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Group urge Olu of Warri to restore unity in the kingdom
A forum of Itsekiri indigenes under the aegis of Iwere Consultative Forum has appealed to the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III and elders of the Itsekiri Nation to make concerted efforts to restore a sense of unity and trust among the people of the kingdom.
Lamenting that unity has taken flight amongst the people, the forum in an open letter to the royal father and made available to newsmen in Abuja recently, insisted that the unity of the people is not negotiable.
The kingdom has been enmeshed in a chieftaincy crisis following the disagreements that trailed the selection of the sitting Olu of Warri, Tsola Emiko as Olu designate and the subsequent suspension of Chief Ayiri Emami as Ologbotsere of Warri and Chairman of the Olu Advisory Council.
Emami has since gone to court to challenge his suspension.
The letter of appeal was jointly signed by the Chairman of the forum, Prince Clem. Ade Omotoye and Secretary, Prince Arubi Ajofotan, described the recent development in the kingdom as unfortunate and embarrassing to the Itsekiri Nation.
They expressed concern that the interest of the people of the kingdom should be paramount in the ongoing chieftaincy faceoff, arguing that there have not been enough consultations in some of the actions, attributed to the throne.
“The question that comes to mind is, where are the Olu traditional advisers – the Chiefs? Where are his handlers, confidants etc?
“We feel that the Ologbotsere matter should have been handled differently, with more circumspection and with more regard to Itsekiri integrity.
“The present spat between Chief Mene Brown and Prince Yemi Emiko does not augur well for some parties in the existing legal suits. We feel it does not spell well to the foundation of the coronation.
“We will for subjudice not comment further on this matter even as we feel that it may be near impossible to involve the members of the peace committee in any Itsekiri enterprise in the foreseeable future flowing from the event of Friday 14th and Sunday the 16th days of April, 2023.
“Is the experience of Erejuwa II whose legitimacy on the throne was never questioned not enough for the Itsekiri people, at least, as a cautionary tale?
Again, where are the traditional “advisers” and or the “handlers” of the Olu?
“We want to note here that the situation in our Kingdom is moving at a frightening pace that something should be done fast to ameliorate real and perceived wrongs and misgivings.
“Again, we must understand that Ogiame is not sovereign. He, like other traditional rulers in Nigeria, is not guaranteed special protection by the Constitution in a democratic setting, as we have in the country today. His powers are at the behest of Itsekiri, Ogiame is the Lord of the people but Itsekiri own the Ogiame (mini Igbo, Igbo mini). His powers are derived from Itsekiri. Over time, the powers have been delicately poised to enjoy the loyalty of the people. It is this loyalty that the Olu must strive to maintain for the crown to continue to be relevant.
“Unlike in the past, the Olu does not have power over life and property. The relevance of Olu is dependent on his disposition, fairness and appeal. We must remind ourselves, again, that the place of an Olu and indeed all traditional rulers in Nigeria today is under the Local Government Chairman. This makes it imperative to be extremely conscious, calculating, wise, fair, just, trust trustworthy equitable, but not overbearingiven the aggressive nature, expansion tendencies and bellicosity of our neighbours, the crown and the people cannot get it wrong. Our neighbours friends, well-wishers, foes and indeed the world are watching the Ogiame and us. It is our sincere belief that the charade and drama are enough. The crown should not be doing anything to compound existing problems. The challenges are not insurmountable if only we have the desire to make peace and reconcile every aggrieved party. The acrimonious environment is toxic and is a breeding disaster.
“Itsekiri cannot afford a divided nation even as it appears that our neighbours have overtaken us in every sphere. It does not need a soothsayer to posit that we may be heading towards doom or extinction if something positive and radical is not done quickly to harness, harmonize and unite the Itsekiri nation. “Nothing and nobody is too big for the cause. It is for the survival of the crown, people and land of the Iwere Nation.
“On a final note, it is our humble advice that His Majesty be wary of perambulators and or praise singers on royal corridors scavenging for royal recognition coming with different negative stories about other Itsekiri.”
Inferring to the perceived marginalisation of recognized chiefs in the Warri Kingdom, the Forum admonished His Majesty Ogiame, Atuwatse III to accord certain chiefs the rights and privileges already accorded them in the custom and tradition of the Warri Kingdom.
“The only constant in nature is change, tradition will evolve and Itsekiri traditions, mores and practices will change and be “modernised” with time. However such modernization will not come by fiat or through the actions or proclamations of a “sovereign” or “monarch”. It will come by suasion, consultations and consensus. The traditional ruler, therefore, foisting such change on the people by way of fiat may have consequences.
“It is with the above in mind that we draw the attention of His Majesty to some of his conduct that he must necessarily pay attention to in order not to be seen as a traditional ruler having no regard for the tradition of his people thereby threatening his relevance.
“Ogiame is occupying our traditional stool and must, therefore, adhere and be seen to adhere to the tradition and culture of the Itsekiri people.
“We observe with dismay how Ogiame sits as a King on the throne while the Olori sits side by side with him as a Queen, this to our mind is a misnomer. Weare still battling researching kingdoms all over the world with both a King and a Queen at the same time. Traditionally speaking, the Olu sits on the throne as “Okparan” while being flanked (with reasonable space) by Ologbotsere to the right and Iyatsere to the left as “Ori-Eni” without more.”
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has been vindicated by recent revelations from the state’s former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former Head of Service, who recently resigned had alleged that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was directly responsible for the political crisis in the state and the bombing of the State House of Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State APC asserted that Nwaeke’s testimony aligns with the party’s long-held position, as frequently stated by Chief Okocha, that the suspended governor was the architect of the state’s political crisis, including masterminding the October 29, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Okocha further emphasized that Nwaeke’s account, given his high-ranking position in the state, cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
He said attempts to discredit the former Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the alleged corruption and misconduct that the APC has repeatedly highlighted.
“What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.
“The revelations made by the former Head of Service in Rivers State has further positioned her as a political party with high level of integrity, and the hope of Rivers people for a viable alternative to produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2027.
“The verbal attacks staged against the resigned Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the corruption within Sim Fubara’s administration, which we have consistently highlighted as the opposition party. On this matter, the APC shall function as watchdogs”, the party stated.
Chief Tony Okocha expressed confidence that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The APC in Rivers State strongly believes that the relevant security agencies will be professional enough to get to the root of the matter and make their findings public”, he said.
A coalition of civil rights organizations, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the state.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, Director General of the CCLCA, urged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take swift action in probing the allegations. He emphasized that if proven true, these claims pose serious risks to governance and democracy.
The coalition, comprising 30 civil society organizations, stands in solidarity with Dr. Nwaeke, who has expressed willingness to provide evidence of alleged corruption and constitutional breaches involving Governor Fubara and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edison.
“We collectively urge the relevant authorities to act swiftly and transparently. Addressing these allegations is critical to restoring public confidence in governance at both the state and national levels,” Dr. Nwambu stated.
He commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his intervention in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a move he described as crucial for stabilizing the region.
Dr. Nwaeke’s accusations against Governor Fubara include:
Arson and Sabotage: Allegedly instructing his Chief of Staff to burn down the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent impeachment proceedings, a violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Corruption and Financial Misconduct: Claims of large sums of money being used for personal and illegal activities, contravening Section 15(5) of the Constitution.
Threats to Public Safety: Alleged plans to sabotage state infrastructure, potentially inciting public disorder, which falls under Section 1 of the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011).
Collusion with Militant Groups: Alleged meetings between the governor, his Chief of Staff, and militant leaders, posing a threat to national security and violating Section 43 of the Constitution.
Suppression of Labour Rights: Alleged attempts to bribe labour leaders to silence dissent, contravening Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.
The coalition has urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation into these allegations.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has appointed Sam Ifeanyi Hart, Esq. as his new Chief of Staff (CoS).
Hart replaces Hon. Toby Okechukwu who was recently appointed Executive Director, Projects of the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Prior to his appointment, Hart served as Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Public Affairs and has an extensive background in training and consultancy.
Hart also previously served as Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency from 2019 to 2023 after occupying other appointive positions.
He was also a member of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru where he attended the Senior Executive Course 45, serving as Course Secretary-General.
He has also served on the Boards of several corporate and non-governmental entities.
Hart brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, with a distinguished career spanning law, leadership, and public service.
A lifelong learner, he holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law (LLM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from Abia State University.
The new Chief of Staff is also currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Law.
A seasoned professional, Hart has attended prestigious institutions, including the GOTNI Leadership Centre, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG).
He is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (M.IoD), Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACIArb), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
As Chief of Staff, Hart will provide strategic guidance and support to the Deputy Speaker legislative activities, leveraging his expertise to drive policy initiatives and promote good governance.
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