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PAP Begins Laptop Distribution as 64 Final Year and Postgraduate Scholarship Students Benefits
By Favour Bibaikefie
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), under the leadership of High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has commenced the distribution of free laptops to 64 beneficiaries of its scholarship initiative. These recipients include both final-year and postgraduate students enrolled in various partner universities across Nigeria, Penglobal reported.
This first phase of the distribution took place on Friday, April 4, and Monday, April 7, with 25 students from Nile University and 39 from Baze University receiving the devices. The initiative fulfills a commitment made earlier by Dr. Otuaro during his visit to institutions participating in the programme.
An official release by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, detailed that the beneficiaries consist of 60 final-year undergraduates, one PhD candidate, and three master’s degree students.
During the presentations, which were conducted on behalf of Dr. Otuaro by the PAP’s Acting Head of Administration, Ebikpolade Zorab, and the Administrator’s Secretary, Ebimene Jackson, the importance of the laptops was highlighted. Otuaro emphasized the relevance of these tools in supporting students as they prepare to complete their academic projects, theses, and dissertations.
In his message, Dr. Otuaro urged the scholars “to make good use of the laptops and justify the objective behind the gesture,” adding that the move was part of his promise made earlier this year during his engagement with scholarship recipients. He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to strengthening human capital development in the Niger Delta while fostering lasting peace, security, and regional progress.
He also extended his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the PAP’s initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of education, vocational training, and empowerment.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Education at PAP, Dr. Charles Ariye, disclosed that it had been six years since scholarship students last received laptops. He emphasized the importance of improving the digital skills of beneficiaries to meet modern academic and professional demands.
Meanwhile, during courtesy visits by PAP officials, the Registrar of Nile University, David Olowola, and Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar of Baze University, praised the PAP for the laptop distribution, which they said would significantly support the academic development of the students. They also reiterated their institutions’ commitment to ongoing collaboration with PAP to nurture skilled manpower for national progress.
Several student beneficiaries, including Eperetun Gboroteiye (Nile), Pedro Timotubo (Baze), Oyinlayefa Ogiriki, Mina Ikiba, Friday Dunu, and Martha Tuwabere, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the laptops. They acknowledged the devices would greatly enhance their ability to complete their academic work effectively.
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OPEN LETTER TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT RE: FALSEHOOD ABOUT WARRI NORTH AND THE HISTORICAL TRUTH OF EGBEMA IJAW MAJORITY
OPEN LETTER TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT
RE: FALSEHOOD ABOUT WARRI NORTH AND THE HISTORICAL TRUTH OF EGBEMA IJAW MAJORITY
From: Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency
Date: [16/8/2025]
Dear Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State,
We read with outrage the recent misrepresentation by your administration claiming that Warri North Local Government Area is “predominantly inhabited by the Itsekiri.” This is false, misleading, and a reckless distortion of history.
The 1999 Constitution binds every arm of government to truth and equity:
S.14(2)(b): “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
S.42(1): forbids ethnic discrimination in state action.
S.17(2)(a),(d): demands equality and forbids exploitation of human and natural resources against communities.
Your government’s post violates these provisions by attempting to erase the majority status of the Ijaw people of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North.
2. Historical Truth: Warri North is Dual, Not Exclusive
Warri North is made up of two traditional kingdoms:
1. Egbema Kingdom (Ijaw)
2. Itsekiri Kingdom
It is therefore a constitutional and historical fraud to present the LGA as if it belongs exclusively to the Itsekiri.
British Intelligence Reports (1936, 1951) confirm that Egbema Ijaws constitute the majority population in Warri North.
Early European accounts such as Pacheco Pereira (1505) describe Egbema and other Ijaw groups as dominant along the Benin and Escravos Rivers.
Even colonial census records (1921, 1931, 1952, 1963) confirm Ijaw numerical dominance across Warri territories.
3. Geography and Settlement Facts
The physical landmass of Warri North betrays this false narrative:
Egbema Ijaw communities (e.g., Opuama, Polobubo, Tsekelewu and others) occupy vast swamp and riverine territories of the LGA.
The Itsekiri communities, though significant, do not outnumber the Egbema Ijaws.
Court records and colonial leases show Ijaw communities consistently recognized as landowners, while others were settlers or tenants.
4. The Fraud of Manufactured Itsekiri Majority
For decades, colonial distortions and post-independence manipulation inflated Itsekiri status. The fraudulent “6–4” ward allocation (six wards to Itsekiri, four to Ijaw) exemplifies this injustice.
The Supreme Court in Timinimi v. INEC (SC/CV/1033/2023) has already pronounced this structure unconstitutional, unjust, and illegal. INEC has verified through fieldwork in the creeks and communities. The only step left is publication.
5. Our Warning to the State Government
Governor Oborevwori, government cannot function on falsehood. To continue to project Itsekiri exclusivity in Warri North is to deliberately incite tension between communities and to disregard constitutional order.
As Justice Nnamani once ruled: “Equity will not allow the law to be used as an instrument of fraud.” By pushing a false narrative, your administration risks being complicit in the very fraud equity forbids.
6. Our Demand: Tell the Truth and Obey the Law
1. Delta State Government: Retract and correct your false claim. Acknowledge the dual reality of Warri North, Egbema Ijaw and Itsekiri.
2. Federal Government: Direct INEC to publish the Supreme Court–ordered delineation result without further delay.
3. Public and International Community: Reject state-sponsored propaganda that erases the Ijaw majority and sustains political fraud.
7. Conclusion: Truth vs Falsehood
Ijaw (Egbema): Majority, ancestral landowners of Warri North.
Itsekiri: Minority, co-inhabitants but not exclusive claimants.
The Supreme Court has spoken. INEC has verified. Only publication remains.
As Thomas Paine warned: “A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” INEC’s silence and your government’s propaganda will not bury the truth.
Signed
Chief Tiemopere Joshua
(President)
Chief Ebikeke T. Goodstime
(Secretary)
Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency
CC:
The Presidency
The National Assembly
The National Security Adviser
United Nations, AU, EU
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Ijaw Youth Council Alleges Ethnic Discrimination, Gross Inefficiency, Wants President Tinubu to Fire Executive Secretary of the NCDMB.
By: Favour Bibaikefie
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has demanded the immediate sack of Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe from his current role as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), alleging inefficiency, ethnic bias, and negligence towards critical youth engagement in the Niger Delta, while calling on President order an immediate probe into his activities.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by
Comrade Nicholas Igarama – Chairman, Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo – Secretary, and Comrade Tare Magbei – Information Officer, and dated August 14, 2025, which reads in full:
“NCDMB: IYC Demands Sack of Unproductive Ogbe as Executive Secretary
“Leadership in its most rudimentary form defines the essence of absolute responsibility on assigned tasks as bestowed by higher authorities.
“This very phenomenon has been found to be lacking in the leadership of Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) headed by Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
“As Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Ogbe has consistently failed to input his supposed industry track record in the advancement of the mandate upon which the agency was founded.
“He has continually had a sectional engagement with his fellow Itsekiri Kits and Kin, thereby shutting all other ethnic nationalites in the Niger Delta region out.
“Repeatedly has he avoided critical youth engagement in the region while sponsoring that of his Itsekiri ethnicity through different human capacity development initiatives, while other ethnic nationalites are left unattended.
“As Ijaws, mostly from the western flank where Engr. Ogbe also hails from, we will not sit and watch others benefit from the resources that we produce without our practical involvement to better the lives of our people as well.
“It is on record that the leadership of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has tried to establish communication with Engr. Ogbe, for the last ten months, but every medium of communication to get his attention has fundamentally proven to be abortive.
“As youths, we can no longer have leaders in office who have now equated themes to demi-god and have refused to attend to most significantly youthful issues in the Niger Delta Region.
“To this end, we therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinibu to immediately sack Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, who has consistently displayed disregard for critical actors in the Niger Delta and has also exhibited the highest level of gross inefficiency by not keeping up to the fundamental mandate upon which NCDMB was founded.
“Hence, this call is made for the presidency to probe into Engr. Ogbe’s activities at the NCDMB relieve him of his duties as Executive Secretary of the Board.”
By Divine Perezide
His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State, has condoled with the Agediga family over the passing away of the mother of Amb. Dr. Shedrack Agediga, Chairman, Delta State Bursary & Scholarship board. The Governor said Mama Agediga’s death has created a big vacuum and described her death as a huge loss, saying that mama lived an impactful life and her legacy would remain fresh in the memories of the living.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who was represented by Rt. Hon. Solomon Funkekeme (Senior Policy Adviser) advised everybody to emulate the lifestyle of late Mama Binkayai Uyabrade Enerekpemi Agedigha as she had touched humanity as a virtuous and community woman leader by contributing meaningfully to the development of the society.
The governor disclosed during the burial ceremony of Mama Binkayai Uyabrade Enerekpemi Agedigha and charged everybody, especially mothers to emulate her lifestyle to make their little contributions to develop the society.
“Mama has gone after leading an impactful life and her legacies as a very strong woman and virtuous community leader must be sustained” The governor admonished.
Also, speaking, Barr. Dcn. Kingsley Otuaro, immediate past Deputy Governor of Delta State , Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Reps. Rt. Hon. Godknows Angele, Commissioner for Housing, Chief (Barr) Funyei Manager, Commissioner for Special Projects and Chief Favour Izoukumor, Executive Director – Social Services, DESOPADEC both extolled the late mama’s contribution to the society and expressed sadness for losing the Nonegerien.the
They acknowledged that she led a fulfilled life and urged society, especially women to emulate the lifestyle late of mama.
Mama Agediga died at the prime age of 104 and survived with 3 Children, 22 Grand Children, 24 Great Grand Children and 2 Great Great Grand Children.
The burial ceremony was attended by the creme de’ la creme of the society, including the Governor of Delta State Chief Sheriff Oborevwori who was represented by Rt. Hon. Solomon Funkekeme (Senior Policy Adviser) Hon. Spencer Okpoye, Commissioner representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality, DESOPADEC.
Rt. Hon. Solomon Funkekeme (Senior Policy Adviser), Barr. Dcn. Kingsley Otuaro, immediate past Deputy Governor of Delta State , Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Godknows Angele, Commissioner for Housing.
Others are Chief (Barr) Funyei Manager, Commissioner for Special Projects, Chief Favour Izoukumor, Executive Director – Social Services, DESOPADEC, Hon. Spencer Okpoye, Commissioner representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality, DESOPADEC, Hon. Chief Dan Yingi former lawmaker Delta House of Assembly, Hon. Emma Amgbaduba former Commissioner Delta state, Chief Vero Tangbeowei, Delta state former PDP women leader, Hon. Godwin Edumogiren, Hon. Paul Kurugbe, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode JP, Chairman Udu Council and others.