alternate journalism in question amplifies the voices and perspectives of ordinary people, not just elites or officials. Significantly, it seeks to inspire community-led solutions and initiatives. By their nature, they celebrate the resilience and adaptability of riverine communities in the face of challenges. Avant-garde journalism is essential for democratic engagement, community empowerment, and sustainable development in these unique regions.
Why Avant-garde journalism
Many reasons have been observed as responsible for the emergence of Avant-garde journalism. These include dissatisfaction with mainstream media that prioritizes sensationalism and profit over truth and depth, leading to a desire for alternative forms of journalism. There is also the point of technological advancements occasioned by the rise of digital media and social platforms. These developments have greatly powered democratized journalism which gives opportunity for new voices and innovative storytelling methods. Interestingly Readers increasingly seek in-depth and diverse perspectives that challenge traditional narratives. And there is the need for independent and unbiased reporting. Avant-garde journalism often pushes boundaries in form and style, attracting journalists seeking innovative ways to tell stories. Essentially as a media tradition growing from the subaltern soil, it focus on marginalized voices. It gives prominence to enlarging diminished voices and perceptions, thus, promoting diversity and inclusion. They are cost effective to operate.
Avant-garde journalism in Ijaw land: functions
The function of these new forms of journalism growing from the neglected and oppressed soil of the Ijaw nation are numerous: They share stories and traditions, and help preserve the cultural heritage of riverine communities. They are very active news agents and sonorous voices of grassroots reporting by providing ground-level reporting, though capturing of the voices and experiences of ordinary people. Besides they cater for the Ijaw and specific audience interested in river-related issues thus creating a dedicated readership. By leveraging these advantages, the Ijaw avant-garde or alternative journalism and journalists produce distinctive, impactful, and high-quality reporting that rings with their audience.
These media outfits collectively constitute the avant-garde journalistic tradition in the 21st century. They are one of the very vibrant voices and agencies that have come to change the direction of journalism in this age of digitalisation and technology. The avant-garde tradition of journalism embraced roundly and resoundingly by rising Ijaw journalistic voices are the embodiment of the digital tide that changes media landscape and the rise of digital journalism.
Iduwini Voice, a Paradigm of Avant-garde Journalism
In the ever-shifting landscape of contemporary journalism, a new wave of innovation and creativity is redefining the way we tell stories and engage with the world around us. At the forefront of this revolution is IduwiniVoice, a pioneering platform that embodies the spirit of avant-garde journalism. With its fearless approach to storytelling, Iduwinivoice is harnessing the power of digital media to push boundaries, challenge conventions, and redefine the norms of journalism. Together with Gbaramatu voice is the first known online and hardcopy media newspaper to emerge in the littoral regions of Delta state, followed by the Liberator Newspaper, Congress newspaper, Arogbo Ibevoice, Egbema voice, they not only provide digital storytelling by sharing stories, cultures, and histories of their environment through digital platforms. They also preserve the Ijaw heritage and accommodate virtual tourism through the promotion of riverine tourism and supporting local economies. They offer informal education and create awareness and campaigns about riverine environmental issues and promote education.
This lecture “The Digital Tide,” explores the remarkable journey of Iduwinivoice and its impact on the media world. It is a bipartite media organization. Founded and popularized by Perez Klintin Bibaikefie. Iduwini voice delves into the vision, of creativity and innovation that have made it a beacon of avant-garde storytelling. From the intersection of technology and journalism to the evolving role of the media in shaping our understanding of the world. Iduwinivoice’s model of avant-garde journalism has been particularly influential, with its focus on digital innovation and community engagement. Iduwini Voice brings stories from the grassroots, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. It provides an alternative to mainstream media narratives, which often marginalize or sensationalize minority communities. It helps to preserve the cultural heritage and traditions of the Niger Delta region. And conducts in-depth investigations into issues like corruption, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation. Iduwini voice provides a platform for women, youth, and other marginalized groups to share their stories and perspectives. By leveraging digital platforms, Iduwini Voice democratizes access to information and journalism, reaching a global audience. Iduwini Voice’s significance extends beyond the Niger Delta, offering a model for grassroots, community-driven journalism that can be replicated globally. Because it is a local media outfit executing journalistic activism on the streams of globalization, it is difficult to brand it as a territorial newspaper. By nomenclature it is territorial, by medium it has global capacity it is can be local, national and global depending on its contents.
Iduwini voice is a prototypal model of the avant-garde and digital technology revolution holding sway across the length and breadth of Ijaw land. It has established a bulky voicing tradition in which it dominates the social media space with voices of denunciation, commendation and recommendations of actions and inactions by the powers that be. Iduwini voice flying in the rising digital wind and wings, has dutifully emerged on the horizon of the Niger Delta to participate constructively in shaping opinions and mounting pressure on contrary political centers of gravity. And the man behind this bipartite newspaper, Perez Klintin Bibaikefie, deserves to be commended. It has the noble tradition of balancing lopsided journalism and taming the tiger. Iduwini voice and its counterparts play a crucial role in holding power accountable and promote social justice. Together, they fly the banner of radical journalism by taking critical positions, undergo investigative reporting to expose injustice, corruption and systemic issues, they are champions of alternative viewpoints and the command activists approach and advocacy.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Iduwini voice is one of the most circulated, widely circulated and constantly circulated newspaper with quality contents. It is a leading voice of the voices in online journalism. Today, I have established Iduwini voice as an avant-garde newspaper with transformative energy, a vibrant riverine journalistic voice that is strongly redefining the landscape of news reporting as it affects his homestead by being counter-narrative and embracing innovations. I tell you in strong terms, it is an embodiment of the spirit of avant-garde journalism, a radical reordering of journalism to push boundaries and reshaping the possibilities of storytelling. It is bound to inspire a fresh generation of journalists, activists and community leaders.
Today marks a significant milestone with the official launch of IduwiniVoice. Thus on behalf, the man who bows before the sun that melts his hubris into fashionable humility, a man with an inner voyage of studied character, the Environmental Rights activist, A Philanthropist of great repute, a sport enthusiast, an Ijaw nationalist, the Chairman of this august gathering, High Chief Comrade Sheriff Mudale DG. CEPEJ, I am honoured to present to you a multifaceted and talented young man, a rising wordsmith, a cultural Ambassador, a formidable champion of avant-garde journalism, a digital narrator and investigator, an innovative story teller, a visionary thinker, a man whose pen is more valuable than the warriors sword, a passionate advocate, a determined journalist charged with great purpose, dominated by an impregnable will to climb to the mountain top of journalism; a young man, who commands an imagistic power that defines the power of technology and avant-garde journalism, Perez Klinton Bibaikefie.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Victoria Brickson once said and I quote “place your hands into soil to feel grounded. Wade in water to feel emotionally healed. Fill your lungs with fresh air to feel mentally clear. Raise your face to the heat of the sun and connect with that fire to feel your own immense power” Perez Klinton Bibaikefie is a symbolism of this quote. I congratulate him and his workforce on this remarkable achievement.
By Editorial Team
Success stories resonate more when they are authentic, relatable, and lived in real-time before our very eyes. One such story is that of Inetimi Timaya Odon, popularly known as Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa. His rise from humble beginnings, selling plantain on the streets of Port Harcourt, to becoming one of Nigeria’s biggest music icons, is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and dedication to one’s craft.
Timaya’s story is not just one of fame and fortune but one that embodies the essence of True Story, his debut album that captivated hearts and set him on a path to stardom. For many of us from the Niger Delta, Timaya’s success hits differently. His music carries our struggles, our hopes, and our dreams. His journey represents the undying spirit of a people who have weathered many storms, determined to chart their course toward a brighter future.
The True Story album, released in 2007, remains a timeless classic. It was more than just music; it was a movement. Songs like “Dem Mama” captured the harsh realities faced by the people of the Niger Delta while offering a beacon of hope to those who felt unseen and unheard. Through his lyrics, Timaya painted vivid pictures of pain, perseverance, and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.
For those of us who come from the same roots, Timaya’s success is personal. In secondary school, it was a badge of pride to claim him as a brother from the same region. His rise gave us something to believe in — proof that dreams can come true, even when you start from the bottom. It gave us bragging rights, yes, but more importantly, it gave us hope.
The Egberi Papa’s journey is one that every hustler can relate to. It speaks to those who have faced rejection, endured hardship, and continued to push through the thick clouds of uncertainty. Timaya’s story shows that with unwavering dedication, the impossible becomes possible.
His influence transcends music; it is a cultural movement that inspires countless young people to keep going, to keep believing, and to never give up. Timaya is not just a musician; he is a symbol of what is achievable through hard work and persistence.
As he continues to evolve and remain relevant in the ever-changing music industry, Timaya stands tall as a living legend. His story will forever serve as an inspiration to those who dare to dream beyond their circumstances.
At IduwiniVoice, we celebrate his and the journeies of many more Nigerian/African Youths who have carved a nitch for themselves and made Africa proud, their triumphs, and their impacts on our society.
Big ups, Timaya. Your True Story will forever be our anthem from the creeks to the world.
— IduwiniVoice Editorial Team