Niger Delta Youth Leader Blames Longstanding Government Neglect for Egbema Underdevelopment, Defends Bolowei Emmanuel Omoko and Hon. Spencer Okubo Okpeye
EGBEMA KINGDOM — Niger Delta youth leader, Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka, popularly known as KingdomVoice, has strongly condemned what he described as reckless, insulting and unverified social media publications targeting the leadership of Egbema Kingdom, particularly the Bolowei of Egbema Kingdom, Hon. Emmanuel Omoko, popularly known as Alhaji, and Hon. Spencer Okubo Okpeye.
Comrade Mingo said it is unacceptable for individuals who are genuinely concerned about the development of Opuama, Egbema Kingdom or other communities in Warri North Local Government Area to allegedly resort to insults, personal attacks and unverified accusations against their own leaders.
According to him, the longstanding underdevelopment of Egbema communities cannot reasonably be reduced to the responsibility of one individual or community leader, insisting that the issue must be examined within the broader history of governmental neglect, political representation and perceived marginalisation of Egbema communities.
Mingo maintained that Egbema Kingdom has suffered serious developmental challenges over the years and argued that successive administrations in Delta State have not adequately addressed the infrastructure and social needs of the kingdom.
He said the appropriate response should be to demand accountability and development from the Delta State Government and relevant government agencies, rather than directing anger exclusively at individual Egbema leaders. Let us make the record straight. Egbema has suffered underdevelopment and inadequate government attention for years. If our communities lack roads, electricity, healthcare, schools and other basic infrastructure, the people have every right to demand answers and demand development from government. But we must not transfer the responsibility for government failure to one individual in Egbema Kingdom.
He stressed that demanding government projects is a legitimate civic responsibility and that no responsible Egbema leader should be portrayed as an obstacle to development simply because youths are demanding greater government attention.
The Niger Delta youth leader further argued that Egbema's developmental challenges must be viewed against the political history of the kingdom and its communities.
He recalled that, according to his account, Egbema communities have for years complained of inadequate government presence and perceived ethnic and political marginalisation.
Mingo also referenced the administration of former Delta State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, noting what he described as important political developments during that period, including the appointment of Hon. Spencer Okubo Okpeye DESOPADEC commissioner for Ijaw ethnic nationalist in the board and the emergence of Hon. Smart Yomi Asekutu as the first Ijaw chairman of Warri North Local Government Council following the rotation of the chairmanship position.
He said such developments demonstrated that persistent advocacy by Egbema indigenes can produce political results and should encourage the people to continue pursuing development through lawful and constructive engagement.
Comrade Mingo strongly defended the leadership record of Hon. Emmanuel Omoko, particularly in Opuama, saying that the Bolowei has, in his view, made substantial contributions to the development and welfare of the community.
He listed areas he said should be acknowledged, including community infrastructure, healthcare support, electricity initiatives, town-hall development, youth empowerment, employment opportunities and welfare programmes opuama police station, and others,
Mingo further claimed that the Bolowei's interventions have extended beyond Opuama, with support reaching youths, women, elderly persons, community groups and other Egbema stakeholders.
Hon. Emmanuel Omoko cannot be made the scapegoat for the failure of government to adequately develop Egbema Kingdom. Whatever anyone thinks about his leadership, there are contributions and interventions that should be objectively acknowledged. Criticism is allowed, but criticism must be based on facts and must not become an excuse for insults.”
He urged anyone who has evidence of wrongdoing or mismanagement to present such evidence before the appropriate authorities and community institutions instead of allegedly making unsubstantiated claims on social media.
Mingo emphasised that every legitimate son and daughter of Opuama has the right to aspire to leadership and contest for any lawful community position.
He said no individual should be prevented from seeking office simply because they have a different political or community opinion.
However, he warned that the right to contest leadership does not include the right to allegedly defame, threaten, harass or insult other individuals.
Nobody is stopping anybody from contesting for any position in Opuama. If you have the capacity, come forward and present your programme to the people. But political ambition must not become a licence to insult our elders, traditional authorities or community leaders.
The Niger Delta youth leader advised those making allegations against Egbema leaders to follow established community procedures and lawful channels.
He warned that continued publication of allegedly defamatory, insulting or abusive content could attract appropriate legal consequences, including action under applicable laws.
Mingo stressed that his position is not intended to silence legitimate criticism or prevent citizens from demanding accountability.
Rather, he said his concern is the manner in which disagreements are allegedly being taken to social media without adequate verification.
If there is an allegation, bring the evidence. If there is a complaint, follow the proper process. If there is a demand for development, take it to government. But if anyone chooses to deliberately publish false, defamatory or insulting material, the person should be prepared to answer for it through the appropriate lawful process.
While defending the Egbema leadership against what he described as misplaced attacks, Mingo also called on the Delta State Government to pay greater attention to the development needs of Egbema communities in Warri North.
He urged the government to address critical infrastructure deficits and ensure that Egbema communities receive their fair share of government development programmes.
According to him, the people of Egbema should not be forced to choose between defending their leaders and demanding development from government.
He said both objectives can be pursued simultaneously and responsibly.
Mingo described Opuama as his ancestral homeland and appealed to all sons and daughters of the community to protect its dignity and reputation.
He urged youths to stop turning internal disagreements into public battles capable of damaging the image of the kingdom.
Opuama is my fatherland and my ancestral land. I cannot sit down and watch our own people use social media to disgrace the land we all call home. We can disagree. We can contest. We can demand accountability. We can challenge government. But we must never lose our respect for one another.
He called on those youths, community leaders and stakeholders to embrace constructive criticism, dialogue, evidence-based advocacy and peaceful engagement, stressing that the future of the kingdom depends on collective responsibility.
Mingo concluded by urging those genuinely interested in the development of Egbema to unite and redirect their energy toward demanding meaningful government intervention rather than engaging in personal attacks against fellow Egbema sons and daughters.
EgbemaVoice News
Reporting Egbema • Ijaw Nation • Niger Delta
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