Advert
Blackmailing the Amnesty Chief: A Call for Justice
Blackmailing the Amnesty Chief: A Call for Justice
By Prof. Benedict Binebai
Since the ascension to office of the current Amnesty Boss, High Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, a group of people have consistently attempted to destabilize the Presidential Amnesty programme. This is done through the instrumentality of blackmail. These individuals are mere instruments, carrying out the orders of their masters and godfathers. These godfathers appear to have fallen out of favor with the current regime of Dennis Otuaro. No office designed to help humanity can thrive when it is colonized by money-guzzling demons. It is against this backdrop that the new Amnesty boss has humanely resolved to give credibility and unconditional transformation to the founding goals of the programme into concrete reality. Thus, the insidious attempt to exploit a program designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate former combatants by a dark economic force is a grave betrayal of trust and a clear violation of ethical standards.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme is a vital initiative, aimed at fostering peace and stability in a region that has suffered greatly and for too long. Its success hinges on the integrity and smooth operation of its activities. Blackmailing this office and its current holder undermines the entire program. It endangers the future of countless individuals who have placed their hopes in its rehabilitative efforts.
Perhaps it is imperative to highlight the darker sides of the actions of these merchants of confusion and conflict. First is the violation of fundamental human rights. The actions of these spoilers, circulating widely, pose a threat to the future of Niger Delta youths, especially those potentially vulnerable due to their past involvement in conflict. This is a blatant violation of their fundamental human rights. The perpetrators are using fear and intimidation to achieve their selfish goals, ignoring the rights and well-being of others.
Anyone who injects conflict into a highly valued and well-established agency of peace and development, essentially for the Niger Delta, is an agent of Satan. Their blackmail and other subterfuges orchestrated to disrupt this peaceful programme unswervingly destabilizes the fragile peace that the Programme strives to build. It fosters mistrust and fear, and could potentially reignite conflict by creating further divisions and resentment. The Niger Delta is a place of peace, but when that peace is threatened by the activities of fallen angels within the Amnesty agency, it could resurrect violence.
The Amnesty Programme is a critical tool for reintegrating former combatants into civilian life. What the current blackmailers are doing disrupts this vital process, preventing individuals from receiving the support they need to change peacefully and productively. This directly impacts their personal development and the stability of their communities.
These blackmailers are acting as if the Amnesty is their personal source of wealth accumulation. Their economic interests are prioritized over the general interest of the Amnesty programme and the Niger Delta youths. An orchestrated attempt to damage the reputation of the Government’s duly appointed Amnesty Boss and the government is an evil action. The credibility of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and by extension the government’s commitment to peace and reconciliation, is severely damaged by such actions. This damage is hard to repair and has far-reaching consequences for future initiatives.
The manner in which the amnesty destabilization and destruction syndicate is freely using blackmail as a cheap measure to seek government attention is a demonstration of a cynical disregard for the public good. Coercing and attempting to destabilize a vital government program is a cynical act that prioritizes personal gain over the needs of the broader community. It demonstrates a complete disregard for the well-being of the targeted individuals and the wider society. The blackmailers of the Presidential Amnesty programme are nefarious individuals driven by selfish interests. They see nothing and no one as good unless they are given the appointment to personally handle the office. They are morally bankrupt people demonstrating a flagrant disregard for the well-being of others and the greater good. These are established economic pirates who are psychologically galvanized to exploit the resources of the Amnesty Programme for personal gains. The peace of the Niger Delta cannot be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness by these cyberspace apostles of doom.
All stakeholders, including relevant authorities, are hereby called upon to swiftly contain these black energies of egocentricity. This act of blackmail against the Presidential Amnesty boss and the programme must be met with strong condemnation and decisive action to stop any further cyber hostility and blackmail against the Presidential Amnesty Adviser. The Federal Government must identify these anti-Amnesty perpetrators and bring them to justice. The Programme must not be tolerated as a house of horror for its beneficiaries because of the insane and greedy activities of some economic cartels who cannot survive without their control of the Amnesty programme. The safety and well-being of those impacted by this act are paramount, and the integrity of the Amnesty Programme must be upheld. We urge all involved to prioritize the peace and stability of the region above the interests of economic buccaneers.
By Favour Bibaikefie
From a bold idea in ancient Greece to a breathtaking feat of engineering, the Corinth Canal in Greece stands as one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating man-made waterways.
Stretching over six kilometers and flanked by towering cliffs rising more than 80 meters high, the Corinth Canal cuts across the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Gulf of Corinth in the northwest with the Saronic Gulf to the southeast. This narrow waterway dramatically shortened sea travel, saving ships a 320-kilometer detour around the Peloponnese peninsula.
According to a recent post from the BBC’s Daily Factfinder, “Before the canal was built, ships were forced to make a long journey around the Peloponnese peninsula, adding 320 kilometers to their journey.”
But the concept of bypassing the peninsula is far older than the 19th-century construction of the canal itself. The origins of the idea date back over 2,600 years.
“Around 600 BC, Periander, founder of the Cypselide dynasty of Corinth, had the ingenious idea of transporting ships overland, using a kind of railway, the diolkos (parts of which can still be seen today), along which ships were pulled on wheeled carts across the isthmus,” the Factfinder post states. This remarkable method was used for centuries, up until around the 9th century, when ships simply became too large for the system.
It wasn’t until the modern era that this ancient dream was fully realized. “In 1882, work began on the Corinth Canal, mostly by hand, and was completed 11 years later in 1893,” notes the post.
Today, the canal measures about 6.4 kilometers in length and features an 8-meter-deep channel of water. Though too narrow for most modern commercial vessels, the Corinth Canal is still in use and continues to draw visitors from around the world.
“The canal is a popular tourist attraction; large ships are towed through the canal by small tugboats, a fascinating sight to behold,” adds the post, originally shared by the Facebook group Weird, Wonder and Amazing Things, with photo credit to DronEye.
Beyond its practical use, the Corinth Canal remains a symbol of human innovation across the ages—proof that even the oldest ideas can shape the future when combined with determination and engineering skill.
Credit: Weird, Wonder and Amazing Things (Facebook group)
By Divine Perezide
Renowned Nigerian elder statesman and respected southern and middlebelt leader, Chief, Sen. (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, will be laid to rest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in his hometown of Kiagbodo, located in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
This announcement was made on Saturday by Penaowei Clark, the first son of the late Chief Clark, during a press briefing held at the family’s Kiagbodo residence. He was joined by prominent family members and traditional rulers, including the Pere of Ngbilebiri-Mien Kingdom, HRM Prince Samuel Akpomiemie Fuludu (Ogiogio II), Professor Collins Clark, and Chief Ebikeme Clark, Delta State Commissioner for Riverine Infrastructure and Development.
The burial programme, which will span over a week, will commence on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, with a public lecture at the NAF Conference Centre & Suites in Abuja, starting at 11 a.m. According to the family, the series of events are designed to honour the legacy of the late national icon and will conclude with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Chief Clark, born on May 25, 1927, in Erhuwaren, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, passed away on February 17, 2025, at the age of 97. He was widely recognized for his lifelong advocacy for justice, equity, and development, particularly in the Niger Delta region. Remembered as a tenacious leader and a statesman of remarkable stature, his influence extended across political and socio-economic spheres.
The itinerary of the burial events includes a valedictory session at the Senate Chamber on Thursday, May 8, and a day of tributes at the NAF Conference Centre on Friday, May 9, at 3 p.m. On Saturday, May 10, a wrestling contest will take place in Yenagoa, alongside a service of songs at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, at 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, will feature cultural festivities such as a boat regatta and masquerade performances in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa. A candlelight memorial is also scheduled for that evening in both Abuja and Kiagbodo.
On Monday, May 12, a commendation service will be held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, followed by a valedictory court session at the High Court of Justice in Warri. Later that day, the late elder statesman’s body will be flown to Yenagoa for another commendation at Ijaw House, before heading to Warri for a lying-in-state and onward journey to Kiagbodo for a night vigil.
The final funeral rites will be conducted on Tuesday, May 13, beginning with a lying-in-state and commendation service at Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo. This will be followed by the funeral service, interment, and a reception.
The burial programme will come to a close with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 18, in honour of a man whose life was defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the betterment of his people and country.
By Divine Perezide
As the nation prepares to bid farewell to one of its most esteemed elder statesmen, Pa. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, members of the INC National Burial Committee saddled with the responsibility to coordinate burial burial ceremony have intensified efforts to ensure a dignified send-off. On Friday, April 4, 2025, the committee, led by High Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and the INC President, Prof. BenjaminOgeleOkaba, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The visit took place at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt, where the committee briefed him on the arrangements being put in place to honour the late Ijaw nationalist. High Chief Lulu-Briggs, serving as Chairman of the committee, emphasized the importance of unity and support from regional leaders to give the late icon a burial befitting his stature.
Accompanying him on the visit were Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and other prominent figures from the Ijaw community. The engagement forms part of a broader series of consultations and collaborations with stakeholders aimed at mobilizing support for the funeral rites.
Pa Clark, whose life and work have left an indelible mark on the Ijaw Nation and Nigeria as a whole, is being celebrated not just for his political activism, but also for his lifelong commitment to justice, equity, and national unity.
The burial committee is expected to continue its outreach efforts in the coming weeks as the countdown to the final rites begins.
#IduwiniVoiceTv #PaClark #IjawNation #BurialCommittee