Group known as Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, has urged the public to disregard the reports making the rounds that there’s an existing rift between the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro and Amayanabo of Ochochri kingdom in Rivers State, HRM Ateke Tom.

Recall, some unverified online media platforms reprted that the Amayanabo of Ochochri Kingdom, HRM Ateke Tom had a serious confrontation with the PAP boss, Otuaro during his (Ateke) birthday ceremony.

But in a statement, president of the group, Comrade Austin Ozobo said Otuaro didn’t face any confrontation from the Amayanabo, saying that both leaders had a good times during the birthday ceremony.

Ozobo maintained that Otuaro has been doing an exceptional job in managing the programme and ensuring that the objectives of peace and development in the Niger Delta region are achieved.

READ ALSO: Amnesty Boss, Otuaro, Pledges Inclusive Programme For Niger Delta Communities

He added that Otuaro was working hard to ensure the stipends of ex-agitators are increased, and impacted communities are considered for the programme.

The group urged the general public to disregard such unverified reports and focus on the positive impacts Otuaro is making in the Niger Delta region through the PAP, noting the importance to support Otuaro in his efforts to bring about lasting peace and development in the region.

Ozobo appealed to leaders, stakeholders and ex-agitators not to allow those he referred to as the enemies of the Niger Delta to create divisions and hinder the progress that was being made by Otuaro.

Ozobo added, “Rumors of a rift between Otuaro and Ateke Tom, a prominent ex-agitator and a traditional ruler, are baseless and unfounded. These rumors are being spread by people with malicious intentions who are trying to create a rift between the two leaders. Otuaro and Ateke Tom have a cordial relationship and have been working together towards the development of the Niger Delta.”

The group further emphasised, “Otuaro’s performance as the administrator of PAP has been unbeatable. Under his leadership, the programme has been able to successfully reintegrate ex-agitators into society, providing them with education and vocational training, and empowering them to become self-sufficient.

READ ALSO: King Ateke Breaks Silence On Rumoured Clash With PAP Boss, Otuaro

“This has contributed to the reduction of crime and violence in the region, leading to a more peaceful and stable environment for economic growth and development.

“Unfortunately, there are enemies of the Niger Delta who are not happy with the progress being made under Otuaro’s leadership. These enemies are trying to manipulate him to serve their own selfish interests, and when he refused to comply, they resorted to fabricating false reports about a rift with Ateke Tom.

“It is important to disregard these reports and focus on the positive impact that Otuaro and the PAP are making in the Niger Delta region. It is also important to support Otuaro in his efforts to bring about lasting peace and development in the region. 

“Let us not allow the enemies of the Niger Delta to create divisions and hinder the progress that is being made” Ozobo said.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bauchi state has deployed 820 personnel and commenced ‘operation Eid-el-kabir’ to ensure a hitch-free celebration.

Mr Istifanus Ibrahim, the Sector Commander of FRSC in the state, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday.

According to him, the personnel includes both regular and special marshals, adding that they had been deployed to strategic locations and praying grounds for traffic control.

He explained that the corps also deployed 18 patrol vehicles, five ambulances, six tow trucks to strategic locations across the state for enforcement, traffic control, rescue services and clearing of anticipated road obstruction during the Sallah celebrations.

READ ALSO: Yuletide: FRSC Deploys 890 Personnel In Bauchi

“The command will ensure zero road traffic crash, prompt clearance of obstructions and ensure free flow of traffic due to the anticipated high volume of human and vehicular traffic during the period.

“In order to achieve effective compliance to road traffic rules throughout the period, FRSC Bauchi will carry out mobile court sittings, public enlightenment in motor parks, Mosques, Churches and on media platforms,” he said.

Ibrahim further reiterated the need for all Stakeholders to work together to reduce road traffic crashes on the roads.

The Sector Commander, who explained that the ‘Operation Eid-el-kabir’ commenced on Thursday, 5th of June, added that it would last till 11th of June, 2025.

Tunde Odesola

Jonathan Love and Taylor Steele are Americans. They are also my buddies at work. Jonathan is black; Taylor is white. The three of us could have perished in a ghastly auto accident on the morning of Tuesday, June 3, 2025, with me behind the wheel. “I need a dip, soda and sausage biscuit,” Taylor said with the expectation of a farmer on a rainy day. “I need soda and a sausage biscuit,” Jonathan stated assuredly like a pilot on a fine-weather day. So, I pulled off the highway into a gas station, and the two hopped out like students returning to school after a long holiday.

Drenching sugar, dripping salt and embalming preservatives; oh, how I dislike fast foods! The US, statistics say, devours more sugar than any other nation on God’s spinning earth. Rather than eat fast food, I’ll snack on rat neutraliser – I don’t want to say poison. I mean, I prefer home-made meals, anytime.

While Jonathan and Taylor were gone, I reached for my phone and entered the fray of modern distraction – Facebook, the ‘bolekaja’ of social media. ‘Bolekaja’ is a Yoruba slang for ‘alight, let’s fight’ – a fitting name for a platform whose oxygen is argument.

None of the drama in the
‘Bolekaja’ was interesting, so I migrated to WhatsApp. WhatsApp is the ‘Face Me–I–Slap You’ apartment of social media, where you’re safe in your room, but the moment you step out to mingle, you could be hit by anything.

A banker friend in the UK, Adeola Ojo, had sent me some skits on WhatsApp. I was watching one of the skits when Taylor opened the passenger door and sat beside me in the front while we waited for Jonathan. Taylor is in the habit of peeking at people’s phones, but I don’t mind. Mouth-watering Nigerian foods were on parade in the skit I was watching when Taylor got in the car. Some of the sumptuous meals being scooped into colourful plates came with orisirisi combinations: amala, gbegiri and ewedu swirling like a brown-and-green river; edika ikong cuddling fufu; eba serenading afang; moin moin hugging eko; cocoyam blessing bitterleaf soup; semo in tête-à-tête with oha; and ikokore – the secret of wateryam discovered by the Ijebu, rich and irresistible…while Taylor peeped away at my phone.

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Then the wooden spoon scooped three large portions of snow-white pounded yam into a bowl, and Taylor, mouth ajar and mind afar, shouted, “Oh! Ice cream!” Yes, he screamed. If I were on the highway when he said that, only mercy could have sent us back to the land of the living from the gates of heaven.

Thank God we three got back to work in one piece. Thank God none of us took temporary accommodation in the morgue, pending autopsy, en route to burial. Thank God, no one was injured. Thank God! Thank God!

Taylor asked me why I was reeling with laughter, I couldn’t explain to him because he would not understand; yam is not an American staple. So, how would he understand pounded yam? I just laughed and laughed for it was the only thing I could do; oro buruku tohun, terin – gloom accommodates laughter. Since I was a kid, I had learnt that when yam transmutes, it becomes pounded yam – isu parada, o d’iyan; but here I am, America is teaching me something different.

When one arrives at work, one must work: ti a ba de ibi ise, a ma n se ni, says a wise saying from my roots. In African culture, labour is sacred, it’s not just a meal ticket. Be you a farmer, hunter, fisherman, weaver, herbalist – no matter the work you do, there’s dignity in your labour.

But there are some jobs I can never, ever do. The topmost of such jobs is the work of Abobaku – the one who is buried with the king. I cannot come and die with any king o. Ah! Lai, lai! The Abobaku concept espoused in yesteryear Yoruba culture leans more on class manipulation and superiority complex than preservation of cosmic balance.

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In “Death and the King’s Horseman,” Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, explores the themes of death, betrayal, cultural identity, duty, colonialism, disruption, metaphysics, etc when Elesin – the Abobaku in the play – refuses to be buried with the king.

Sadly, the royal manipulation of ancient times has transmogrified into political and religious manipulation today, with many political zombies dying for their godfathers and spiritual fathers. This is evident in the way millions of PSP – Poverty-Stricken People – stupidly support some politicians whose actions have worsened poverty in the land. It also accounts for why some religious leaders would sell bulletproof vests to their adherents while the Papas and Mamas go about in bulletproof vehicles.

I’m yet to find a description worse than national shame the manner the Bola Tinubu administration celebrated the mouthed completion of 30 kilometers of the 750km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway. Adults who dance on the streets, celebrating four percent as a pass mark, should be chained to the iroko tree, lest they stray into the market.

Religious manipulation has produced a multitude of fake pastors like David Ibiyeo-Money and Jeremiah Funfeyin, Idabosky, etc as well as their Muslim counterparts, who preach exploitative doctrines to yoke their gullible followers with fear and guilt, making them part with their money easily.

Another job I can never do, even if it pays $10m per month is the job of an ìwèfà . In ancient Yoruba times, an ìwèfà was the young male who catered to the needs of the king’s harem. To forestall cross-pollination and pollution of the blue bloodline, the ìwèfà is castrated. Slaves were mostly picked for this job. The ìwèfà is preserved to preserve the king’s pleasure. He’s the cockless cock that craves the corn in a bottle.

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Moses saw the Promised Land, but he didn’t enter it with the Israelites. May that not be our portion. I can never take up the job of security official during football matches, backing the field of play while action is ongoing, and watching whether some delirious fan is going to run onto the field. In the UEFA Champions League final played at the Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany, between PSG and Inter Milan, many stadium security officials backed the pitch and watched the fans to ensure crowd control. To back the field and watch jubilating fans celebrating or mourning the 5-0 worsting of Inter by a merciless PSG side was to suffer a fate similar to that of an ìwèfà.

There are three jobs I covet. I’ve been praying to God to give me the three jobs at the same time. The first is the job of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the hardworking national chairman of the All Progressives Congress. When I get the job, I’ll be doing absolutely nothing but just busy myself with sewing many starched agbada with pockets large enough to stuff dollars and an elephant.

The second job is that of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. In the office, I will be croaking and causing wahala in my state, Osun, trampling on the skulls and limbs of the living and the dead, like a crazed cow in a china shop. So simple.

The third job is by no means easier than the first two. It’s the job of the Governor of Osun State, currently held by Asiwaju Jackson Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke. On the job, I’ll work hard, eat, sleep and dance to every sound like ikoto, the spinning toy, which staggers left and right, struggling hard to stay upright by itself without support. I’ll change my first name to Ajobiewe.

But there’s one job I’m unqualified to take because of my ancestry. It’s the job of the King of Iwo. However, I dare to say I’m not a US ex-convict like the present occupier of the stool, Oba Abdulrasheed Adekanbi. If I were the Oluwo, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth to tell the world that I wish to be called the Alaafin of Iwo because I know the title of the Alaafin was only a nickname that eventually became the main name. The actual title of the ruler of Oyo was Oloyo of Oyo, according to world-renowned Ifa scholar and priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon.

In a telephone interview with me, Elebuibon said, “The name of the ruler of Oyo in ancient times was Olóyo Òrò-mòko (the powerful owner of Oyo Òrò who drinks pap) or Oba Eleyo Ajori Aje Olu Eni Gbara (the king who eats choice dishes cooked with shea butter).”

If I were the Oluwo, I would be content with my title, Oluwo, which means the god or lord of Iwo (Oluwa Iwo), instead of seeking the title, Alaafin, whose literal meaning – owner of a palace – is not as powerful as Oluwo.

Also, I will not rant in a viral video that Iwo was never under Ibadan when Ibadan had a standing army that defended Yoruba land, which included Iwo, against Fulani incursion. If I were the Oluwo, I’d keep my mouth shut and not belch when needless.

Email: tundeodes2003@yahoo.com

Facebook: @Tunde Odesola

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