This is B.S.L.N. 148 of 1979 — an Extraordinary Gazette of the old Bendel State Government. TITLE: TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS EDICT, 1979 Subject: Declaration of Customary Law Regulating Succession to the Title of AGADAGBA OF EGBEMA  Dated: 28th day of September, 1979, Benin City Signed: D. P. Lawani, O.O.N., J.P., Secretary to the Military Government, Bendel State of Nigeria KEY POINTS OF THE DECLARATION The Four Ruling Villages of Egbema There are four villages in Egbema that are recognized for succession: Jamagie/Abadigbene Ajakurama Opuama/Polobubor Ogbudugbudu Succession to the Agadagba stool rotates among the four villages in the exact order listed above. Qualification of a Candidate To qualify, a candidate must be a male descendant of an Egbema father, and a non-Egbema mother.  . The selection of candidates is by consensus of representatives from all four villages at a meeting summoned for that purpose. The meeting must be presided over by the oldest man, called the ...

By EgbemaVoice News A prominent Niger Delta youth leader, Comrade Mingo Sayami Ogumaka, has commended Edo-born youth leader Comrade Tony Kabaka for what he described as his courage in speaking the truth regarding the growing concerns over the alleged marginalisation of the Ijaw people in Edo State. In a statement made available to EgbemaVoice News, Comrade Mingo stated that the intervention of Tony Kabaka on issues affecting the Ijaw people has brought renewed attention to decades of alleged political, traditional and developmental injustice suffered by the indigenous Ijaw communities in Edo State. According to him, the five Ijaw kingdoms in Edo State Egbema, Olodiama, Gbaran, Furupagha and Okomu—have consistently complained of exclusion, intimidation, oppression and neglect by successive administrations in the state. He alleged that despite the significant contributions of the Ijaw people to the economy and development of Edo State, especially through their oil-producing c...

Egbema Youth Political Forum (EGYPY), Egbema Youth Council (EYC), IYC Egbema Clan, INC Edo State Chapter, and Egbema Political Leaders Endorse Hon. Ayedi Sunny Ikiyokepere as sole candidate for the Edo State  House Assembly Race By EgbemaVoice News In a significant move aimed at strengthening Ijaw political unity ahead of the 2027 Edo State House of Assembly election, the Egbema Youth Political Forum (EGYPF), in collaboration with the Egbema Youth Council (EYC) Worldwide, Egbema Clan Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Edo State Chapter, and other prominent Ijaw political stakeholders, convened a strategic joint meeting to deliberate on the political future of the Ovia South-West Local Government Area Constituency. The meeting focused on the need for greater unity among Ijaw political leaders and stakeholders to improve the chances of producing an Ijaw representative in the Edo State House of Assembly. During the deliberations, participants expr...

Glory Nneka Ukwenga, Founder and Executive Director of Africana League, a pan-African youth leadership development organisation, has bagged a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies from the Nile University of Nigeria. The prestigious doctorate was conferred on Ukwenga on July 24, 2026, following her successful defence in Abuja, Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the career of the bilingual leadership development analyst and youth advocacy pioneer. Her PhD thesis was on Civil-Military Relations and the Challenges of Democratic Governance in West Africa: A Comparative Study of Nigeria and Mali (2019-2026). The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is in Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies. Ukwenga, whose academic journey has been defined by excellence, holds a Master of Science in Political Science with a specialisation in International Relations, which she earned with distinction from the University of Ibadan, and a Bachelor of Science in Polit...

NIGER DELTA YOUTH LEADER, COMRADE MINGO MESHACH SAYAMI OGUMAKA (KINGDOMVOICE), CONGRATULATES PROF. ESEKUMEMU VICTOR CLARK ON APPOINTMENT AS ACTING VICE-CHANCELLOR OF EDWIN CLARK UNIVERSITY By EgbemaVoice, Niger Delta youth leader, Publisher of EgbemaVoice News, and postgraduate student of the Department of Political Science, Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka (KingdomVoice), has extended his heartfelt congratulations to his lecturer and academic supervisor, Professor Esekumemu Victor Clark, on his official appointment as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Edwin Clark University (ECUK), Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State. In his congratulatory message, Comrade Mingo described the appointment as well-deserved, noting that Professor Clark has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, academic excellence, integrity, and an commitment to the growth and development of the university. According to him, Professor Clark is a highly dedicated and disciplined lec...

Breaking news: STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPROVES EXPANSION OF NIGERIAN ARMY TO 12 DIVISIONS, RECRUITMENT OF 28,000 PERSONNEL TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL SECURITY President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army. This approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further. The expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for o...

JUST IN: Mama Akabai Ororomene (Nee Febebebo) Bows Out at 110 in Ekogbene Town By EgbemaVoice News The family of Mama Akabai Ororomene (Nee Febebebo) has announced the peaceful passing of their beloved matriarch at the remarkable age of 110 years. According to information made available to EgbemaVoice News, Mama Akabai Ororomene passed away today, Thursday, 23rd July 2026, in Ekogbene Town, bringing to a close a long and fulfilled life dedicated to family, community, and humanity. Speaking on behalf of the family, ASP Eric Warebura described the death of his grandmother as a deeply painful and heartbreaking loss. He noted that while the family is grateful to God for granting her an exceptionally long life, her passing has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. He described the late centenarian as a woman of peace, wisdom, humility, and integrity whose life positively impacted generations of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, and m...

THE LATE KING (DR.) ROBERT EBIZIMOR: THE NUMEPERE OF IZON IBE WORLD WIDE  A MUST READ BY ALL ADMIRERS AND LOVERS OF THE SAGE OF IJAW MUSIC Few names command as much reverence in the history of Ijaw music as King (Dr.) Robert Ebizimor. A legendary Nigerian musician and one of the greatest cultural icons to emerge from the Niger Delta, he dedicated his life to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the rich heritage of the Ijaw people through music. Revered across the Ijaw nation and beyond as the King of Music, he uniquely combined traditional royal honour with an extraordinary artistic career that spanned several decades, earning him a permanent place among Nigeria's greatest indigenous musicians. BACKGROUND AND EARLY LIFE King Robert Ebizimor was born on September 25, 1943, although some historical accounts place his birth on March 13, 1944. He was of paternal descent from Angalabiri in present-day Bayelsa State and maternal descent from Ojobo in Delta State. As the youngest of se...

By EgbemaVoice  The legal battle for the soul of the Ijaw National Congress has ended. The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt affirmed McDonald Igbadiwei as INC President and dismissed the suit filed by retired Rear Admiral Geoffrey Iyanga.[date] Iyanga had approached the court to challenge the process that produced the current INC National Executive Council, faulting the electoral committee and raising issues of eligibility. But the appellate court ruled in favor of Igbadiwei, agreeing with submissions by M.J. Numa, SAN, and Ebibenabo Okorodas that the Yenagoa High Court erred by not first deciding on jurisdiction. The court held that once jurisdiction is challenged, it must be resolved before proceeding with any other matter. Consequently, it dismissed Iyanga’s case. The judgment further legitimized the April 10, 2026 INC election at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, conducted by the Francis Tabai-led electoral committee, confirming Igbadiwei as the duly elected president of...

EDO IJAWS ARE INDIGENOUS, NOT SETTLERS - IYC PRESIDENT ORDERS 30-DAY FACT-FINDING MISSION By EgbemaVoice  The newly inaugurated President of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, has declared that the Ijaw people of Edo State are aboriginal inhabitants and indigenous owners of their ancestral lands, insisting that they must never be regarded as settlers. Okotete made the declaration in his inaugural address, a copy of which was obtained by GbaramatuVoice. He also ordered a fact-finding mission to Edo State and placed all organs, affiliates and structures of the Council on alert to defend the political, economic, social and traditional rights of Ijaw communities in the state. “We reaffirm unequivocally that the Ijaws of Edo State are not settlers. They are aboriginal inhabitants and indigenous owners of their ancestral lands. “This administration stands firmly with the concerns raised by our foremost leader, HRM King Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, r...

By EgbemaVoice, The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, has commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his sustained investment in strengthening security across the state, describing the administration's support to security agencies as instrumental in enhancing policing and public safety. The Police Commissioner gave the commendation when the Chairman of the Delta State Security Trust Fund (DSSTF), Hon. Barr. Daniel Mayuku, led members of the Board and management, including the Executive Secretary, Hon. Barr. Samuel Osasa, on a courtesy visit to the Delta State Police Command Headquarters in Asaba. The visit, according to both parties, was aimed at reinforcing the existing partnership between the Delta State Security Trust Fund and the Nigeria Police Force in safeguarding lives and property across the state. Speaking during the meeting, CP Oyeniyi expressed appreciation to the Delta State Government and the Security Trust Fund for their consistent suppor...

By Nelson Egware  In an era when the media landscape has been transformed by technology, shifting political realities and changing public expectations, few journalists have remained as relevant, resilient and respected as Elder Chukwudi Abiandu.  As he turns 70, colleagues, associates and admirers are celebrating not just a birthday, but a remarkable life dedicated to journalism, public communication, leadership and service.  For more than four decades, Abiandu has remained a familiar and influential figure in Nigerian journalism. His career, spanning over 43 years, reflects the story of a consummate professional who rose through the ranks on the strength of discipline, excellence and an unwavering commitment to ethical journalism.  His journey began in 1981 when he undertook industrial training at the iconic Daily Times of Nigeria before receiving formal newsroom grooming at the prestigious Times Newspaper Training Centre, now the Times Journalism Instit...

  By EgbemaVoice  President of the Isoko Development Union (IDU) Worldwide, Professor Chris Akpotu, has said the decision of the Isoko people to elect Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas to represent Delta South Senatorial District is already yielding significant dividends, citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's assent to the bill establishing the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Oleh, as clear evidence of effective and purposeful representation.   Speaking during an interview on ARISE News Night on Saturday, Akpotu described the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre as a landmark achievement that has brought an end to decades of perceived federal neglect of the Isoko Nation.   He said the successful establishment of the medical institution vindicates the collective resolve of the Isoko people to pursue effective representation at the National Assembly after years of political marginalisation.   "Our resolve to send Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas to the Sena...

Chief (Dr.) Pedro Tuwayerin Bekenawei Promotes Education, Donates School Materials to Students in Warri South-West LGA By EgbemaVoice News Chief (Dr.) Pedro Tuwayerin Bekenawei, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency, has continued his commitment to educational development by donating exercise books and other essential learning materials to pupils and students in primary and secondary schools across Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. The latest distribution exercise was held at Igbe-Ijoh Grammar School, Ogbe-Ijoh, where students received writing materials as part of the candidate's educational support initiative aimed at improving learning and encouraging academic excellence among young people in the constituency. Representing the NDC candidate at the event, Hon. Dennis Soroaye said the donation reflects Chief Bekenawei's commitment to investing in the future of the younger gener...

THE LANGUAGE THAT CROSSED THE OCEAN IN CHAINS How Kalabari Survived the Middle Passage, Built a New Tongue in South America, and Died Waiting for Us to Remember By Kio Amachree Letters from Stockholm STOCKHOLM — In March 2004, on a remote tributary of the Berbice River in Guyana, South America, a woman of one hundred and three years named Albertha Bell sat for an interview with a team of linguists from the University of the West Indies. When she died the following year, a language died with her. Its speakers had called it simply di lanshi — the language. Linguists call it Berbice Creole Dutch. But strip away the Dutch veneer and what lay beneath was something that should stop every Kalabari man and woman in their tracks. It was us. It was our tongue, carried across the Atlantic in the holds of slave ships three centuries earlier, still speaking. This is the story of the most extraordinary journey any Nigerian language has ever made. And it is a warning addressed directly to the Kalabar...

CHIEF (DR.) PEDRO TUWAYERIN BEKENAWEI, NDC CANDIDATE FOR WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, PROMOTES EDUCATION, DISTRIBUTES SCHOOL MATERIALS AT UWANGUE COLLEGE By EgbemaVoice, Uwangue, Warri South LGA, Delta State, In a continued demonstration of his commitment to educational development and youth empowerment, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency, Chief (Dr.) Pedro Tuwayerin Bekenawei, has donated exercise books and other essential learning materials to pupils and students of Uwangue College and other schools in Uwangue Town, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. The educational support initiative forms part of the candidate's broader vision to improve access to quality education and provide practical assistance to students across the Warri Federal Constituency. Representing the candidate at the presentation ceremony, Hon. Dennis Soroaye, the NDC representative for Warri Federal Constituency, said the donation reflects ...

Man Died In Sapele After Wife Locked Him Outside  By EgbemaVoice, A trqgic incident reportedly occurred on Esiri Road, Ugbeyiyi, in Sapele and According to reports, the deceqsed, popularly known as Chuks, was an auto electrician at Ogbuefi Mechanic Yard along New Road by Shell Road Junction. It was gathered that when Chuks returned home on Thursday night, the compound gate was opened for him, but his wife allegedly refused to open the door to their apartment. Chuks reportedly explained that he had been busy preparing for his younger brother's wedding, which was scheduled for Saturday, and insisted that he had not been anywhere else. However, his wife allegedly did not believe him and told him to return to wherever he claimed he had come from. Unable to enter his home, Chuks reportedly spent the night sleeping inside his car. The following morning, he called one of the boys from his mechanic workshop to help him carry the chickens he had bought for his younger brother...

Ijaw Youths Shut Down Gelegele Flow Station for 24 Hours Over Viral Oil Ownership Claims By EgbemaVoice, GELEGELE, Edo State – Youths and leaders of Gelegele (Gbene) Community in Olodiama Kingdom, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, on Monday shut down the Gelegele Flow Station for 24 hours in protest over a viral video allegedly denying the community's ownership and host status of oil facilities. According to the community leadership, comr. Olu Derimo the Gbelegele community chairman said, the action followed a viral video attributed to Mr. Amos Osakwe and some Otedo youths, in which it was allegedly claimed that there are no oil wells or oil-producing facilities in Gelegele (Gbene) Community, but only in Ughoton. The Chairman and leadership of Gelegele Community described the statement as false, misleading, and provocative, saying it undermines the historical and legal status of the Ijaw community as a recognised oil-producing host community in Edo State. Speaking...

CHIEF (DR.) PEDRO TUWAYERIN BEKENAWEI CHAMPIONS EDUCATION, DONATES LEARNING MATERIALS TO IWERE COLLEGE, KOKO By EgbemaVoice, Koko, Warri North LGA, Delta State – In a demonstration of his commitment to educational development and youth empowerment, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the House of Representatives, Warri Federal Constituency, Chief (Dr.) Pedro Tuwayerin Bekenawei, has donated exercise books and other essential writing materials to students of Iwere College, Koko, in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. Speaking during the presentation, the NDC representative for Warri Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Soroaye, said the donation reflects Chief Bekenawei's unwavering belief that education remains the foundation for sustainable development and national progress. According to Chief Bekenawei, the initiative is aimed at supporting learning, easing the burden on parents, and encouraging pupils and students to pursue acad...

OBITUARY , PANDEF GRIEVES THE LOSS OF ITS PRIMARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER AND FORMER MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PROF. TURNER T. ISOUN AT 87 The Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) with shock and grief, mourn the passing into glory of Nigeria’s former Minister of Science and Technology, globally renown scholar and one of its core founding members of the Board of Trustees, Professor Turner T Isoun. According to the family, Prof. Isoun died in Abuja on Wednesday 15th July, 2026 at the age of 87 years. He lived a greatly successful life of outstanding scientific scholarship in research and teaching all around the world and public service.  Among other things, he had served in Rivers State as Special Adviser to Governor on Science and Technology and pioneer Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology which is now renamed Rivers State University, Portharcourt. During his time as Ministe...

BY EgbemaVoice  For years, Nigerians have heard about “ghost workers” in government. But when the Nigeria Police Force went through a full biometric payroll check, the numbers were bigger than anyone expected. 1. HOW IT WAS FOUND:  THE IPPIS CHECK As part of a federal cleanup, all 42 Police commands were asked to move to IPPIS — the government’s centralized payroll system that pays salaries directly to verified staff using BVN.   Before IPPIS: Reported strength was about 371,800 personnel.   After biometric verification: 291,685 officers were actually confirmed.   Gap found: 80,115 names that couldn’t be verified. Those unverified names included fake entries, plus people who had retired, resigned, or passed away but were still on the payroll. 2. WHY IT MATTERS Money: Billions of Naira were being paid monthly to accounts linked to those unverified names.   Security: It also meant Nigeria’s actual number of active police office...

CHIEF (DR.) PEDRO TUWAYERIN BEKENAWEI, NDC CANDIDATE FOR WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, PROMOTES EDUCATION By EgbemaVoice  Chief (Dr.) Pedro Tuwayerin Bekenawei, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Warri Federal Constituency, has donated exercise books and other writing materials to pupils and students across primary and secondary schools in the constituency. The initiative is aimed at supporting learning and encouraging academic excellence among young people in the area. According to Chief Bekenawei, "Education is the key and the bedrock of every progressive society." He reaffirmed his commitment to investing in the future of the constituency by supporting educational development and empowering the next generation through quality learning opportunities.

Spain End Argentina’s Title Defence, Win 2026 FIFA World Cup By EgbemaVoice  Spain have been crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in a tense final decided in extra time. After 90 minutes of intense action ended goalless, Ferran Torres emerged as Spain’s hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute to hand La Roja their second FIFA World Cup title. Both sides created chances during regulation time but failed to find the breakthrough as two of the tournament’s strongest teams cancelled each other out. ifeanyi-Okowa-delta Argentina’s frustrations were evident throughout the encounter, with Lisandro Martínez, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández and Cristian Romero all receiving yellow cards. The Albiceleste’s hopes of forcing a comeback suffered a major setback in stoppage time of normal time when midfielder Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off, leaving Lionel Scaloni’s side to p...