PRESS STATEMENT RE: RECKLESS ULTIMATUM BY ITSEKIRI GROUP, DISTORTION OF NIGER DELTA HISTORY, AND MATTERS ARISING The Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone, rejects in totality the threats, ultimatums, and revisionist claims issued by a faceless group parading itself as the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex-Agitators Forum. We state without ambiguity that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was born out of an Ijaw-led armed resistance against state repression, environmental devastation, and economic exclusion. This is established history. It is not open to reinvention to suit present political convenience. The creeks where the conflict raged are Ijaw land. The communities that were bombarded, occupied, and reduced to rubble were Ijaw communities. The young men who laid down their arms in their thousands, many of whom paid the ultimate price, were overwhelmingly Ijaw. The Amnesty Programme exists because the Nigerian state could not silence the Ijaw struggle through force....

Ijaw Publishers' Forum Congratulates Barr S. Smooth on Birthday, By EgbemaVoice, The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has extended warm birthday wishes to Barr S. Smooth, describing him as a legendary icon of Ijaw music who had achieved much that had made him outstanding. In a statement signed by IPF's National President, Comrade Ozobo Austin, the organization applauded Barr Smooth's contributions to Ijaw music industry and his philanthropic efforts, particularly in empowering youths in the Niger Delta region. The group added that Smooth's contributions to the Niger Delta struggle and enduring peace are overwhelming, adding that history will be kind to him eternity. The statement spotlight Barr Smooth's selfless leadership and generosity, wishing him continued strength, wisdom, and divine blessings on his special day. The IPF also prayed for his legacy to flourish, creating more opportunities for young people.

Egbema Celebrates Her Musical Icon — Chief Barrister S. Smooth  “The Paddle of the Niger Delta” By EgbemaVoice, The people of Egbema Kingdom, spanning Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State and Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, have rolled out drums in celebration of their illustrious son, High Chief Barrister S. Smooth, fondly known as “The Paddle of the Niger Delta” and the undisputed King of Ijaw Highlife, as he marks a new age on 13th February. In a warm congratulatory message published by EgbemaVoice News, Niger Delta youth leader Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka described the legendary musician and fearless activist as a divine blessing to the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta at large. According to the statement, Chief Barrister S. Smooth has used his music not merely as entertainment, but as a powerful instrument of advocacy, cultural preservation, and social transformation. Through his songs, he has consistently: Champi...

DESOPADEC Commissioner, Okpoye, Congratulates Gov. Oborevwori on Double Honours by New Telegraph, Leadership By EgbemaVoice  The Honourable Commissioner representing the Ijaw Ethnic Nationalities on the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Hon. Spencer Okubo Okpoye JP, has congratulated the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Chief Olorogun Elder Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, on his double recognition as Governor of the Year 2025 by New Telegraph Newspapers and Leadership Newspapers. Hon. Okpoye described the awards as well-deserved and a clear testament to Governor Oborevwori’s visionary leadership, pragmatic governance style, and unwavering commitment to the development of Delta State. He noted that the Governor’s administration has continued to prioritize inclusive growth, peace, and sustainable prosperity across all ethnic nationalities in the state, particularly in oil-producing communities. According to him, Governor Oborevw...

Bolowei of Egbema Kingdom Congratulates Gov. Oborevwori on Double National Honours By EgbemaVoice, The Bolowei of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Emmanuel Omoko, popularly known as Alhaji, has congratulated the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on his recent double honours as Governor of the Year 2025 by New Telegraph Newspapers and Leadership Newspapers. Governor Oborevwori received the prestigious awards following separate recognitions by the two national dailies, which commended his impactful governance style, people-oriented leadership, and consistent implementation of policies that have significantly transformed lives across Delta State. According to the media organisations, the Governor distinguished himself through inclusive governance, strategic infrastructure development, economic reforms, and programmes targeted at improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Deltans. They noted that his administr...

32 PAP Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag First Class *134 Graduate With Second-Class Upper Division *Excellent Academic Feats Impressive- Otuaro By EgbemaVoice, Thirty-two students on the scholarship of the Presidential Amnesty Programme made first class in different competitive courses in 2025 at various universities in Nigeria. No fewer than 134 of the scholarship beneficiaries also graduated with second-class upper division in various courses of study in the same year . The courses are law, pharmacy, aeronautical engineering, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, software engineering, nursing science, mechanical engineering, architecture, accounting and criminology. Others include computer science, anatomy, international relations and diplomacy, geography and regional planning, microbiology, public health, information technology, medical laboratory science, estate management and mass communication. The PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has commended the...

EGBEMAVOICE NEWS Egbema Road Neglect: Niger Delta Youth Leader Accuses Edo Government of Systemic Marginalisation of Ijaw Communities By EgbemaVoice Political Desk The Niger Delta Youth Leader, Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka, has issued a strong statement condemning what he described as decades of infrastructural neglect and political marginalisation of Edo State Ijaw communities, particularly the people of Egbema Kingdom in Ovia South-West Local Government Area. In a press briefing, Comrade Mingo criticized the deplorable condition of the Egbema (Udo–Ofunama) Road, describing it as a “symbol of deliberate abandonment and systemic injustice.” According to him, the road project, reportedly awarded in 2012 and mobilized to site under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has remained abandoned for over 13 years, turning the only access road to Egbema into what residents now call a “death corridor.” Allegation of Longstanding Neglect Across Administr...

Birthday: Gbeuba Community Celebrates Niger Delta Icons, Kestin Pondi and Matthew Tonlagha By EgbemaVoice, The Gbeuba Community in Egbema Kingdom, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, has extended warm birthday felicitations to two distinguished Niger Delta icons — High Chief Engr. Kestin Ebimobowei Pondi and Engr. Matthew Tonlagha — on the occasion of their birthdays celebrated on February 2nd and 4th respectively. In a congratulatory message signed by the National President of Gbeuba Community, Hon. Ebieren Ogidigba, the community described the celebrants as outstanding personalities whose contributions have positively transformed lives across the Niger Delta region. Hon. Ogidigba stated that High Chief Kestin Pondi and Engr. Matthew Tonlagha are visionary leaders who have consistently demonstrated commitment, dedication, and sacrifice toward the growth and development of the region. According to him, their impactful leadership and humanitarian efforts have...

Diezani Alison- Madueke’s Case:A Story That No Longer Holds Its Shape Life & Style | 11 hours ago Bolouere Opukiri In London, prosecutors say Diezani Alison-Madueke was handed “a life of luxury” by oil barons: millions at Harrods, museum-grade furniture, and renovated townhouses in return for favourable treatment in Nigeria’s oil sector. The opening witnesses at Southwark Crown Court have produced those vivid images—but they have also produced something else: a consistent pattern in which the money, contracts, and legal ownership sit with the men around her, above all Kola Aluko, while Alison-Madueke appears as a user, adviser, or mediator, not the paymaster or owner the prosecution wants the jury to imagine. What the First Three Witnesses Actually Showed Harrods private-client manager Amina Hamila was called to dramatise the spending. She confirmed that more than £2m was run up on “Madam Diezani’s” account and that the minister enjoyed Black-Tier status and a personal shopper. Ha...

For MANY years, the picture below and a few others were the only pictures of Tompolo the Public had because he chose to be disciplined and stayed in the dark and focused on his Dream for his people.  Niger Delta arms struggle has been in phases led by successive Actors. It was birthed by ADAKA BORO in Bayelsa state…a one time student Union leader who later took up arms, declared Niger-Delta an independent republic, was over-powered by the Nigeria Military, captured and jailed. He later struck a deal with the Federal govt after the counter coup and him and his boys were granted AMNESTY. Which was the first Amnesty to Niger Delta. This amnesty is nothing like this present Amnesty where beneficiaries are paid Stipends or given scholarships. The Amnesty was restricted to ONLY those that were captured unlike this where 90% of the beneficiaries never fired a single bullet. I will come back to this.  Then came the era of Ken Saro Wiwa under a Military govt. This ti...

BREAKING: The Senate has adopted dual transmission of Election Results, amended the Electoral Act, modifying Clause 60 to require presiding officers at each polling unit to electronically transmit election results to the IREV portal.  -However, if electronic transmission fails due to communication or network issues, the manual result sheet (Form EC8A) will serve as the primary source for result collation. This is unacceptable...  -Meanwhile, protesters outside the National Assembly insist there should be no dual system of electronic and manual modes.  -They are insisting that if election results cannot be transmitted in real time, the affected polling unit should be cancelled and the election re-conducted the next day.

By Nelson Egware At 62, Pius Mordi stands as a towering testament to the enduring power of words, ideas, and principled journalism. Born in Ubulu-Uku, Delta State, his life’s work reflects a rare blend of intellectual depth, professional courage, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. Over decades in the newsroom, Mordi carved a reputation for excellence that transcended beats and borders. Covering maritime affairs and later serving as Assistant News Editor at The Guardian Newspapers, he brought clarity and authority to a complex and strategic sector, illuminating policy choices, industry dynamics, and national interests with uncommon insight and balance. His pen was incisive yet measured and anchored in facts, enriched by context, and guided by deep respect for the reader. Indeed, Pius was nurtured in the finest traditions of truth and professional rigour at The Guardian. Later, as a member of the Pointer Newspapers Editorial Board, he contributed significantly t...

Oborevwori Congratulates Delta Speaker, Guwor on Emergence as Chairman, Conference of Speakers By EgbemaVoice, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has congratulated the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, on his emergence as Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria. Guwor emerged at the General Meeting of the Conference held in Abuja on Monday, a development that places Delta State at the forefront of legislative leadership in the country and further strengthens inter-parliamentary collaboration among state assemblies. Oborevwori in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, described Guwor’s emergence as well-deserved, noting that it reflects his legislative experience, leadership qualities, and commitment to democratic governance. The governor, who himself once served as Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Speakers’ Forum during his tenure as Speaker of the Delta Stat...

IPF Congratulates Guwor On Speaker Conference Chairmanship, By EgbemaVoice, The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) has extended heartfelt congratulations to Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor on his election as Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria.  Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Warri South West LGA, is praised for his leadership, integrity, and commitment to service. In a statement signed by Senior Comr. Austin Ozobo, IPF President, the forum expressed pride in Guwor's achievement, noting it reflects the trust his colleagues have in him. The forum celebrates Guwor's consistent representation of Warri South West, Delta State, and the Ijaw nation with diligence and integrity. "IPF is confident Guwor will bring wisdom, fairness, and dedication to his new role, advancing legislative interests and strengthening democratic governance". They pray for his success and offer support....

Niger Delta Resource Struggle: A Historic Debt to Our Fallen Heroes and Living Defenders,___ Mingo  By EgbemaVoice, Niger Delta Youth leader Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka has declared that, Niger Delta struggle for resource control, environmental justice, and true federalism in the Niger Delta did not emerge by chance, nor was it gifted by the Nigerian state. It was forced into national consciousness through decades of sacrifice, resistance, intellectual courage, and physical struggle by the sons and daughters of the Niger Delta. At the forefront of this historic movement were late Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (CON) of Kiagbodo, a towering voice of conscience; late His Royal Majesty Isaac A. Thikan, a custodian of tradition and defender of ancestral rights; and many other departed heroes whose names may not always appear in headlines but whose blood, sweat, and sacrifices shaped the destiny of the region. These leaders spoke truth to power at great personal cost, c...

IYC Western Zone's Information Officer to Host Digital Skills Bootcamp By EgbemaVoice, The Information Officer of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western Zone, Comrade Tare Magbei, is set to host a two-day digital skills bootcamp aimed at equipping Ijaw youths with practical media and technology competencies. The programme tagged 'Media Management, Content Creation, and AI Prompting Bootcamp' will hold from February 13 to 14, 2026, and is designed to strengthen youth participation in advocacy, storytelling, and community engagement across the Western Zone. A total of 50 participants will be trained in hands-on media and digital skills, with additional exposure to income-earning opportunities in the media and creative sectors. Participants will be drawn from all Information Officers within the IYC Western Zone as well as selected youths from the 24 clans that make up the zone. The initiative, spearheaded by the IYC Western Zone Information Officer, Comra...

Edegbene Community Affirms King-Designate Eric Wareboroeyegha, Rejects Commercialization of Traditional Institutions By EgbemaVoice  The Edegbene community has been thrown into heightened alert and firm resolve following the historic arrival and formal declaration of interest by King-Designate Mr. Eric Wareboroeyegha in the ongoing traditional succession process of the Seimbiri Kingdom. We state categorically that traditional institutions, sacred symbols, and royal tools are not for sale. They are divine inheritances, deeply rooted in the gods and ancestral spirits of the land, and must never be subjected to financial manipulation or external influence. Any attempt to commercialize the sacred Seimbiri stool is a direct affront to our ancestral values, cultural ethics, and collective identity as a people. The Seimbiri Clan remains one of the most ancient, revered, and structured traditional institutions in Western Ijaw history. Its kingship process is guided ...

By EgbemaVoice, The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has come out strongly in defence of Tantita Security Services Limited, insisting that the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to the company is not a “common wealth” and should not be misrepresented as such by critics. In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Ozobo Austin, and Spokesman, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, the forum said the Niger Delta should be expressing gratitude to Tantita and its leadership for restoring sanity to crude oil production and protecting national assets in the region. IPF stressed that while the 13 per cent derivation fund rightly qualifies as common wealth meant for oil-producing communities, the surveillance contract given to Tantita is a professional engagement based on capacity and performance, just like similar contracts handled by different individuals in the region in the past. "The 13 percent derivation is meant for the entire Niger Delta region especially the oil produc...

Viewers Discretion😭😡⁉️ THE NATION IS BL€€DING Kwara Under Siege as Terrorists Wipe Out Royal Household, Clerics, Teachers, Children Kaiama, Kwara State — Tuesday Night into Wednesday Morning Nigeria sank deeper into grief and disbelief as Woro, a once-quiet community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, was turned into a killing field by suspected Sahel-linked terrorists in a carefully coordinated massacre that unfolded over two days. What began as nightfall terror ended as a prolonged slaughter. By the time the gunfire faded, dozens lay dead — among them two wives of the Emir of Woro, several of his children, the Chief Imam of the community, a school principal, a headmistress, and schoolchildren who had just returned home. Entire families were erased. Authority figures were deliberately silenced. Innocence was hunted down. The Emir himself, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, has vanished. His whereabouts remain unknown, raising chilling fears that he may have been abducted or execute...

  By EgbemaVoice Abuja The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has extended warm congratulations to the Chief (Engr.) Matthew Tonlagha, Chief Executive Officer of Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, on his 50th birthday celebration and public presentation of his book scheduled for February 8, 2026. In a letter signed by PANDEF National Chairman, Amb. (Dr.) Godknows BolaDei Igali, the forum praised God for Tonlagha’s good health and soundness of mind, attributing his achievements to God’s love, grace, and faithfulness. PANDEF prayed for continued blessings, increase, and success for Tonlagha, citing Philippians 1:6, “Being Confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” The statement reads, “I acknowledge receipt of the invitation extended to me and the National Executives of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and convey our warm felicitations on the auspicious occasion of your 50th birthday celebration and P...