Editorial
IJAW NATION HAS COME OF AGE: IT IS TIME FOR INC TO NEGOTIATE FOR BETTER TREATMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IJAW NATION HAS COME OF AGE: IT IS TIME FOR INC TO NEGOTIATE FOR BETTER TREATMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
The title of this piece was coined from the historic speech of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, then Nigeria’s Head of State at the 1976 Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU) at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 11th January, 1976 and it was titled ‘AFRICA HAS COME OF AGE”.
The speech was in reaction to the letter from Gerald Ford the then President of the United States of America that was despatched to African leaders including Nigeria. That of Nigeria was taken to the Dodan Barrack, Nigeria’s seat of power by Mr. Donald Easum who was the US Ambassador to Nigeria.
The content of the letter was so Provocative that General Murtala Ramat Mohammed who had already delegated his Second-in-Command General Olusegun Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo to represent him at the OAU Summit decided to attend the Summit himself where he made the famous speech that we can Google and read the full content of “AFRICA HAS COME OF AGE”.
Sadly, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed was assassinated 34days after that famous speech that has remained ever fresh as guiding light and roadmap for Africa’s nationalistic movement. For the death of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed and the reasons for the dastardly act, we do not need to ask further. The ancient proverb “If a witch cries in the night and a child dies in the morning, we do not go to the soothsayer to ask what killed the child”.
Ijaw people who are among the aborigines of the geographic Niger Delta that they have occupied for centuries as farmers and fisher men and women have contributed more than every other ethnic group or tribe to the socio-economic and political sustenance of the contraption called ‘Nigeria’.
Since the discovery of Crude Oil and Gas at Oloibiri-Otabagi in present day Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in 1956, the Ijaw Nation has continued to shoulder the economic burden of the country that is made up of over 250 distinct ethnic groups and tribes with a population of over 200 million people.
Unfortunately, Ijaws who are found in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Rivers and other states with Bayelsa State as the only homogeneous Ijaw state have never gotten commensurate treatment or reward from the country by the successive regimes and administrations.
Well over 75% of the crude oil and gas in Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Abia, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States respectively are domiciled in Ijaw territories. Ironically, those areas remain the most backward and most underdeveloped places in those states.
Moving Forward, the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) should organize a Security, Peace, Education and Economic Summit that will bring key and very notable Ijaw leaders together to discuss the fate of our great people in the Nigerian State.
One of the expected outcomes of the Summit or a Courtesy Visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that should precede the Summit should be the demand for the immediate relocation of the Headquarters of all Multinationals to their areas and places of operations. The relocation will not only make the companies to pay relevant taxes to the states, LGAs and Communities where they are operating, it will also make the host communities to benefit adequately.
The leadership should also demand for the immediate decongestion of Seaports in Lagos and for the resuscitation of the Seaports in the Niger Delta particularly the Calabar, Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri, Koko and others. The Federal Government should also collaborate with the Bayelsa State Government to commence the building of Seaports at Agge and Brass.
Ijaws need Oil Blocs. The Federal Government should allocate Oil Blocs to capable Ijaws so that Ijaws can also be Participants in the Oil Business in their land and not relegated to the positions of Spectators and Pipeline Surveillance security.
It is totally unacceptable that the owners of crude oil and gas which is the mainstay of the economy are mere spectators while others who do not even know the colour or smell of crude oil and gas are feeding fat, while the real/original owners are living in misery and abject poverty.
Ijaw Nation Has Come of Age and should no-longer be treated as a conquered people or second class citizens.
Beside the fact that Nigeria started in Ijaw land precisely at Akassa in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State after the infamous Akassa Raid of 1895, Ijaws have continually played pivotal roles in the peace, unity, growth and development of Nigeria.
But for the critical role of Ijaws during the avoidable thirty months Civil War (1967-1970), Nigeria would have been history.
Also, but for the patriotic stance of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, Nigeria would have been in another civil war or would have even disintegrated.
The immeasurable and invaluable sacrifices of the Ijaws should not be mistaken for stupidity or cowardice.
Ijaws deserve better treatment and reward by the federal government instead of the present neglect and total abandonment despite the Billions of Naira and Dollars that are taken away from Ijaw land daily.
Haa Izon!
~~~ Most Senior Comrade Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli aka Mirror and Conscience of Society.
By: Editorial Team
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), often hailed as a beacon of modern development in the Middle East, is a federation of seven emirates—each with its own distinct history, ruler, and cultural identity. Since its unification in 1971, the UAE has stood as a rare example of how traditional monarchies can collaborate to build a stable and globally respected nation.
At the heart of the federation lies Abu Dhabi, the capital and largest emirate, known for its vast oil wealth and political influence. The Al Nahyan family, which leads Abu Dhabi, has played a central role in shaping the UAE’s national vision and foreign policy. The current President of the UAE traditionally comes from this emirate, underscoring its leadership within the union.
Dubai, the shining star of the federation, represents ambition and innovation. Under the leadership of the Al Maktoum family, Dubai has transformed from a desert outpost into a global hub for finance, tourism, and technology. Its breathtaking skyline, led by the Burj Khalifa, has become a symbol of Arab progress and resilience.
Moving beyond the two powerhouses, Sharjah distinguishes itself as the cultural and educational capital of the UAE. Led by the Al Qasimi family, it has preserved the emirates’ artistic heritage while promoting academic excellence through its numerous universities and museums.
The smaller emirates-Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah-each add unique character and strength to the federation. Ajman, the smallest, thrives on trade and manufacturing; Umm Al-Quwain offers a peaceful charm along its quiet shores; Ras Al Khaimah, nestled against the Hajar Mountains, is known for its natural beauty and growing industrial base; and Fujairah, facing the Gulf of Oman, plays a strategic maritime role in the region’s economy.
Despite their differences in size and resources, the seven emirates remain bound by shared values, mutual respect, and visionary leadership.Their collective success story reflects not only unity but also the ability to balance tradition with progress.
Over five decades after its founding, the UAE continues to prove that cooperation among monarchies can yield a modern, forward-looking state-one that honors its past while boldly stepping into the future. The federation’s model of governance offers an enduring lesson in leadership, stability, and nation-building in a region often defined by division.
Photo Credit: shuterstock
Editorial – IduwiniVoice
Government Oweizide Ekemupolo is 4th Century descendant of The progenitors of the Oru tribe, the archetypal Ijaws, who settled in the central Niger Delta and over time, who developed and spread to the entire Niger Delta. He his an embodiment of the ancient and modern ways and forces of the ijaw ancestral greats, ruled my ancient spiritual and human laws, a man and a superman.
Prior to 1600 AD, the Ijaws first and formally formed city-states on their island of abode in Central Niger Delta. The city-states were named Agadagba-bou, Isomou-bou, and Opugla-bou. The popular city-state was called Agadagba-bou, which, according to history, flourished for 400 years until it got abandoned in 1050 CE. That was the period Ijaw people migrated within the central Niger Delta and spread to the Western and Eastern Niger Delta.
Agadagba-bou, Isomou-bou, and Upugla-bou, which represented the Ijaw civilization at the historical island, long before it was named Wilberforce Island, had cultural, spiritual, linguistic, and occupational homogeneity.
They were all worshippers and believers of the sky God. The sky God that the Ijaws call today, even from ancient times, is Egbesu. It is believed that the Wilberforce Island was known as a forest named after Agadagba, the most powerful chief priest of Egbesu, who also doubled as the military general of the Izon nation.
Agadagba-bou, as a nomenclature, derives its bearing from Agadagba, the chief priest and generalissimo who once reigned on the Wilberforce Island. It is certain that the island hosted the Ijaw nation long before the time of Agadagba because Agadagba was appointed a chief priest and military general during his time by a potentate ruler of Ijaw nation.
In the primordial mists of time, Agadagba, the illustrious military general and chief priest of Egbesu, strode forth from the hallowed grounds of Agadagbabou, his footsteps echoing through the annals of Ijaw history. This revered figure, a paragon of martial prowess and spiritual wisdom, embodied the dual essence of his people, wielding the sword and the sacred staff with equal aplomb. The whispers of the ancients tell us that Agadagba’s reign predated the 1600 AD, a bygone era when the Ijaw nation thrived in harmony with the rhythms of the Niger Delta.
Agadagbabou, the cradle of Ijaw civilization, slumbers beneath the weight of centuries, its sacred soil serving as the final resting place of the ancestral spirits. Here, the venerable dead lie entombed, their ethereal essences lingering, awaiting the supplications of their descendants. Alas, the diaspora of the Ijaw people has occasioned a lamentable disconnection from these archetypal forebears, a severance that has hindered the unfettered flow of ancestral blessings, those numinous benedictions that are the birthright of every society.
For it is an immutable truth that the progress of a people is inextricably linked to the approbation of their ancestors.
The epochs have passed, and Agadagba’s terrestrial sojourn has long since drawn to a close, yet the imperishable essence of this legendary figure endures, awaiting reification in the mortal coil. Behold, 4.18 CENTURIES AFTER AGADAGBA, PRICESELY FOUR CENTURIES PLUS, in this our age, Government Oweizide Ekemupolo, a worthy scion of the Ijaw nation, has arisen, invested with the sacred mantle of Egbesu’s chief priest and military general. The symmetries are striking, the correspondences unmistakable: Ekpemupolo stands forth as the avatar of Agadagba, a reincarnation of the primordial hero, reborn to reclaim the lost patrimony of his people.
As we gaze upon Ekpemupolo, we behold the rekindled flame of Agadagba’s indomitable spirit, a fiery essence that refuses to be extinguished. The mythopoeic imagination whispers secrets in our ear, intimating that this modern-day embodiment of Ijaw valour and spirituality is, in truth, a Priest of the ancient mysteries, a hieratic vessel ordained to restore the pristine glory of Agadagbabou and reestablish the vital link between the living and the ancestral dead.
Thus, the epicycle of time turns full circle, as the reincarnated Agadagba, in the person of Ekpemupolo, strides forth to reclaim his rightful place within the sacred precincts of Ijaw tradition. The word is a witness to his spiritual and endeavours which catalyse a renaissance of the Ijaw spirit, rekindling the ancestral fires that burn bright within the collective unconscious of this venerable people, and guiding them toward a future illuminated by the radiant glow of their archetypal forebears.
As Tompolo’s efforts continue to bear fruit, Nigeria’s economic landscape is transformed, and the nation’s people reap the benefits of his tireless endeavours. His legacy will forever be etched in the annals of Nigerian history, a shining testament to the power of visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to the nation’s progress.
Benedict Binebai is a Professor of African Literature, a Social Conscientizer, and a Critic of outstanding repute.
(c) IduwiniVoice
Editorial
A Magnificent Gesture of Philanthropy: Tompolo’s Landmark Donation 10 Billion Naira to Delta State Government
Editorial
Chief Tompolo’s most generous bestowal of 10 billion naira upon the Delta State Security Fund is a magnificent affirmation of his steadfast devotion to the betterment of his beloved homeland. This munificent act not only underscores his profound solicitude for the well-being of the citizenry, but also serves as a sonorous confirmation of his dedication to the edification of the nation.
This magnificent donation bespeaks Chief Tompolo’s perspicacious vision for a Delta State wherein the territorial integrity, individual safety, and proprietary rights of its inhabitants are zealously safeguarded and protected. For it is an immutable truth that security constitutes a fundamental pillar for peaceful and progressive human existence, and a people that get security right are a people who enjoy prosperity, stability, and tranquillity. His largesse constitutes a clarion call to all right-thinking Nigerians to emulate his exemplary conduct, thereby contributing to the realisation of a more stable and prosperous nation.
As a private individual, Chief Tompolo’s remarkable munificence distinguishes him as a true architect of society, a philanthropist of discerning taste, and a stalwart champion of both private and public institutions. His actions evince a profound comprehension of the intricate nexus between security, patriotism, and nation-building, and serve as a shining exemplar for others to follow.
In the pantheon of benevolent figures, Chief Tompolo’s deed resonates with the selfless generosity of mythical beings like Prometheus, who defied the gods to bestow the gift of fire upon humanity, or Hercules, who cleansed the Augean stables to bring prosperity to the land. Like these fabled heroes, Chief Tompolo’s philanthropy emanates a profound sense of altruism, illuminating the path towards a brighter future for the people of Delta State.
By this singular act, Chief Tompolo has floated a most compelling narrative that the Ijaw nation, and indeed all ethnic groups in Nigeria, have a critical role to play in shaping the country’s destiny. His donation is a puissant statement that the resources and talents of Nigerians, regardless of their region or ethnicity, can be harnessed to forge a more united, secure, and prosperous nation, and that the Ijaw people, in particular, are committed to contributing to the construction of a brighter Nigerian picture.
Chief Tompolo’s unprecedented gesture inaugurates a new paradigm of leadership for the Ijaw nation, one that radiates an unparalleled aura of generosity, vision, and selflessness. This luminous exemplar of leadership kindles a guiding light, illuminating a path towards a more prosperous, equitable, and enlightened future for the Ijaw people, and serves as a resplendent model for leaders across Nigeria and beyond, demonstrating that true greatness is measured by the ability to uplift and empower one’s community.
Benedict Binebai is a Professor of African Literature, Public Speaker, and a renowned critic of intellectual acclaim.
(c) IduwiniVoice