Julius Rone wins Business Day Bulls Award

 

Julius Rone, OFR

Group Managing Director of UTM FLNG Julius Rone(OFR), the famous Itsekiri business magnet, popularly called “The Gas King,” has yet again been honoured by Business Day as he won “The Next Bulls Award” for the year 2023.

 

The prestigious award which was in recognition of his market leadership and pacesetting innovation in the oil and gas sector and also for his ingenuity, was bestowed on him Sunday September 17, 2023.

 

The influential Itsekiri businessman was among other notable and influential Nigeria business magnates who received a presidential invitation to accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to New Delhi, India for India-Nigeria Business Roundtable.

 

Those in the know disclosed that the Itsekiri-born Rone from the Niger Delta Region, is an asset to Nigeria as he is among top Nigerian businessmen currently attending the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

Delta Celebrates 100 Days of Development in office as other States celebrates Positions - Says Isaac Bojoh, Congratulates Oborevwori

  

Delta Celebrates 100 Days of Development in office as other States celebrates Positions - Says Isaac Bojoh, Congratulates Oborevwori

Founder and CEO of Hotel Ten45, Hon. Isaac Bawo Bojoh has congratulated the amiable Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on his 100 days in office.

 

According to him, Governor Oborevwori’s “More Agenda” is being felt in the State within a short period of time.

 

“Your Excellency Sir, your speech on the day of the inauguration of the Delta State Commissioners into office confirmed your More Agenda for the good people of Delta State.

 

“I observed that other States are celebrating positions in less than 100 days in office while Deltans are celebrating development.

 

“And on that note I want to quickly draw the attention of all Deltans /Traditional Rulers/ Community Leaders and Youths of the State to join hands and work with His Excellency Rt. Hon Sheriff Obovrewori so those centered around the More Agenda will continue to celebrate success in our State.

 

“Thank you your Excellency and may God Almighty continue to protect you, give you the strength and wisdom of king Solomon to pilot the affairs of the State.

Thanks and once again God Bless you Sir,” he stated.

 

BREAKING NEWS: Tribunal Declares Rerun Between Ejele, Onowakpo, In Warri South 

 

The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has declared rerun in areas where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cancelled elections particularly in the Warri axis of the State.

It would be recall that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Michael Diden dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal in Asaba, Delta State over the Delta South senatorial district election.

Specifically, Honourable Diden and his party, the PDP, in their petition marked EPT/DT/SEN/ 01/2023, are asking the tribunal to void INEC’s declaration of candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Ewomazino Thomas Joel-Onowakpo as Senator-elect.

 

They predicated their request on the grounds that Joel-Onowakpo, “was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election” and the his election “was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.”

In the petition dated and filed on March 17, 2023 by their team of lawyers led by Chief Ayo Asala, SAN, the petitioners amongst others are seeking an order of the tribunal, “collating the results of the election conducted in Warri South Local Government Area to the lawful votes recorded in favour of the parties and declare the winner of the election based on the collation.”

Prof. Anthony Peretimina, Returning Officer for Delta South Senatorial Election had last month announced the APC’s candidate as winner of the Delta South Senatorial poll having scored a total of 49, 955 votes cast at the election.

The returning officer had also announced PDP’s candidate as 1st runners up having polled a total of 47, 656 votes cast at the election.

But, the petitioners faulted the Returning Officer for not complying with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the extant Regulations, Guidelines and Manual for Election Officials in the collation and declaration of the final results in the senatorial
district.

According to them, election was held in all the eight LGAs consisting of the Delta South Senatorial District, but INEC refused to include results from Warri South LGA in its final computation of results and subsequent declaration of the APC as winner of the senatorial election in the district.

The petitioners claimed that the action of INEC despite protest from petitioners’ agents amounted to a breach of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines.

While stating that the LG Collation/Retuning Officer have no power to cancel and/or exclude any results validly declared at the polling unit level, they submitted that the decision to cancel results in Ward 06-Bowen and excluding lawful votes from the entire Warri South Local Government Area was contrary to relevant laws guiding the conduct of the election.

The petitioners claimed that results of contestants in the 11 wards in Warri South Local Government Area based on collation from form EC8B (1) revealed that APC polled 3,057 votes; PDP – 10,610 and the other political parties – 9,357.

“The petitioners shall contend at the hearing that after the collation of the valid votes from Warri South Local Government Area which was unlawfully excluded from the computation of the final result by the 1st Respondent, the petitioners scored a majority valid votes of 58,266 as against the 2nd Respondent’s valid votes of 53,012 and that having scored the majority of the valid and lawful votes cast at the said elections, the 1st petitioner is the winner of the said election and duly elected and returned as the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.”

 

In further faulting the return of Joel-Onowakpo, the petitioners while observing that the margin of lead between the two leading candidates was 2,299, argued that, where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates in an election is NOT in excess of the total number of collected Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in polling units where elections are not held or cancelled, the Returning Officer shall decline to make a return until polls have taken place in the affected polling units and results collated into the relevant forms for Declaration and Return.

According to the petition, the total number of registered voters in Warri South Local Government Area where INEC claimed that the total election conducted therein were cancelled and therefore not collated for the purpose of final declaration was 187,140, while the total numbers of collected Permanent Voters Card (PVC) from Warri South Local Government Area where election did not hold and/or was cancelled is 162,082.

The petitioners averred that from the margin of lead between the 1st Petitioner and the 2nd Respondent, which is 2,299, it is very clear that the numbers of registered voters and/or numbers of collected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) from Warri South Local Government Area exceeded the margin of lead between the 1st Petitioner and the 2nd Respondent.

The petitioners therefore prayed the tribunal to declare that the 2nd Respondent was not duly elected or returned by the majority of lawful votes cast at the senatorial election

“A declaration that the decision of the 1st Respondent to cancel and exclude the result of the election duly conducted in Warri South Local Government Area, being one of the eight (8) Local Government Areas making up Delta South Senatorial District, is wrongful and constitute substantial non-compliance with the mandatory provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.”

They, among others, urged that the tribunal in the Alternative declare the election inconclusive and order for a supplementary election to be held in Warri South Local Government Area, where election did not hold and/or cancelled.

 

Olu of Warri celebrates 2nd Coronation Anniversary as Ugbajo Itsekiri UK pays homage to Ogiame

Olu of Warri celebrates 2nd Coronation Anniversary as Ugbajo Itsekiri UK pays homage to Ogiame 

 

Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, the Olu of Warri

 

The atmosphere in Warri was light up with lots of excitement and jubilation as Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, the Olu of Warri alongside the good people of Warri kingdom celebrated the 2nd Coronation Anniversary of their revered Monarch.

 Olu 

Dignitaries from all over the world came to witnessed this epoch event, especially delegates from the United Nations and World Health Organisation as well as the APC Presidential Candidate from Ghana, Hassan Ayariga and the Delta State Deputy Governor, Chief (Sir) Monday John Onyeme

 

 

In his well articulated speech at the epoch ceremony, held Monday August 21, 2023, at Olu’s Palace (Aghofen), the Warri kingdom digital king, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri called on all Itsekiri Sons and Daughters home and abroad to join hands with him to build Warri kingdom by making Warri industrial friendly once again.

 

L-R: President of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Mr. Mejebi Eyewuoma, Itsekiri Commissioner in DESOPADEC, Hon. Sunny Ofe, Ms. Julie Joe, Welfare Secretary & Mr. Oneyor Atie

The Warri Monarch declared that “it is very easy to destroy, tear and pull down than to build. But, we as Iwere people must build our communities, our land and our children.

 

“To get good things we must work hard and as your king, we are ready to work hard for Iwere people.

 

“This is therefore an open invitation to all Itsekiri sons and daughters home and in diaspora to build Iwere land and take it to greater heights.

 

“As your king, we lead by example, we have completed our house in Warri, we will renovate the palace in Warri and reconstruct the palace in Ode-Itsekiri.

 

Ghana APC Presidential Candidate, Hassan Ayariga with his beautiful wife 

“We will also build the rural areas as well as build the capacity of our people and develop infrastructure.”

 

Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR disclosed that, in addition to conferment of chieftaincy titles to outstanding individuals in the kingdom, exceptional excellence in various fields of work will be celebrated in the palace, just as he openly celebrated an Itsekiri son, Master Eworitsewarami Norbert who did tremendously well in his studies by scoring 9As in WAEC and 344 in JAMB.

 

Addressing the Iwere Master Plan, the Olu of Warri declared that the Iwere Master plan was in progress and one of the vital components of the Master Plan is the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, which will be used to develop oil producing areas as well as link the areas that do not have oil.

 

“Under our watch, we will not encourage taking resources from one place to another but all Iwere land must be linked together, we must be our brothers keeper in the development process.

 

United Nations Delegates 

“We have authorized a transparent process to manage the PIA, we will be coming to your communities to engage you on how we can get the best for Iwere land," he averred.

 

As parts of the activities to spice up the ceremony, Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, a foremost Itsekiri Group based in the United Kingdom was part of the Iwere descendants who payed traditional homage to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR during the event.

 

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the ceremony, President of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Mr. Mejebi Eyewuoma said that they came from London, United Kingdom to thank their revered King, Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, the Olu of Warri for attending their Gala night event held recently in London alongside his Queen, Olori Atuwatse III, his array of Chiefs and other illustrious sons and daughters of Warri kingdom.

Mr. Eyewuoma, expressed gratitude to the Olu of Warri for his outstanding accomplishments in lifting Warri kingdom both locally and internationally.

 

He stated: “In the last two years, he has done so much for the Iwere people, although we are a minority group, he has placed Iwere nation on the world map, we are so proud of our king."

 

Mr. Eyewuoma called on all Iwere sons and daughters to build their community either in health or education in addition to building the people that live in the community.

 

 

 

 

 

EXCLUSIVE: UTUKPORITSERUN OF WARRI KINGDOM GIVES ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP

 EXCLUSIVE: UTUKPORITSERUN OF WARRI KINGDOM GIVES ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP 

Founder and leader of Ikpere Alemeje Traders Association, Ugborodo, Chief Mercy Olowu, Utukporitserun of Warri Kingdom, alias Eriegwa recently voiced out her experience and achievements of her tenure in office with Warri Voice Publisher, Mr. Femi Odonmeta. 

 

How did Ikpere Alemeje Traders Association came about

The Ikpere Ale Meje started 1992 at Ogidigben Community were I come from, I summoned all the women to Ogidigben Community town hall where we unanimously agreed that Shell and Chevron that are operating in our land are not contributing to the development of the Community despite what they are getting from the land. 

We also realized that our men are fighting for the development of the Community but the oil companies are keeping deaf ears to their plights.

The first action we took was to storm Shell and Otumara with our large numbers of women, collected their keys and shut down the place peacefully.

 

What were your demands to the Oil Companies

Our demands were very simple. Repair our roads, provide us light, water and re-build our primary school. When Atuwatse II got wind of the shut down by our women, he sent two of his Chiefs to come and collect the keys from us but we refused. We told the Chief that we will personally come to Warri and submit the keys.When we got to the king's Palace (Aghofen), we presented our demands and handed the two keys to him. Atuwatse II said that our demands are genuine and assured us that all our demands would be granted within one week. 

 

Did the oil companies harken to the voice of Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri in fulfillment to your demands

Yes. Between one week, Shell started developing Ogidigben Community which also spread to Ugborodo and Ajudaibo Community.

 

How did you people gain access into Chevron Yard

We the women about 500 of us on one fateful morning overpowered Chevron boat named Ginuwa which always come to Madangho Jetty to carry Ogidigben, Ajudaibo and Madangho  workers every morning.

We told the quarter-master of the boat to carry us the women to the tank farm.The security at the bay gave us access thinking that we were workers. All of us came down and Chevron operation was short down.

What prompted us to shut down the yard was when we were told that an elderly Itsekiri Mechanic was denied appointment because of age whereas other men from different tribes who are older than the Itsekiri man are working in the yard, coupled with other of our demands.

While the women were occupying Chevron tank farm forcefully for eleven days, Chevron went to the new Ugborodo town and poured sharp sand in the place. The one in the MOU which Chevron later signed is the second phase which they did not do. During the shut down, Chevron officials wanted to buy me over. 

They promised me some huge amount and even award me contracts if I can call off the action, but I refused. All these while, negotiation between Chevron and Ugborodo Community was going on at Ugborodo town hall before the eleven days protest was called off by us. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was written and signed. The content of the MOU are as follow:

(1)Re-sandfilling of the site of the Ugborodo new town to commence by September 1, 2002.

(2)Building works on the Civic/Community Centre will commence by September 1, 2002.

(3)Six contracts within the limits of approval of the company will be awarded before December 31, 2002

(4)These six contracts will be awarded using the open tendering and competitive bid process among Community that are competitive per contracting process.

(5)As part of the Company's policy to promote local content and local business development, the six contracts will be awarded to the indigenous contractors of the Community that are competitive per our contracting process.

(6)Without prejudice to the foregoing, wherever a contractor not indigenous to Ugborodo wins a contract on the new town project, the selected contractor will be required to give substantial consideration to local community content.

(7)The company agrees to train manpower from the Community in various skills at the SPMG workshop in Escravos Tank Farm.

(8)The company will provide electricity to Ode-Ugborodo for residential and cottage industry use. 

(9)The Company will provide improved water supply system by extending the existing water connection from the Escravos terminal to Ode-Ugborodo up to Ugbolegin. 

(10)The company will construct teachers quarters for 4 primary schools in the community.

(11)The company will construct a block of six classroom and teachers' quarters at Ogidigben Grammar School. 

(12) The Company will process and pay the bursaries of Community Scholarship for the year 2000/2001 and 2002 at the existing rates.

(13) Effective from 2002/2003 academic session, bursaries for scholars in tertiary institutions will be increased from N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) to N75,000 (Seventy five thousand Naira) only. Also effective from 2003, bursaries for Community scholars in Secondary Schools will be increased from N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) to N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira).

(14) Company will engage a non-governmental organization who will work with the women of the Community to form cooperative organizations for the purpose of fish farming, poultry farming and shrimp farming. 

(15) Company will register women contractor from the community and provide them the opportunity to supply at competitive rates

(16) Company will supply four speed boats each powered by two 75 H. P. engines to ease transportation 

(17) Company will employ 15 indigenes of the community through the company established hiring process. 

(18) In addition, company will recruit a minimum of 5 persons every year for the next 5 years in the community.

(19) Company will build the official residence of the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo and Olaja-Ororu

(20) The MOU shall be enforced from the date of signing.

Before the eleven days protest was called off, Chevron signed an agreement with Ugborodo Community on July 7, 2002.

Signatories of the agreements are: The Eghare-Aja, Chief Mercy Olowu, The Olaja-Ororu, Late Eric Igban, Chairman, Managing Director of Chevron Limited, representative of the Delta State Governor.

It was witnessed by Barrister D. O. Mayuku and Nengite Esijemine Lucky.

Very pleased with the way I lead the women during the peaceful protest, Mr. Phillgate from Chevron home office, removed his wristwatch in his hands and presented it to me and described me as a great and honest woman.

 

What other achievements can you boast of during your tenure

During my tenure, we the women also built a block of 18 rooms at Ode-Ugborodo and Ogidigben to provide accommodations for indigenes as a result of the Warri crisis where a lot of houses in our communities were raised down.

 

Do you have any words of appreciation to those who stood by your struggle

First and foremost, I thank Almighty God. I also thank the Olu of Warri, Atuwatse II and  late Eric Igban, who was then the youth leader. Finally, I thank His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, because I believe that he will do more for Ugborodo.

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Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc. holds 2023 Convention September 3, calls for more Diaspora participation in community development

 Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc. holds 2023 Convention September 3, calls for more Diaspora participation in community development 

 

Mr. Jemine Okotie-Yesin, President, Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc.

 

Itsekiris in the United State of America popularly called Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc. has scheduled to hold their 2023 annual convention September 3, with the theme “One people, one heritage”

 

 

The three days event which starts from September 3, through September 5, will be held at Crowne Plaza, San Francisco, USA.

 

 

According to a Press Statement made available to Warri Voice Newspaper, the 25th Annual Convention will provide a forum for convention participants to address critical issues affecting the Itsekiri nation.

 

 

The Press statement which was signed by the President, Mr. Jemine Okotie-Yesin and the Secretary, Noyo Kubeyinje-Edem, stressed the need for Itsekiri diaspora community to be more proactive in the development of Itsekiri nation.

 

 

Thanks for keeping your promise - Ugbajo Itsekiri UK tells Olu of Warri, talks on dev’t of Iwereland

 

Thanks for keeping your promise - Ugbajo Itsekiri UK tells Olu of Warri, talks on dev’t of Iwereland

 

Itsekiris in the United Kingdom, under the aegis of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, adorned in their cultural attire, on Saturday July 29, 2023 rolled out the drums to welcome His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, the Olu of Warri to a royal cultural display to the admiration of guests.

 

Olu of Warri in its bid to attract foreign direct investment through diaspora to Iwereland was able to achieve another milestone during the Ugbajo Itsekiri UK 10th Gala and Charity Nite held at the Brent Civic Centre, Engineer Way Wembley Park Wembley, United Kingdom.

 

The colourful event with the theme, “The Role of Diaspora Community in Strategic Health and Education Development in Rural Community” also had in attendance senior Palace Chiefs, friends of Itsekiris as different cultural troupe and associations took turns to perform as they present gifts to the Monarch which was received by Chief Brown Mene on behalf of His Majesty.

 

President of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Mr. Mejebi Eyewuoma giving his speech 

Olu of Warri in his brief remark flanked by his wife, the Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, Her Highness, Olori Atuwatse III and Chief Oma Eyewuoma, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Brown Mene and other Palace chiefs urged Itsekiris in the diaspora to bring to bear their expertise, connection and network to the development and economic advancement of Iwereland adding that the unity behind the crown outweighs distraction of the few.

 

“I know it has been interesting in the last two years and God is definitely in the midst of us and He is guiding us. I want to say Itsekiri must be focused, let us not give in to sentiment.

 

“We welcome every single Itsekiris that has a heart; a desire to see the people fulfill its potentials. As far as Itsekiris are concerned, Ogiame has no enemy, let us rid ourselves of made-up sentiment and unites”. He stated.

 

On his part, the President, Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Mr Majebi Eyewuoma in his speech stressed the need for all Itsekiri to guided by the popular acronym PCTAD, Proactivity, Cost effectiveness, Transparency, Accountability and Delivery.

 

“There is no doubt that we all understand that we need to support our communities back home, either in education or in health, we believe that the diaspora community can contribute to the development of our communities.

“We are very grateful and elated to have Ogiame and Olori Atuwatse III attend this year’s gala nite event. Truly, our King is “Afomasin” He promised to attend the occasion when we paid him a courtesy visit few months back.

 

Ogiame, your presence in our midst, has brought a renewed hope of a better Warri Kingdom and we as an Association, will stand by your true policies of development in Iwereland.”