Editorial
NIGER-DELTA AVENGERS (NDA): AVENGING ON THE FRAUDULENT AND NEO-COLONIZED NIGERIAN STATE TO “MEND” THE INJUSTICE DONE THE NIGER-DELTA OVER THE DECADES IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT FREEDOM.
NIGER-DELTA AVENGERS (NDA):
AVENGING ON THE FRAUDULENT AND NEO-COLONIZED NIGERIAN STATE TO “MEND” THE INJUSTICE DONE THE NIGER-DELTA OVER THE DECADES IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT FREEDOM.
In the Bible book of Matthew 22 : 21, Jesus Christ told the Pharisees, their disciples and Herodians, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s – King James Version,
On his own, former reggae maestro and rastafarian, late Peter Markin -Tosh, in one of his musical albums titled “Equal Rights”, sang as follows:
“Everyone is crying out for peace yes,
None is crying out for justice.
Everyone is crying out for peace yes,
Non is crying out for justice.
I don’t want no peace,
I need equal rights and justice”.
In line with the above quotes, when Groundnut, Cocoa and Coal were the economic mainstay of the defunct Northern, Western and Eastern regions respectively in the defunct first republic, the proceeds from these resources were used to develop the aforementioned regions. Similarly, when the defunct Midwestern region was created, though to weaken late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s political empire, the new region’s bills were paid from the proceeds of Palm-oil, Rubber and Timber, that were in abundance or commercial quantity in the region.
Conversely, when Crude-Oil was discovered in commercial quantity at Oloibiri, an Ijaw town in the defunct Eastern Region and present day Bayelsa State of the Niger-Delta (South-south geopolitical zone), the music of fiscal federalism or resource control changed. Crude-oil became an exclusive natural resource of the Federal Government and it’s proceeds collected, controlled and shared at the discretion of the Federal Government to itself, the States and Local Government Councils. What a daylight robbery! Over the decades, Crude-oil and Gas have been discovered all over the Niger-Delta, and they have since become the economic mainstay of Nigeria, paying or accounting for over 80% of her bills.
While derivation was 50% in the defunct first republic during the Groundnut, Cocoa, Coal, Palm-oil, Timber, Tin and other natural economic resources era, military adventurers abolished derivation on their incursion into governance. After decades of peaceful protests and agitations by the Niger-Deltans for fair share of their God-given Oil wealth, a paltry 1.5% derivation was introduced by President Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari’s government of the defunct second republic (1979 -1983), later increased to 3% by the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s bloodthirsty and dictatorial government of 1986 -1993, and now 13%, as agreed by the oppressive and repressive three most populated tribes of Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo in the General Abdulsalami Abubakar led dictatorial military imposed 1999 Constitution.
Although, the Federal Government has since established interventionist agencies like Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs (MNDA) and Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) for the development of the Niger-Delta.
Unfortunately, these agencies are merely established to deceive the people and the international community, as they are not adequately funded to achieve desired goals or at least develop the Niger-Delta like Northern and Western Nigeria.
To buttress my claim, I had that only a paltry N41 Billion is allocated to the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for infrastructural and human capital development in the Niger-Delta (nine Oil producing states) in this year’s budget. Similarly, Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs (MNDA) and the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) are allocated with a paltry N19 Billion and N20 Billion respectively. In other words, the total sum allocated to the three interventionist agencies to develop the nine Niger-Delta (oil producing states) is a paltry N80 Billion.
It is sad to note that Nigerians who are not from the Niger-Delta and the international community, see this paltry N80 Billion allocated to the three interventionist agencies to develop the Niger-Delta (nine oil producing states) from the multi-trillion Petrodollars accruing to the Federation Account from the Niger-Delta Oil and Gas, as very much enough. Whereas, Ecological Fund, which is mainly spent to fight desertification in Northern Nigeria, while the Niger-Delta and Southeastern Nigeria erodes away, is allocated N800 Billion in this years budget. As usual, the budgetary allocations to each of the three northern geopolitical zones of northwest, northeast and north-central, as well as southwest is 100% more than what is allocated to the Niger-Delta States (South-south geopolitical zone).
Besides, summing up the monthly allocation from the federation account through Oil and Gas proceeds to Kano State and her 46 Local Government Councils alone in Northern Nigeria could be equal to, if not more than the allocation going to three or more Niger-Delta States, such as Ondo, Edo, Cross River and Bayelsa, and their Local Government Areas put together.
To further appreciate the point I am making, few weeks back, Lagos State Government announced N844 Billion to build the forth Lagos Mainland Bridge, which will be sponsored with the Niger-Delta Petrodollars going to Lagos State as allocation from the Federation Account. Painfully, the criminal Nigerian State has refused to construct the about 30 kilometres road from Warri to Forcados, an Oil and Gas rich coastal town by the Atlantic Ocean, which hosts Nigeria’s Oil Export Terminal with lots of Oil-wells and a very big Oil Tank Farm. A road that has been proposed over four decades ago!
Main while, with the establishment of the Northeast Development Commission, a geopolitical zone deliberately destroyed by their terrorist natives for no cogent reason(s), you sure won’t be surprised seeing this criminal Nigerian State and her Rulers allocating a quarter of the national budget, which is implemented with the Petrodollars from the Niger-Delta to the Northeast development.
Apart from being the forth most populated tribe in the contraption called Nigeria, Ijaw land has the highest Oil, Gas and other natural resources concentration in her bowel than any other land in Nigeria. Sadly, the Ijaw ethnic nation was balkanized into the defunct Western, Eastern and Midwestern Regions. As against the wishes of the Ijaws, the subsequent creation of states by military adventurers like Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and late Sanni Abacha, further balkanized the Ijaw ethnic nation into six states of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom.
In line with the satanic agenda of the Hausa-Fulani neo-colonialists and their Yoruba stooges against the Ijaw ethnic nation, the Ijaws are now minority even in the Niger-Delta States, a geopolitical zone they are in majority, save for Bayelsa and Rivers States. Very disheartening!
Undoubtedly, this has adversely affected development of the Ijaw ethnic nation in no small measure, knowing that government is the highest spender in all the third world countries the world over.
It may interest the international community, particularly, the civilized democracies like the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), France, Canada, Russia, Japan, China, etcetera, to know that the Ijaw ethnic nation with her abundant human and natural resources, particularly, Oil and Gas, which accounts for about 80% of Nigeria’s income and pays her bills, is not seen as part of Nigeria by the Nigerian State and her Rulers. This is predicated upon the following reasons:
- That, 99.99% of the entire Ijaw land is not connected to other parts (ethnic nations) of Nigeria by road network, in spite of the fact that all roads in Nigeria, including federal, states and local government council roads are constructed with the Petrodollars from the bowel of Ijaw land;
- That, it’s only the Ijaw ethnic nation that is not connected to Nigeria’s national grid, in spite of the fact that Nigeria’s power and energy are generated mostly from the abundant Gas reserves in Ijaw land. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatude Raji Fashola confirmed this claim when he said that, “Out of Nigeria’s 26 Power Plants, 23 are run with Gas from the Niger-Delta, hence there is power outage in the country with Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) blowing up Oil installations;
- That, there was no single higher institution of learning in the length and breadth of Ijaw land till the late Diepreye Solomon Peters Alamienyeseigha (PhD.), former Governor of Bayelsa State/Governor-General of the Ijaw ethnic nation established the Bayelsa State Government owned Niger-Delta University at Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State;
- That, there was no single federal higher institution of learning in the entire Ijaw land till Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan (PhD.) established a federal university at Otuoke, Bayelsa State, along with nine Universities in the North, two in the Southwest and one in Southeast Nigeria, making every state in Nigeria have a federal university;
- That, the Maritime University established by the former President , Goodluck Jonathan (PhD.) at Okerenkoko, an Ijaw coastal town by the Atlantic Ocean in the Oil and Gas rich Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri Southwest Local Government Area, Delta State, is at the brink of cancellation by the Muhammadu Buhari led federal government;
- That, there is no single Teaching or Specialist Hospital in the whole Ijaw land, in spite of frequent outbreak of diseases (epidemic) in Ijaw land due to Oil exploration, drilling and spillages, which contaminates and pollutes the environment. Whereas, there are lots of Teaching and Specialist Hospitals in the Northwest, Northeast, North-central, Southwest and Southeast, whose bills are paid with the Petrodollars from the bowel of Ijaw land;
- That, 80% of the Oil blocks in Ijaw land have been shared or allocated to the Hausa-Fulanis, who are in the arid and rocky/mountainous Northern Nigeria, where there is no Oil. The remaining 20% is allocated to the Yoruba and Ibo ethnic groups of Southwest and Southeast, leaving non for the Ijaws, on whose land majority of the Oil and Gas is naturally deposited;
- That, all the management staff, senior, middle and junior cadre of Oil and Gas workers in Ijaw land and their company offices far away in Lagos and Abuja are exclusively occupied or reserved for the Hausa-Fulanis, Yoruba and Ibos, leaving the Ijaws with a paltry 0.01% casual work with Oil Servicing Companies;
*That, as a result of Oil exploration, exploitation, spillages, etcetera, the entire Ijaw land has been contaminated and polluted to the extent that , the ecosystem, including marine life has been seriously damaged, and crops too can’t grow again;
- Human life is not exempted in the damage done the ecosystem of Ijaw land, as the average human lifespan which used to be between 70 years to 80 years is now between 45 years to 50 years.
The marginalization, degradation, oppressive and repressive acts meted the Ijaw ethnic nation by the criminal Nigerian State and her Rulers are countless. However, for your benefit, the reader, I leave the rest evil the Ijaws have been forcefully subjected to over the decades for you to imagine.
Corollary to the above, the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) who are a group of highly educated young Niger-Deltans, with no hope about their future and confidence in the criminal Nigerian State are agitating for total freedom (resource control) rather than a fair share of their God-given resources by blowing-up Oil facilities. Obviously, this is as a result of the failure of peaceful protests their parents embarked on in the past but where brutally murdered by the criminal Nigerian State and her Rulers. The brutal murderer of Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro after using him to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria during the Nigerian civil war, from the coastal axis, Kenule Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni nine and lots of others which are still ongoing is very fresh in the memory of the average Niger-Deltan.
From the modus operandi of the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA), which is mainly on crippling the Nigerian Economy, than killing innocent and defenceless people with reckless abandon, like the criminal Nigerian State, Boko Haram (a terrorist group in Northern Nigeria) and Muhammadu Buhari’s Fulani kinsmen terrorists, masquerading as Herdsmen, it is crystal clear that they are fighting to free the entire Niger-Delta from the shackles of neo-colonialism and eminent Islamization by the fraudulent Nigerian State, the Hausa-Fulani Jihadists/Terrorists of Northern Nigeria and their Yoruba stooges of Southwest Nigeria.
Therefore, any Niger-Deltan, particularly, Ijaw man, who is against the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) is under mental slavery, which is the worse form of slavery. This form of slavery gives “you the illusion of freedom, makes you trust, love and defend your oppressor(s), while making an enemy of those who are trying to free you or open your eyes”.
Ordinarily, “People don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed” – Friedrich Nietzsche.
On his part, George Orwell said that, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”.
In situations like what is happening now in Nigeria , as it affects the Niger-Delta, particularly, Ijaw land, Emiliano Zapata has this to say: That, “If there is no justice for the people , let there be no peace for the government”.
Main while, Malcolm X said that, “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality and justice. If you are a man, you take it”.
Therefore, the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA), who are avenging on the criminal Nigerian State and her Rulers in order to bring about equal rights and justice for the Niger-Deltans are patriots that should be held in high esteem, encouraged and supported. In fact, all Niger-Deltans should be proud to be part of the Niger-Delta struggle for freedom, than condemning the freedom fighters.
After all, in the eyes of Muhammadu Buhari, Boko Haram members are good people and very dear to Northern Nigeria. Hence, he said in ThisDay Newspaper that, “Military offensive against Boko Haram, anti-north”. A northern terrorist group that has brutally killed over 20,000 innocent and defenceless Nigerians with reckless abandon?
Similarly, the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazou, said in Channels Television that, “Deployment of military to combat Herdsmen menace was not an option because the situation has not overwhelmed the police yet”. Another northern terrorists group that has brutally killed over 3,000 innocent and defenceless Nigerians in cold-blood, like their Boko Haram counterparts?
In view of the above, I make bold to say that, military offensive against Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) is anti-Niger-Delta, particularly, the Ijaw ethnic nation, which has turned battle field for emancipation of the Niger-Delta.
To the oppressive and repressive criminal Nigerian State and her Rulers, even the Holy Quran say in Sura 42 verse 41 that, “All those that fight when oppressed incur no guilt, but Allah shall punish the oppressors”.
GET UP, STAND UP,
STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS.
GET UP, STAND UP,
DON’T GIVE-UP TO FIGHT…Peter Markin-Tosh.
NIGER-DELTA! NIGER-DELTA!! NIGER-DELTA!!!
FREEDOM IS COMING SOON!
- Hon. Edumogiren Austin is a political analyst and public commentator.
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