News
Oporoza Comes Alive as Amaseikumor Festival Begins with Cultural Splendor
By Divine Perezide
The tranquil town of Oporoza in Delta State came alive with vibrant celebrations as the Amaseikumor Festival commenced, transforming the peaceful community into a lively cultural destination. Known for its ancestral significance, the festival drew visitors from across the globe, eager to witness the colorful traditions of the Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Amaseikumor, meaning “no evil should befall the community” in the Gbaramatu Ijaw dialect, is a time-honored celebration dedicated to paying tribute to forebears and divinities, expressing gratitude for harvests, and showcasing the rich customs of the Gbaramatu people. This year’s edition kicked off with remarkable energy, drawing attention from cultural lovers, foreign tourists, and dignitaries from various parts of the world.
The annual event has become a cultural and economic cornerstone for Delta State, significantly boosting tourism and driving local commerce. As festivities began, community members welcomed the large influx of visitors with open arms.
“We are extremely elated to have people from different parts of the world gather here to celebrate our culture and tradition. This festival is a demonstration to the unity and diversity of our people,” residents expressed proudly.
The festival features a wide range of traditional activities, including dance performances, exhibitions of indigenous art, and cultural presentations. A standout moment is the grand parade of the elegant Amaseikumor Masquerade, touted as the king of all Masquerade, where participants don bright, colorful garments and perform traditional dances and rituals that reflect the spiritual and cultural essence of the Gbaramatu people.
Many day 1 attendees were visibly moved by the experience. “I have never witnessed anything like this before, it’s truly a sight to behold,” said a tourist from the United States, visiting the festival for the first time in 2024.
Beyond its cultural impact, the Amaseikumor Festival has also given a significant boost to the local economy. The influx of tourists has led to increased demand for accommodations, traditional cuisine, and locally made crafts. Vendors and small business owners are experiencing a surge in sales, hoping the positive economic ripple continues even after the festival ends.
As the celebrations go on, the people of Gbaramatu are filled with pride, seeing the world engage with their rich traditions. The Amaseikumor Festival continues to stand as a powerful symbol of cultural preservation, community unity, and the beauty of diversity.
By: Divine Perezide
An Ijaw rights group Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, has slammed naysayers who have been peddling a non-existent disagreement between the PAP administrator, Chief Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro (PhD) and HRM. Ateke Michael Tom, the Amayanabo of Ochochri kingdom.
Recall, somonfaceless online media platforms had alleged earlier that the Amayanabo of Ochochri kingdom, HRM. Ateke Tom had a serious confrontation with the PAP boss Otuaro during his (Ateke) birthday ceremony.
But in swift reaction, the IPDI president Comrade Ozobo Austin said, Dr. Otuaro, the current administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) didn’t face any confrontation from the Ateke Tom, citing that both leaders had a good times during the birthday ceremony.
Ozobo maintained that Dr Otuaro has been doing an exceptional job in managing the programme and ensuring that the objectives of peace and development in the Niger Delta region are achieved, adding that Otuaro was working hard to ensure the stipends of ex-agitators are increased, and impacted communities are considered for the programme.
The group urged the general public to disregard such unverified reports and focus on the positive impact that Otuaro and the PAP were making in the Niger Delta region, citing the importance to support Otuaro in his efforts to bring about lasting peace and development in the region.
They appealed to leaders, stakeholders and ex-agitators not to allow the enemies of the Niger Delta to create divisions and hinder the progress that was being made by Otuaro.
According to IPDI, Otuaro has been a key figure in maintaining the peace and stability in the region, which has greatly benefitted the people living in the region.
Ozobo added, “Rumors of a rift between Otuaro and Ateke Tom, a prominent ex-agitator and a traditional ruler, are baseless and unfounded. These rumors are being spread by people with malicious intentions who are trying to create a rift between the two leaders. Otuaro and Ateke Tom have a cordial relationship and have been working together towards the development of the Niger Delta.
The group further emphasised, “Otuaro’s performance as the administrator of PAP has been unbeatable. Under his leadership, the programme has been able to successfully reintegrate ex-agitators into society, providing them with education and vocational training, and empowering them to become self-sufficient. This has contributed to the reduction of crime and violence in the region, leading to a more peaceful and stable environment for economic growth and development.
“Unfortunately, there are enemies of the Niger Delta who are not happy with the progress being made under Otuaro’s leadership. These enemies are trying to manipulate him to serve their own selfish interests, and when he refused to comply, they resorted to fabricating false reports about a rift with Ateke Tom.
“It is important to disregard these reports and focus on the positive impact that Otuaro and the PAP are making in the Niger Delta region. It is also important to support Otuaro in his efforts to bring about lasting peace and development in the region. Let us not allow the enemies of the Niger Delta to create divisions and hinder the progress that is being made” Ozobo said.
– Dismisses claims of clash with amnesty boss Otuaro
Paramount ruler, the Amanyanabo of Okochiri, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom, in Rivers State has debunked the reports that he clashed with the Administrator of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, describing the report as false.
According to a statement in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, Ateke emphasised that he has never had any form of misunderstanding with the amnesty boss, stating that his interest has remained in the development of the region.
Recall, some platforms reported earlier that King Ateke Tom had publicly humiliated the amnesty administrator during his birthday celebration in Okochiri, Monday, and that the development had sparked tension during the event.
But, Ateke in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Ifeanyi Ogbonna, noted that such a report was misleading, fabricated and nothing but a figment of the writer’s imagination, laced with mischief and aimed at stirring unnecessary controversy in the region.
The statement stated: “Contrary to the claims in the concocted report, King Ateke Tom’s birthday celebration held seamlessly, peacefully, and in high spirits. The celebration witnessed an influx of respected leaders, dignitaries, friends, and well-wishers from across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
“We state that there was no time during the birthday event that confrontation, rebuke, or embarrassment, as alleged by the mischievous reporters, ensued between His Majesty and the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“The allegation that King Ateke Tom rejected monetary gifts from Dr. Otuaro and labelled him as insincere is not only baseless, but an insult to the intelligence of all who were present at the event.
“This falsehood seeks to sow seed of discord, damage reputations, and derail ongoing peace-building efforts in the region. We urge the public to disregard this cooked up narrative designed to mislead and misinform them.
“However, it is important to state that His Majesty is deeply interested only in the peace and development of Niger Delta and would not derail any event that would strengthen it.”
Ateke, however, cautioned media practitioners and commentators against the dissemination of unverified and sensational information that threatened the peace and unity in the region, even as Ateke urged well-meaning Niger Deltans to focus on the bigger goal of regional development and transformation.
News
PAP Boss Hails King Ateke on 61st Birth Anniversary, Reaffirms Support for Traditional Institution Across the Niger Delta
By Divine Perezide – IduwiniVoice
High Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, has praised HRH. King Ateke Michael Tom, the traditional ruler of the Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, on the august occasion of his 61st birth anniversary.
Otuaro who was amongst prominent dignitaries that graced the colourful occasion held in commemoration of King Ateke’s birth anniversary at his palace in Okochiri town, Okrika Local Government Area, last Monday was full of praise for the frontline Niger Deltade fender who has since ascended the thown of his fathers.
Otuaro described the Ijaw monarch as “a respectable leader whose reign has brought about unity, peace, progress and development around his community.”
He stressed that King Ateke, who is also the ‘Sekuro of the Niger Delta’, was a great asset who had contributed immensely to the peace, stability, security and development of the region.
Otuaro expressed his utmost regard for the traditional institution and the vital role of traditional rulers in the peace and development of communities in the Niger Delta.
He noted that traditional rulers were among the critical stakeholders that the PAP was collaborating with to strengthen the programme’s peace-building process in the region.
He reiterated that the programme was in safe hands, and strongly motivated by President Bola Tinubu to bridge the region’s human capital development gap through formal education scholarships and vocational training in aviation, maritime, agriculture, and other relevant trade areas.
Otuaro said his policy of inclusivity had ensured the involvement of Niger Delta women in the programme’s initiatives, stressing that there were plans designed for their empowerment and contribution to the region’s socio-economic growth.
He emphasized that he was focused on rendering quality service to the people of the region, and not distracted by the shenanigans of his detractors.
Otuaro called on all stakeholders of the region to remain steadfast in the effort to sustain the prevailing peace in the region so that socio-economic and developmental activities could thrive around the communities.
While expressing appreciation to King Ateke for his unwavering support to the programme, the PAP boss prayed to God to grant him long reign, longevity and good health.
Otuaro’s message was conveyed in a Press Statement signed by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, his Special Assistant on Media and made available to the press on the 4th of June, 2025.