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Ijaw Unity Emphasised As Agadagba, Oboro Gbaran II, Alagbabunafa, Others Storm Furupagha To Celebrate Atunkpokubu XIII 9th Anniversary

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L-R: Alagbabunafa; Atunkpokubu XIII and Ogonikara I at the anniversary during the weekend

The need for unity among the Ijaw ethnic nationality took a centre stage, weekend, in Zide, traditional headquarters of Furupagha kingdom, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, as kings, clan heads, chiefs, other dignitaries converged on the community to celebrate the 9th ascension anniversary of the Ibenanawei of the kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Pere Roman Ikiyouseigha Bohan, Atunkpokubu XIII.

 

The celebration, first of its kind, had the Pere of Olodiama kingdom, HRM, Godwin Ogunoyibo, Alagbabunafa II; Pere of Tubutoru kingdom, HRM, Gbebokedi Ajiroba, Ogonikara I.

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The Pere of Arogbo kingdom was represented by his high chiefs likewise the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, Oboro Gbaran II, who was represented by high chiefs of the kingdom.

 

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In their separate short speeches, representatives of Agadagba of Arogbo and Oboro Gbaran II, Pere of Gbaramatu, on behalf of their respective kings, called for a more united Ijaw nation, adding that with unity, all the clans and kingdoms of the Ijaw nation will move forward.

 

While stating that they would have been loved to be physically present at the occasion, the two traditional rulers used the occasion to apologise for the people for their absence, assuring that they were there with them in spirit.

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READ ALSO: ‘Furupagh Need Not Supremacy Tussle But Unity’ – Ibeokosuwei

In his opening remarks, chairman, organizing committee of the anniversary, Chief Ben Bowei, while recounting the journey for the past 9 years, said though it has not been easy, God has helped in moving the kingdom from where it was to where it is.

 

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While calling for a more united Furupagha and the Ijaw nation at large, Chief Bowei said: “There is strength in unity, and so our people have become united during the reign of His Majesty Atunkpokubu. This is only possible because the people have been solidly behind him in prayers and other required supports.”

 

He continued: “The point highlighted above has been extended to our relationship with neighbouring kingdoms even to Arogbo, Egbema and Gbaramatu and that had given us pride of place in the comity of kingdoms in Ijaw land and beyond.”

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Kings at their entourage at the event.

 

Chief Bowei, who lamented the lack of infrastructure in the kingdom due to government neglect, added that all efforts geared towards the government to recognise the king have been futile.

“We have cried enough to be recognised by the government of Edo State and to be presented to the staff of office, but all our cries have fallen on deaf ears. The government has deliberately refused and neglected to play its role in society building by working with traditional institutions despite their relevance in the security of their domains.

 

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“Our area lacks the economic drive to raise funds for the construction of a befitting palace for the king. Kings are meant to live in a glamorous royal abode but lack of economic stream in the kingdom has not made it possible for Atunkpokubu to live in such glamorous as expected and seen elsewhere.

 

“Good road network has been the bane of the numerous challenges in all the Ijaw kingdoms in Edo State and Furupagha is not different in this regard. It is even worse because while other kingdoms have other routes through the tributaries of creeks and rivers, our creek is in dire and urgent need for canalisation and dredging, without which we cannot grow a better economy within the kingdom,” Chief Bowei lamented.

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Atunkpokubu XIII, Alagbabunafa III, Ogonikara I all used the occasion to intercede for the kingdom and the Ijaw nation at large, just as they prayed for blessings for the sons and daughters of the kingdom.

 

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Young Ijaw musician Abobra, Tiga D’Advocate thrilled people at the epoch making event.

READ ALSO: 7th-year Anniversary: High Chief Akpofagha Extols Pere Of Furupagha

 

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Some of the chiefs of the kingdom who were in attendance include: High Chief Millionaire Muje; High Chief (Engr.) Pascal Ebi Akpofagha; Chief Somi Miye; Chief Tunemi Makilolo; Chief Alex Kuruma; Chief Terry Oseyai, etc.

Entertainment

‘African Queen’ Has Been A Blessing And A Curse To me – 2Face Opens Up

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Legendary Nigerian musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has described ‘African Queen’ as the song that gave his career a spark, stressing that it is also one of the songs he resonates with the most.

He, however, said the song has been a burden despite its huge benefits.

2Face spoke in a recent episode of the Entertainment & Lifestyle show.

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READ ALSO:Pope Francis Meets King Charles, Queen Camilla Despite Illness

“African Queen has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me. But I am grateful for everything,” he said.

African Queen, which was released in 2004, propelled 2Face to international stardom as he became the first African artist to win the BET, MTV Europe and MOBO awards.

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However, there have been controversies about the authorship of the song following 2Face’s former band mate, Blackface’s repeated claims that 2Face stole the song from him.

READ ALSO:Deputy Gov Pledges Support For Edo Queens

2Face in a previous interview admitted that ‘African Queen’ was originally a collaboration with his former bandmates, but denied stealing the song.

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The song has remained a subject of controversy for over two decades. A fresh controversy began after Billboard named the song the “greatest Afrobeats song of all time” in August 2025.

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Married Man Denies Wife At Brazil Concert To Kiss Tems On Stage [VIDEO]

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A man is going viral after he reportedly denied his wife on stage to kiss Nigerian singer Tems at the Afro Punk Festival in Brazil, over the weekend.

In one of the videos from the incident, singer could be heard telling the man that she doesn’t want to disrespect his wife by serenading him, but the man denied being married despite his alleged wife standing behind him.

I know your wife is here and I need to respect her,” she told the man.

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However, the man went on to kiss her hand after denying his alleged wife, causing the crowd to scream.

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The incident has sparked a fresh controversy about Afrobeats artistes serenading their fans’ partners at their concerts.

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Recall that Omah Lay sparked controversy in February 2024 after he invited a female fan reportedly attending his concert at the Eventim Apollo in London with her boyfriend, to join him on stage during the rendition of his song ‘Bend You.’

Videos of the duo’s silhouettes shared online by concertgoers caused uproar, and the couple reportedly broke up after the incident.

Watch video here.

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Nwoko, Regina Daniels Trade Words Over Drug Allegations, Arrest

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The senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, and Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, have exchanged heated words as tensions escalate over their ongoing marital crisis, with allegations involving drug use and harassment.

Nwoko accused Daniels’ brother, Sammy, of harassing his children and domestic staff, claiming he sponsored Sammy’s last two years at the University of Ekpoma, including expenses for musical instruments and an Abuja apartment.

He also revealed that he transferred an estimated ₦125 million to Regina’s mother over the past two years.

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“These videos show Sammy, Regina’s brother, repeatedly coming to my home and harassing my children and domestic staff, especially whenever I was not around. His visits were often aggressive and disruptive,” Nwoko wrote on his X handle on Saturday.

He further alleged that Sammy introduced Regina to drugs and sabotaged her rehabilitation.

“In fact, Lawrence and Sammy were the ones who first introduced and supplied these drugs to her. They were deeply involved in the habit themselves, and rather than helping her get better, they kept drawing her back into the same destructive lifestyle,” he stated.

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According to the senator, his efforts to help Regina recover led to tensions with her family.

“When Regina started her rehabilitation, the doctors clearly instructed that her enablers should be restricted from access to her.

“Unfortunately, Sammy, Destiny, and some of her friends constantly defied those instructions. They would sneak in and bring her the same drugs she was being treated for,” he explained.

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Nwoko also recounted a confrontation where Sammy allegedly came to his residence at 4 a.m., demanding a face-to-face after being asked to remove his girlfriend from the house.

“Just four weeks ago, I woke up around 4 a.m. and realised that Regina was in my room and on the phone. She was clearly high… I told Regina that the girl had to leave, and one of my drivers dropped her off. Thirty minutes later, Sammy came to my house shouting and demanding that I come downstairs to face him.

READ ALSO:Why I Can Share My Husband With My Friend — Regina Daniels

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“I eventually went downstairs and had to instruct the security to physically push him out of my compound. The level of audacity was shocking. Without the influence of drugs, could he have been so bold and disrespectful?” Nwoko recounted.

The senator defended his decision to involve law enforcement, stating that Sammy “now needs professional rehabilitation and guidance rather than sympathy.”

He also denied allegations that anyone was beaten, describing the video he said was staged to discredit him “a pure Nollywood scenario filmed in front of my house, in my absence.”

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Reacting to Nwoko’s claims via her Instagram page on Sunday morning, Daniels admitted to past drug use but dismissed her estranged husband’s allegations as exaggerated, manipulative, and designed to tarnish her image.

Ned, how could you lie so openly and without even small remorse? You know my family has absolutely nothing to do with this… and now you are trying to make them look bad for no reason,” she wrote.

READ ALSO: Regina Daniels And Angela Okorie’s Cold War Deepens

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She insisted her drug use was not the root of their marital issues:

She added, “Fine, I did drugs. So what? Is that even the issue between us? The moment we had a fight, you rushed to the public, shouting ‘drugs, drugs, drugs,’ because you knew it would make a perfect story for the media — something dramatic enough to distract everyone from the real issue!”

Regina accused Nwoko of isolating her by targeting her friends and family:

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You want to find a reason to arrest everyone around me so that I will have no one left beside me… Then, when I’m completely isolated and broken, I will be forced to come back to you because I will have nowhere else to go,” she added.

She further alleged that Nwoko encouraged her drug use for his satisfaction:

You say you want me to go for rehab, but you are the same Ned who always wanted me high because, in your words, I’m ‘sexier’ when I’m high. You liked me that way because it made me wild and romantic exactly how you wanted me to be,” she wrote.

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READ ALSO:Regina Daniels Introduces Self In New Video, Omits Husband’s Name Amid Marital Crisis

Daniels also accused him of sexual assault, confinement, and medical manipulation, claiming he seized her phones and forced doctors to administer sedative drugs whenever she disagreed.

Why don’t you tell them how you lock me up and have doctors inject me with drugs meant for people with bipolar disorder? You seize my phones for weeks because you hate that I talk to my family a lot,” she added.

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Dismissing Nwoko’s claims that her behaviour was incoherent, she said, “You have never seen me act incoherent, stumble, or lose control… Stop using the ‘drugs’ story to create a distraction. Tell people the truth.”

Finally, Regina asserted there was no legal marriage between them and said her time with Nwoko cost her prime years and career opportunities:

“No matter how much you think you spent on me, it can never equal the value of the time I gave you, my prime years, my energy, and the career opportunities I sacrificed while being with you.

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“And for the record, I would have filed for divorce long ago if there had ever been a legal marriage between us. We were never married in any court of law… Leave me alone, Ned. Marriage is not by force. Love is not by force,” she said.

READ ALSO: Regina Daniels Introduces Self In New Video, Omits Husband’s Name Amid Marital Crisis

The development follows weeks of reports about Daniels’ marital troubles with her husband, whom she accused of domestic violence in an earlier social media post.

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Nwoko, however, denied the allegations, blaming her behaviour on alleged drug and alcohol abuse. He stated that Regina’s “current battle with substance abuse” had caused strain in their marriage and insisted she undergo rehabilitation.

Days later, the actress’s brother, Sammy, was arrested in Lagos, later transferred to Abuja, arraigned in court, and remanded pending fulfilment of bail conditions.

Amid the public exchanges, Regina celebrated the reconciliation of her estranged parents, noting that her mother and father, who had been apart for years, reunited in the wake of her personal and family crisis, especially her brother’s arrest.

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In a series of emotional videos shared online, the actress confessed to feeling overwhelmed by fear, pressure, and uncertainty surrounding her brother’s safety.

Her outpouring of emotion has sparked widespread concern across social media, with fans, family members, and fellow entertainers calling for Sammy’s release and urging both parties to de-escalate the growing tension.

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