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OKOMU CRISIS: INC WADES IN TO BROKER PEACE
IduwiniVoice
OKOMU CRISIS: INC WADES IN TO BROKER PEACE
By Tobouke JEMINE
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) under the leadership of Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has moved in to broker peace between the conflicting sides in the Okomou community and the Okomou Palm Oil Company.
The INC convened a placatory meeting among the stakeholders in the Ijaw Okomu community of Edo State at the palace annex of the Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom in Warri, Delta State, on July 4th, 2024, to seek ways to restore lasting peace to the community.
After exhaustive deliberations, it was resolved as follows:
1. All factions should cease any further hostilities forthwith while the Ijaw traditional rulers further engage all critical stakeholders to resolve the crisis in the community.
2. All stakeholders in the community must commit to working together for peace to be immediately restored in the community.
3. All actions and counteractions by any group capable of escalating the present situation in the community must stop for the Ijaw Nation, through the INC, to properly approach all contending issues dispassionately.
4. The INC resolved to write and summon the Okomu Oil Palm Company to a serious engagement meeting to hear from them their role, action, or inaction in the ongoing process.
5. The Okomu Oil Palm Company is requested to account for their operations in the Okomu Ijaw domain with regard to their CSR.
6. Ijaws resolved not to be used as slaves or second-class citizens by any company or group in Edo State.
7. The INC totally condemns the divide-and-rule tactics adopted by the Okomu Oil Palm Company to continuously sow seeds of discord among our Ijaw people.
8. The INC demands that the Okomu Oil Palm Company account for what they have done for the Okomu community while paying the 12 billion naira annual tax to the Edo State government from their operations in the community.
9. The INC will mandate a delegation of traditional rulers to visit the king of Okomu to confer with him and pass these resolutions to him.
10. The meeting strongly condemned the failure/refusal of Omokachi Peretei and his group to honor the invitation and their disrespect of the INC by not attending the meeting aimed at resolving the Okomu crisis.
11. The INC strongly warns the concerned absent group to maintain peace and desist from escalating the present situation while the INC and the revered traditional rulers urgently move to get to the roots of the crisis in the interest of peace.
12. The meeting resolved that all groups involved in the crisis should not test the will and determination of the Ijaw Nation to bring the desired peace to the ancient Okomu Ijaw Kingdom and to all Ijaws in Edo State in general.
13. Stakeholders at the meeting are mandated to pass the resolutions of the meeting to their respective groups to abide by them at once.
14. All security agents are hereby enjoined to maintain law and order, respect the rights of the Okomu people, and desist from any form of harassment, intimidation, and/or indiscriminate arrest of innocent citizens of Okomu Kingdom while the Ijaw Nation deals with this situation.
15. The Edo State Police Command, DSS, and Army authorities are equally enjoined to stop the threat of declaring people and/or youths wanted while the INC seeks a lasting solution to this problem.
16. The INC hereby commends the security agencies, especially the Army at the 4 Brigade and its commander Brig. Gen. Oduyemi, for their stabilizing role towards maintaining peace in the community.
Other kings in the meeting included the Agadagba of Arogbo, the Agadagba of Gbaran Kingdom, and a representative of the state director of the DSS.
Signed,
Prof. Benjamin Okaba
President, INC
HIGH CHIEF SUNNY GBEGHA JP CELEBRATES DAUGHTER’S ACADEMIC MILESTONES
By: Daire Perez
Okija, Anambra State – Father and community leader, High Chief Sunny Gbegha JP, the Egbakarewei of Iduwini Kingdom, Delta State, has expressed immense joy and gratitude to God as his daughter, Miss Gbegha Tamarauikiye Favour, successfully completed notable academic milestones at Madonna University, Okija.
Miss Favour graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Banking and Finance, earning an impressive Second-Class Upper (2.1) classification. Going a step further in her academic pursuit, she has also obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Banking and Finance from the same institution.
This has received warm reactions from family and friends with many congratulating the young lad. I a message filled with joy, High Chief Gbegha described his daughter’s achievements as a testament to hard work, discipline, and divine grace. He noted that her academic excellence brings honour not only to their family but also to the wider community.
Community members, friends, and well-wishers have continued to congratulate Miss Favour for her outstanding accomplishments, celebrating her as an inspiration to young scholars across the region.
IduwiniVoice joins in this congratulations to our shining young lady.
(c) IduwiniVoice
By: Divine Perezide
Former leader of Burutu Legislative House, Rt. Hon. Joseph Alubeze, has expressed heartfelt birthday felicitations to the his former boss and leader, Rt. Hon. Julius Gbabozor Pondi, Member Representing Burutu Federal Constituency and the Chairman, House Committee on the South-South Development Commission.
In his congratulatory message, Alubeze described Pondi as an astute leader whose antecedent smarcks of nothing but people-oriented service and dedication that continue to inspire many within and beyond the Constituency.
“Happy Blessed Birthday to you, my Dear Leader, Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi – Member Representing Burutu Federal Constituency and Chairman, South-South Development Commission,” he started.
He prayed for renewed wisdom, strength, and greater achievement for the federal lawmaker as he marks a new year. “May this new year of yours be filled with wisdom, strength, and greater accomplishments as you continue to serve with dedication and grace,” he added.
Hon. Alubeze, a former leader of Burutu House wished his principal Pondi, whose was his predecessor, many more fruitful years in good health, acknowledging his commitment to the advancement of the South-South region and the nation at large, closing his message with a heartfelt best wishes to the celebrant on his special day.
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Good News: Presidential Amnesty Office Commences Second Phase of Laptop Distribution to Scholarship Delegates
By: Divine Perezide
Abuja – The Otuaro-led Presidential Amnesty Office, popularly known as PAP, has commenced the second phase of laptop distribution to its scholarship beneficiaries across Nigerian Universities for the 2024/2025 academic year.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the initiative is part of efforts to enhance learning and research amongst students under the programme.
The exercise, which began following the directive of the Administrator, Chief (Dr.) Dennis Otuaro, makes a continuation of the first phase carried out between April and May 2025, during which over 663 final-year scholarship beneficiaries received laptops.
Dr Otuaro explained that the decision to promoting academic excellence and research productivity. He noted that the gesture also fulfills a promise he made to students during his tour of partner Universities in 2024.
“The laptops are intended to aid the beneficiaries in their studies and research activities” Otuaro state, urging the students to use the devices responsibility and to justify the Federal Governmtent’s modest investment in their education.
He also advised the beneficiaries to remain focus on their academic pursuit and avoid behaviours that could undermine their future prospects.
Reaffirming his administration’s objectives, Dr. Otuaro said the PAP will continue to achieve academic succes, contributing to the socio-economic advancement of the Niger Delta region.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his consistent support for the programme, describing it as a demonstration of commitment to bridging the human capital development gaping the region.
Dr. Otuaro further urged the youths and people of the region to reciprocate the President’s gesture by supporting his administration’s policies and programmes.
He reaffirmed the PAP’s dedication to consolidating on its achievements in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
(c) IduwiniVoice