Politics

Delta 2023: Political Control By Ijaw’ll Forge Integration – FNDIC President, Oboko

Published

4 years ago

May 19, 2022

From Bulou Kosin, Warri

President of Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities, FNDIC, Chief Bello Oboko says political control by Ijaw of Delta State in 2023 will properly distribute development resources largely derived from their areas, and fast-track reconciliation/integration of the estranged Ijaw people.

Oboko, who spoke in Warri as the Ijaw of Gbaramatu kingdom marked the annual Gbaramatu Freedom Day, May 15, insisted that “the political concession to secure Ijaw loyalty is not too much, as constitutionally advised, to reassure a people who resisted oppression with many paying the supreme prize of death for our collective good.”

May 15 every year, which was recently declared as ‘Gbaramatu Freedom Day’ by FNDIC and Gbaramatu Rebirth Initiative, GRI, organizations, Oboko said, are trusting in God to change the Gbaramatu-Ijaw plight/narrative.

According to Oboko, the Gbaramatu Freedom Day was instituted “to condemn the scourge of slavery and sensitize authorities to uphold acts of freedom and peace, following the May 13 to 15, 2009 bombardment of the Gbaramatu Ijaw communities by the military Joint Task Force, JTF.”

Oboko explained further: “The Ijaw were in agitations for equal political space/inclusion, resource control and environmental remediation when we came under heavy fire from the military on premise of protecting U.S Oil Concerns, and ended up killing Ijaw citizens and destroying Gbaramatu Ijaw communities, left since 2009 to lick their wounds.

“While the Military High Command, Amnesty International and highly placed leaders of the people including Chief Edwin Clark reportedly condemned the pogrom-size illegal killings/destructions, the Federal Government was yet to apologize to the Ijaw people of Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta State and remained adamant to the court-ordered payment of N99billion judgement debt for the military repression of the area in 2009,” Oboko added.

Oboko, the Ebiyedouwei of Gbaramatu kingdom, lamented that “only Okerenkoko and Kurutie benefitted from the little intervention/rehabilitation efforts by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan-led Delta State Government, whereas several more communities, namely Oporoza, Kunukunuma, Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Igoba, Azama, Inikorogha, Opuedebubor, Tebujor,.etc, all in the Ijaw Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West LGA of Delta State, were destroyed during the national disaster called the JTF creek war in 2009.”

Oboko stressed that “The sad treatment given to the Ijaw of Delta State especially the oil-rich Gbaramatu kingdom has since estranged the Ijaw people from the Nigerian nation and weakened their loyalty to it.”

He added: “It would be fine for the Federal and Delta State Governments to pan out a political patronage in 2023 that lets Ijaw control the levers of power already enjoyed by other ethnic groups in Delta State so that they can possibly put up plans for significant improvement of the Ijaw area and hence, feel sense of belonging.”

Oboko expressed gratitude that “In promotion of peace, the good peoples of Warri, namely Ijaw, Itsekiri and the Urhobo, have conceded to zoning political power at the lower rung as evident in Warri South-West, Warri North and Warri South Local Government Areas” while praying “that same spirit be applied to elections at higher rungs in the state.” (Sic)

Politics

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

9 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

1 day ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

1 day ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.