Page Header Logo International Journal of Culture and History  Vol 6, No 2 (2019) > Itua Succession Under Customary Law in Nigeria.  The Rule of Primogeniture versus the Deposition of a Traditional Ruler (Onojie) in Edo State: A critique of the Provisions of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edicts No 16 of 1979 Paul Okhaide Itua Abstract Before the advent of colonial administration in the area, which is presently known as Nigeria, there existed a people occupying vast areas of territories, which were traditionally dominated by highly diverse ethnic groups with highly sophisticated language systems. Apart from the variation in the languages, there also exist shape differences in terms of customs and traditions. However, with the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorate by Lord Frederick Lugard the former Governor-General of Nigeria in 1914 these territories were brought together for the convenience of British Colonial Administration. The new territory was call...

By Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka Niger Delta Youth Leader The continued complaints by several indigenous ethnic nationalities in Edo State over issues relating to traditional administration, political representation and cultural identity deserve urgent attention from both the Edo State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria. For decades, many minority ethnic nationalities, particularly the Ijaw people in Edo South Senatorial District, have expressed concerns over what they describe as political marginalization, unequal treatment and attempts to impose traditional structures that they believe are inconsistent with their history, customs and identity. It is alleged that successive administrations in Edo State have, through government policies and recognition processes, favoured one ethnic nationality above others, thereby creating an atmosphere of inequality and deepening ethnic tension. These concerns have repeatedly been raised by affected communities, who ...

By EgbemaVoice  The National Chairman of Phase 3 of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Gen. Godstime Ogidigba (Gen. Ogidigba), has applauded the leadership of the Ijaw Publishers Forum, led by Comrade Austin Ozobo, for their commitment to highlighting the achievements and positive strides of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro. Gen. Ogidigba described the initiative as timely and commendable, noting that it has helped to clarify misconceptions surrounding the Otuaro-led administration. He said the forum's efforts have also served as a strong response to misinformation, propaganda and false narratives circulated on social media by critics seeking to undermine the accomplishments of the PAP Administrator. He therefore called on other media organizations, leaders and stakeholders across the Niger Delta region to emulate the example set by Comrade Austin Ozobo by actively promoting the achievements and developmental i...

By Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka (KingdomVoice), Niger Delta Youth Leader Recent comments by some Bini ethnic advocates referring to the Ijaw people of Edo State as "tenants" are provocative, misleading, and capable of undermining the peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnic nationalities in Edo State. Such statements should be rejected by all who value truth, justice, and unity. The Ijaw people are one of the indigenous ethnic nationalities of present-day Edo State. Historical records and oral traditions indicate that Ijaw settlements existed in the riverine areas of what is now Edo State long before the modern Nigerian state was created. Like other indigenous communities, the Ijaw have their own traditional institutions, cultural heritage, ancestral lands, and recognized kings. No ethnic group has the moral or legal authority to describe another indigenous people as "tenants" in their ancestral homeland. Edo State is a multi-ethnic state co...

By EgbemaVoice  Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has continued to bring relief and renewed hope to vulnerable women across the state as 10,000 beneficiaries of the Delta State Widows Welfare Scheme began receiving their June 2026 monthly stipends. Beneficiaries drawn from the 25 Local Government Areas of the state were said to be receiving alerts as of Friday, with many expressing appreciation to the Oborevwori administration for sustaining the intervention programme. The scheme, designed to cushion the economic hardship faced by widows, has provided a critical lifeline to thousands of women grappling with the emotional trauma of losing their spouses and the financial uncertainty that often follows widowhood. Speaking with journalists in Asaba, the State Coordinator of the Widows Welfare Scheme, Elder Isioma Okonta, commended Governor Oborevwori for what he described as exemplary and compassionate leadership. Okonta disclosed that payment of the June 2...

By EgbemaVoice  Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Delta State, Sir Festus Ahon, has congratulated veteran journalist and Chairman of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), Mr Emmanuel Enebeli, on the occasion of his 60th birth anniversary. In a congratulatory message, Ahon described Enebeli, who is also the State Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), as an erudite journalist, accomplished public relations professional and respected media leader whose contributions to journalism and strategic communication have remained remarkable over the years. He noted that Enebeli, Chief Executive Officer of Bel Media Consult Limited and Publisher of Ndokwa Reporters, had consistently deployed his professional platforms to promote responsible journalism, good governance, accountability and sustainable development in Nigeria, Delta State and Ndokwa Nation. Ahon commended the veteran journalist for his commitment to ethical journalism, professional e...

By EgbemaVoice  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the Federal Medical Centre, Oleh Establishment Bill, marking a historic breakthrough for healthcare delivery in Delta South Senatorial District. The bill, sponsored by the Senator representing Delta South, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, provides for the establishment of the first Federal Medical Centre in the senatorial district, ending decades without a federal tertiary health institution in the oil-producing region. Reacting to the development, Joel-Onowakpo described the President’s assent as a landmark victory for the people of Delta South and a major step towards correcting the longstanding imbalance in access to quality healthcare. The lawmaker expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for what he described as visionary and responsive leadership, noting that the new medical centre would bring specialised healthcare closer to millions of residents and serve as a beacon of hope for communities tha...

By EgbemaVoice  The Member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Waive, has commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, over the approval of the N22.69 billion reconstruction of the strategic Udu–ECN Road. Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, described the project as another legacy intervention that would improve connectivity, boost commerce and ease transportation across communities in the federal constituency. The 20-kilometre road, with an additional two-kilometre spur to Otor-Udu, stretches from the Warri–Port Harcourt Expressway at ECN Junction to the DSC Expressway at Udu Road Junction. In a statement on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday, Waive thanked the Governor on behalf of his constituents, noting that the project would impact communities across Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu local government areas. “Your administration continue...

By EgbemaVoice  The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) has commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for the provision of 50 buses to boost public transportation across the state, describing the initiative as a practical demonstration of people-centred governance. The Guild, in a letter dated July 6, 2026, and signed by its National President, Comrade Akpovoke Otiti, said the intervention underscored the Governor’s commitment to improving the living conditions of Deltans and translating the promises of his MORE Agenda into tangible benefits. According to GOMEP-NG, the initiative goes beyond the deployment of buses, as it represents a strategic investment in economic mobility, improved access to opportunities, reduced transportation costs and better daily living for thousands of residents. “This thoughtful intervention is another clear demonstration of your unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life of Deltan...

By EgbemaVoice. Renowned Niger Delta activist, Comrade Ozobo Austin, has commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Chief Dennis Brutu Otuaro for building a new generation of educated and skilled Niger Deltans for a brighter future of the region, through his unwavering commitment to sponsoring foreign/local education, vocational training, prompt payment of stipends, and sustained peace in the Niger Delta region following the completion of the six batch of the leadership capacity training held in Abuja which ended on Wednesday. In a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, Comrade Ozobo described Chief Otuaro’s leadership as a refreshing departure that has repositioned the Amnesty Programme to truly serve its purpose. He noted that the ongoing leadership and alternative dispute resolution training, scholarship schemes, and vocational empowerment initiatives have given thousands of ex-agitators and youths in the region new hope and direction...

By EgbemaVoice  The Delta State Government has unveiled plans to modernise public libraries across the state, transforming them into vibrant knowledge and digital learning hubs capable of meeting the demands of 21st-century education, research and innovation. Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, disclosed this during an inspection of the Delta State Library headquarters and its branch near the Grand Hotel axis in Asaba.  He said the visits were designed to assess existing infrastructure, identify operational gaps and develop a framework for comprehensive upgrades across the state. The exercise marked the beginning of a statewide inspection and monitoring programme aimed at repositioning public libraries as modern centres of knowledge, learning and research, with improved facilities and greater access to digital resources. Tonukari said the initiative reflected the commitment of the Delta State Government to strengthening public access to inf...

By EgbemaVoice  Delta State-born environmental rights and peace advocate, Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has called on the Federal Government, Delta State Government and relevant regulatory agencies to immediately declare an environmental emergency following a major oil spill reportedly affecting several host communities in Warri South-West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta State. Mulade made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday, describing the incident as an environmental disaster capable of causing long-term ecological damage if urgent intervention is not undertaken. According to him, the spill is allegedly linked to facilities operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited across Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 26, 34, 38, 41 and 42, with crude oil transported through the Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP). It is imperative to state that the live span of (TFP) 18" crude delivery pipeline was constructed in the early 1980's which as expired...

Oborevwori Donates Operational Vehicles To Nigerian Correctional Service ...Reaffirms Commitment To Peace And Security, By EgbemaVoice  The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on Wednesday, handed over five brand-new operational vehicles ("Green Marias") to the Delta State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service. The presentation which took place at Government House, Asaba, underscores the administration's ongoing commitment to strengthening the justice system and enhancing security across the state. Represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, Governor Oborevwori, emphasized that an efficient correctional service relies heavily on robust logistics and seamless mobility. He said; "these operational vehicles will enhance the day-to-day activities of officers, improve response capacity, strengthen supervision and coordination, and support the effective discharge of their responsibilities. "By equipping the Command with the tools ...

By EgbemaVoice  Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has felicitated with the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, HRM Stanley Perediegha Luke-Kalanama VIII (JP), as the revered monarch marks his 60th birth anniversary on July 8. Governor Oborevwori described the traditional ruler, who is the First Vice Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, as a distinguished royal father whose leadership, wisdom and commitment to peace and development have continued to make significant impact in his kingdom and across the state. In a goodwill message by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon in Asaba, the Governor praised the monarch for his more than 28 years of dedicated service on the throne, noting that his reign had been marked by purposeful leadership, stability and sustained advocacy for the welfare of his people. He said Pere Luke-Kalanama VIII had earned widespread respect as one of Delta State’s articulate and influential traditional rulers, whos...

By EgbemaVoice  Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has joined family members, friends, political associates and well-wishers in celebrating his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, CON, as he marks his 67th birth anniversary. Oborevwori in a goodwill message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, paid tribute to the former Governor’s decades of public service, describing his political journey as one defined by God's grace, commitment, experience and dedication to the advancement of Delta State and Nigeria. The Governor said Okowa had built an impressive record of service across different levels of government, rising from Secretary of the defunct Ika Local Government Council, pioneer Chairman of Ika North-East Local Government Council to Commissioner, Secretary to the State Government, Senator of the Federal Republic and, ultimately, Governor of Delta State for two consecutive terms. According to Oborevwori, the former Governor’s exte...

The Ijaws (Ijo, Izon) were the first people in the Nigeria Coast or Niger Delta Coast otherwise known as the Oil Rivers Coast and even the Slave Coast, to encounter the Europeans merchant traders and slave raiders and traders. This first contact was not always cordial. In 1480 the Ijo coastal town of Kula in the eastern delta was visited by a Portuguese merchant. The Portuguese received a hostile reception and turned back never to trade there again; “…1480 The Portuguese are stated to have first landed at Kula, where they met with such a hostile reception that their visit to that neighbourhood was not repeated…”[3] In 1485 the Portuguese led by John Affonso D’ Aveiro passed Oporoza on their way to Benin city. In the same year of 1485 the Portuguese issued themselves a royal privilege; claiming for themselves the sole right to trade and acquire captives from the five River Niger outlets, which were Mahin, Benin, Escravos, Forcados and Ramos.[4] Arriving in the Niger Delta, they observed...

PANDEF’S CRY FOR JUSTICE: WHEN THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG IS LEFT HUNGRY  The Niger Delta Cannot Continue to Finance Nigeria While Remaining on the Fringes of Development"  By Engr. Yeigagha Henry, JP There comes a moment in the life of every nation when silence ceases to be wisdom and becomes complicity. That moment has once again arrived for the Niger Delta. The recent approval of approximately N3.9 trillion by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for strategic road infrastructure across Nigeria should ordinarily have been a celebration of national development. Instead, it has opened yet another chapter in the long and painful narrative of perceived exclusion, compelling the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to raise an alarm that resonates far beyond the creeks and mangrove forests. Infrastructure is the language through which governments communicate their priorities. Roads are not merely ribbons of asphalt; they are the arteries through which commerce flows, opportunit...

IJAW PUBLISHERS FORUM: A GROWING VOICE FOR THE IJAW NATION AND THE NIGER DELTA ~ "When a People Control Their Narrative, They Preserve Their Heritage, Defend Their Interests, and Shape the Future of Their Nation" ~ By Engr. Yeigagha Henry, JP In every civilization, the media is more than an institution of news gathering and dissemination; it is the conscience of society, the guardian of history, the defender of truth, and the mirror through which a people project their identity to the world. Nations that have attained greatness have done so not merely through economic or political strength but because they understood the strategic value of controlling their narratives. For the Ijaw nation, that responsibility has found renewed expression in the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), a body that has steadily grown into one of the foremost collective voices of Ijaw-owned media organizations in the Niger Delta. The Ijaw Publishers Forum was founded on the noble ideals of profe...

THE IJAW OF EDO STATE: A PEOPLE WHOSE ROOTS RUN DEEPER THAN THE MANGROVES "History should illuminate identity, not erase it" By Engr. Yeigagha Henry, JP In the mosaic of Nigeria's ethnic nationalities, some histories are loudly celebrated, while others lie quietly beneath the waters of neglect. The story of the Ijaw people of Edo State belongs to the latter. Yet, like the ancient rivers that have sustained them for centuries, their history refuses to disappear beneath the tides of time. It flows steadily through oral traditions, cultural institutions, linguistic evidence, and the enduring resilience of a people who have made the creeks and mangrove forests of southern Edo their ancestral homeland. The Ijaw, known also as the Ijo or Izon, are widely regarded by many historians and linguists as among the oldest surviving peoples of the Niger Delta. Their language, belonging to the ancient Ijoid family, is considered one of the oldest linguistic groups in West A...

By EgbemaVoice  Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has urged members of the organised private sector to move beyond discussions and presentations at the forthcoming Delta State Investment and Economic Summit and become active investors in the state’s economy. Aniagwu spoke in Asaba during an interactive meeting between the Main Organising Committee of the summit and representatives of the organised private sector, ahead of the summit scheduled to hold from August 3 to 5. He said while the state was expecting foreign investors with substantial capital, local entrepreneurs remained critical to the success of the investment drive because of their deeper stake in the growth and stability of the state’s economy. According to him, the summit should not end with speeches, memoranda and panel discussions, but should translate into concrete investments, partnerships and job-creating ventures across key sectors. Aniagwu sa...

The Baminipere, High Chief General Peres G. Ejune, JP, Congratulates High Chief Ebibopere Ajube on His 50th Birthday Anniversary By EgbemaVoice  The Baminipere of Ajakurama Town, High Chief General Peres G. Ejune, JP, has extended warm congratulations to Senior High Chief bibopere Ajube, the Prime Minister of the Arogbo Ibe Kingdom, on the occasion of his 50th birthday anniversary. In his congratulatory message, High Chief Peres Ejune described High Chief Ajube, popularly known as "Shoot-at-Sight," as a distinguished Niger Delta icon whose commitment to peace, unity, and the development of the Ijaw nation has earned him widespread admiration. He commended the celebrant's remarkable contributions to peacebuilding across the Niger Delta, noting that his leadership, courage, and dedication have positively impacted countless lives, particularly among the youth. The Baminipere further praised High Chief Ajube for his unwavering support for the growth and progress o...

By EgbemaVoice  The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Brutu Otuaro, PhD, has reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to sustainable peace, security and socio-economic development in the Niger Delta, urging stakeholders to embrace effective leadership and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as essential tools for conflict management. The PAP Administrator also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his continued support for the programme, particularly the approval of an upward review of its budget and the recent approval for the establishment of a Rehabilitation Unit, which he said would address a critical aspect of the programme's mandate that had previously been absent. He appealed to people of the Niger Delta to continue supporting the Federal Government, stating that the President had demonstrated genuine commitment to the region's development. Otuaro made the call on Monday while declaring ope...