News
House of Reps Hopeful, Comrade Daniel Ezekiel (Aluta) Commends Olu of Warri for Reigniting Global Attention on Niger Delta
By: Derick Peretengboro
Hon. Daniel Ezekiel, popularly known as Aluta, the House of Representatives aspirant for the Warri Federal Constituency, has commended the recent patriotic and forthright intervention of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), describing it as courageous, timely, and deeply impactful.
According to Aluta, the BBC interview struck a deep chord across the Niger Delta and beyond, resonating strongly with millions of people who have endured decades of environmental devastation and economic neglect. He noted that the monarch’s intervention has once again brought global attention to the long-suffering plight of oil-producing communities.
Speaking candidly on the devastating effects of oil pollution in Warri and its surrounding communities, the revered monarch challenged governments at all levels to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action toward the development of the oil-producing communities that sustain the Nigerian economy.
Aluta stated that the remarks of the Olu of Warri have once again drawn national and international attention to the long-standing injustice suffered by the people of the Niger Delta—a region whose land and waters have been relentlessly exploited while its inhabitants are left to bear the harsh consequences.
For decades, oil exploration has ravaged farmlands, polluted rivers, and destroyed livelihoods, plunging communities into poverty, ill-health, and severe environmental degradation. While wealth extracted from the Niger Delta continues to be used to develop other parts of the country, the source communities remain marginalized and underdeveloped.
Stakeholders insist that oil pollution is no longer merely an environmental concern but a full-blown human survival crisis. Fishermen can no longer fish, farmers can no longer farm, and thousands of youths are trapped in unemployment and hopelessness. This systemic neglect has fueled restiveness, crime, and despair among a generation that should be empowered to build the future.
It is against this backdrop that the Youth O’Clock Movement, led by Comrade Hon. Ezekiel Daniel Perela, has emerged as a formidable voice at the frontline of advocacy, action, and impact. Unlike opportunistic interventions, Honourable Perela has consistently stood with the people—engaging grassroots communities, confronting authorities, and advocating policies that promote environmental justice, job creation, and sustainable development.
Hon. Perela understands that oil pollution is intricately linked to youth unemployment, insecurity, and underdevelopment in the Niger Delta. His years of activism and people-oriented advocacy have contributed to tangible interventions across the region, helping to redirect vulnerable youths from crime and violence toward productive and dignified livelihoods.
Observers have described the Olu of Warri’s intervention as both timely and courageous—a noble example of leadership that speaks truth to power and gives voice to the voiceless. Youth O’Clock maintains that such leadership must be sustained and amplified by a new generation of leaders who are deeply connected to the pain and aspirations of the people.
According to the movement, the Niger Delta does not need sympathy; it needs action, representation, and accountable leadership—leaders who see public office not as a means of personal enrichment but as a sacred responsibility to protect lives, land, and the future.
As the political horizon toward 2027 approaches, Youth O’Clock believes the moment for generational leadership is now. Honourable Ezekiel Daniel Perela, the movement asserts, has demonstrated through both words and deeds his readiness to stand where it matters most—with the people, for the people, and for generations yet unborn.
Youth O’Clock therefore insists it is more than a movement. It is a call for justice. It is a demand for responsible leadership. And it is a firm declaration that the voices of the Niger Delta will no longer be ignored.
On this basis, the entire Youth O’Clock Movement and the generality of Niger Deltans salute the Olu of Warri for his unifying, solidarity,, and courageous leadership in standing up for his people and for the future of the Niger Delta.
News
PAP Distributes Laptops to Students as Otuaro Reaffirms Commitment to Education-Driven Empowerment in Niger Delta
By: Divine Perezide
The Education for Empowerment (E4E) campaign of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), under the leadership of its Administrator, Chief Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has continued its support for students with the distribution of laptops to beneficiaries of the PAP Scholarship Scheme at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.
The laptop distribution exercise was carried out on January 30, 2026, at the institution’s Okerenkoko campus, as part of the E4E Mandate Campaign aimed at strengthening academic performance and boosting digital learning among students in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during the visit, the PAP delegation led by Engr. Victor Ebikonde Sokoto explained that the initiative is in line with the agency’s core responsibility of empowering young people through education, adding that access to learning tools remains critical to improving productivity and academic excellence. The team also reaffirmed that the current administration under Dr. Otuaro remains firmly committed to positively impacting the lives of youths across the region.
The delegation further disclosed that more tertiary institutions would be visited in the coming days, as the E4E Mandate Campaign continues to promote education and skills development as key drivers of growth and prosperity. According to the team, the programme has continued to enjoy the support of stakeholders who have commended Dr. Otuaro’s dedication to youth empowerment.
Meanwhile, students of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, who benefited from the exercise, expressed appreciation to the PAP leadership, describing the intervention as timely and impactful. They praised Dr. Otuaro for prioritising education as a tool for development and empowerment, and assured that the laptops provided would be put to effective academic use.
By: Divine Perezide
Residents of Okunama Community, Turubebeama Community and Ebipadezion Community have raised alarm over a devastating oil spill currently ravaging their environment, describing the situation as a serious threat to their survival and economic well-being.
Community leaders from the affected areas disclosed that the spill has severely disrupted daily life, particularly fishing activities, which remain the major source of livelihood for the people.
“This massive oil spill has paralized fishing activities which is our primary source of living,” Barr. David Z. Otutufegha, legal advisor to the three communities, told our correspondent.
Findings revealed that videos and photographs showing crude oil spreading across farmlands and waterways have been circulating widely on social media for several days, with concerned citizens and environmental advocates calling for urgent intervention to avert a humanitarian and ecological crisis.
However, efforts by our correspondent to verify the possible source of the spill have so far proved unsuccessful. No multinational oil company operating in the area has issued any official statement, while relevant government authorities are yet to respond to the growing public concern.
As the situation remains unresolved, residents say their hopes and means of survival continue to dwindle, with many families uncertain about how long they can cope without access to clean water and viable fishing grounds.
For the people of Okunama, Turubebeama and Ebipadezion communities, the future now hangs in a delicate balance as they await swift action from both government and industry stakeholders.
By: Derick Peretengboro
The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), the umbrella body of Ijaw media organisations, has successfully concluded its leadership election, ushering in a new executive council to pilot the affairs of the forum for the next two years.
At the end of the peaceful and well-coordinated exercise, Comrade Ozobo Austin of Congress News emerged as President, while Oyinbi Nduku of Niger Delta Mirror was elected Vice President. Tare Magbei of Daily Report Nigeria clinched the position of Secretary-General, with Ezekiel Kagbala of FocalPoint Reports elected as Spokesperson.
Also elected into the new leadership structure were Comrade Ekpegha Tamaradoubra of South South Daily as Welfare Officer and Mr. Kanjo Ebitemi Joseph as Financial Secretary, alongside other officials who will serve in various executive roles within the forum.
The election was conducted under the supervision of a three-member Electoral Committee led by Comrade Francis Abai as Chairman, with Cletus Opukeme serving as Secretary and Anthony Demebide as a member.
The process was witnessed by observers and stakeholders from within and outside the media community, including Comrade Afore Theodore of the Ijaw Peace and Development Initiative (IPDI), Amogha Hilda of the Ijaw Women Rights Protecting Forum, and prominent Ijaw leaders such as High Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Sheriff Mulade, former lawmaker Kofee Ebisinne Amasuomo, and Chief Evans Etimigba.
Participants and observers described the exercise as transparent and credible. Addressing the gathering, Chief Sheriff Mulade charged the new executives to uphold professionalism and project the image of the Ijaw nation through responsible and ethical journalism.
The forum also disclosed that the date for the official inauguration of the newly elected executives will be announced in due course.