Opinion

Empowering Wakirike In The Diaspora

Published

10 years ago

June 10, 2016

Empowerment is key to the success of any project.
But what form empowerment should take is also critical. Empowerment is a popular political jargon in Nigeria and means at least three things.
It means to give somebody a political position of relevance that would enable him or her to be visible in the arena of governance and in the minds of his supporters as capable of offering them gratuities.
Two, it means giving a person huge sum of money (huge as defined by the person’s taste and expectation) to enable him or her live a life of material and social comfort if not opulence. It also means to provide social amenities to communrties through a person as a result of the influence he peddles or as a mark of favour for some patronage (often a reward or pay back for political support).
TheWakirike Coalition is not a political organisation. Therefore, empowerment could not mean any of the aforesaid, but perhaps something more profound;something more valuable than money. Really, with Nigeria’s economy in dire straits and the Naira exchanging for more than 200 to one dollar, it will be herculean for people battling with basic needs of survival to be very useful in funding a dollar project. So, we can look outside of monetary empowerment to no less valuable things that are critical to the success of our venture. I want to identify three points here: Information, Motivation and Partnership.
Information is key to knowledge and the Wakirike people in the diaspora need to get up-to-date information about issues affecting the Wakirike people at home. Technology has made information flow very brisk; so, there is need to build a strong chain of communication that will give the Wakirike people in the diaspora, accurate facts, not misleading or apparently jaundiced stories disseminated by rumour mongers and political jobbers.
The Wakirike Community can also be empowered by motivation. They can be motivated to fund education at home, in two ways: One, by taking a cue from the activities of sister ethnic nationalities in the diaspora who build very strong bonds of unity among themselves and establish linkages with their kith and kin at home (Ibiyediki da).
For example, the activities of the Yoruba in diaspora stimulate and sustain the development of education in Yorubaland. In Rivers State, the efforts of the IbaniSe Forum, the Kalabari National Association and the Ikwerres in diaspora(who have decided to hold their national convention this year in Port Harcourt), are worthy of emulation and should actually spur the Wakirike Community in USA to do more to reinvent the prime position of the Wakirike people at home
The second motivation is frugality how the resources (fund, skills, tools etc.) deployed to projects will be used. To whom much is given, much is expected. When funds are put to appropriate use, donors would be willing to contribute more.
The Wakirike Coalition should therefore device a means of monitoring its projects to achieve the desired result. Motivation is a double-edged empowerment tool that would quicken the benefactor(seeing the success of the project will provoke positive action for continuous participation) and the beneficiaries(who will be delighted for the success of the programme and will continue to keep faith with it).
The last point is partnership. The cost of funding education is high but the burden will be significantly less if there is partnership and collaboration with committed persons and groups. The Wakirike community in diaspora will be stronger if they get strategic partnership with relevant interest groups and patriotic philanthropists.
There are many blessedWakirike individuals who can be reached and engaged to contribute to the education fund. Therefore, participation in the Wakirike Trust Fund project should not be limited to the contribution of Wakirike people in diaspora alone. It should be enlarged to involve wealthy individuals in and outside of government who can pay a definite amount of money yearly as their token to the fund.
The Trust Fund project should also get the support of the Wakirike local government councils and corporate organisations operating within Wakirike Be Se territories. Monies generated from these sources would boost the Trust Fund and enlarge the scope of programmes to be carried out.
The Wakirike Community in the diaspora have demonstrated capacity as a dynamic and strategic link between the Wakirike people in the Ijaw hinterland of Rivers State and the United States of America. They certainly need to be well empowered by the required information, motivation and strategic partnership to succeed in sustaining this education fund project.
In Nigeria, education is not just a process of acquiring knowledge, it is a means to earn a good living and also position people (kinsmen) to occupy strategic offices in the corridors of power. In the absence of good paying jobs, it becomes a challenge to convince the youth to continue to read merely to earn certificates even though they are intelligent and can make good grades. We are aware that many people died in stampedes at recruitment centres a few years back. Indeed, a former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, is on trial over the incident. Presently, over one million candidates are said to have applied for recruitment into various cadres of the Police Force to fill about 10,000 vacancies.
Last year, the joke was on doctorate degree holders who applied to be truck drivers for a cement company with the aim of owning the trucks after clocking some kilometre. Stimulating interest in education is becoming a formidable task.
The Wakirike people were able to achieve much in education at a time in their history because of unity of purpose. But can this still be said today? While other ethnic groups are pulling themselves together, inter-communal interests and internecine conflicts seem to conspire to diminish our growth. How much strength do we still have to build bridges of development in our various endeavours as our fathers did yesterday? Can we reflect further on our political status in Rivers state and our gains as Wakirike people? It is imperative for Kirike Be Se to re-strategise, quickly and I believe the Wakirike community in diaspora can kick-start the process by engaging our politicians and public office holders to articulate a blue-print on how to reposition the Wakirike people, create meaningful jobs for our youth.
Finally, the Wakirike Community in diapora will be well empowered if they establish a non-partisan think-tank group to research and discover patriots who can demonstrate the epic Wakirike spirit-men and women who would promote Kirike Be Se collective interests rather than fan embers of personal empowerment and self aggrandisement.
Paul-Worika is a Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Rivers State.

Alpheaus Paul-Worika

Opinion

Trans-Kalabari Road: Work In Progress

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”This Dream project is one of the best things that have happened to the people and residents of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas in recent times.”

This is the concluding part of this story featured in our last edition.

Good road network helps farmers to convey their agro-allied products to commercial hubs where buyers and sellers meet periodically to transact business. Road network engineers and motivates people resident in unfriendly geographical terrains, like riverine areas, to own property and shuttle home with ease. Some people will prefer living in their own houses in a more serene and nature-blessed communities to living in the city that is fraught with pollution, and other environmental, social and economic hazards. Prior to the cult epidemic that ravaged parts of Rivers State, the Emohuas, Elemes, Ogonis, and Etches were known for rural dwelling. Most public servants from these areas do their official and private transactions from their villages. For them it was comparatively easier to live in the village and engage in a diversified economic endeavours through farming, fishing or other lucrative business without outrageous charges and embarrassment associated with doing business in Port Harcourt, where land is as scarce as the traditional needle.

That is why the decision to construct the Trans-Kalabari Road by the administration of Dr. Peter Odili was one of the best decisions that administration took. When Dr. Odili vacated office as the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi took over and awarded contracts for continuation of the road project which in my considered view is the felt need of the people of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas. Unfortunately, Rt. Hon. Amaechi’s efforts to drive the project was sabotaged by some contractors some of whom are Kalabari people. The main Trans-Kalabari Road is one project that is dear to the people and residents of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas of Rivers State. This is because through the road commuters can easily access several communities in the three local government areas. For instance, the road when completed will enable access to eight of the ten communities in Degema Local Government Area, namely: Bukuma, Tombia, Bakana, Oguruama, Obuama, Usokun, Degema town and the Degema Consulate. It will also link 15 of the 16 communities in Asari Toru Local Government Area. The communities are: Buguma, the local government headquarters, Ido, Abalama, Tema, Sama, Okpo, Ilelema, Ifoko, Tema, Sangama, Krakrama, Omekwe-Ama, Angulama. The road will also connect 14 of 17 wards in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, and other settlements. It is interesting to note that It is faster, and far more convenient and economical for the catchment Communities on the Trans-Kalabari Road network to go to the State Capital than the East West Road. The people of the three local government areas will prefer to work or do their transactions in Port Harcourt from their respective communities to staying in Port Harcourt where the house rent and the general cost of living is astronomically high.

Consequently, development will seamlessly spread to the 28 out of 34 communities of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas. The only Communities that are not linked by the road project are Oporoama in Asari Toru, the Ke and Bille Communities in Degema Local Government Area and the “Oceania” communities of Abissa, Kula, Soku, Idama, Elem Sangama of Akuku Toru Local Government Area. But because of the economic value of the unlinked Communities to Nigeria, (they produce substantial oil and gas in the area), the Federal, State Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), can extend the road network to those areas just as Bonny is linked to Port Harcourt and the Lagos Mainland Bridge is connecting several towns in Lagos and neighbouring States.Kudos to previous administrations who had constructed the Central Group axis.

However, what is said to be the First Phase of the Trans-Kalabari Road project is actually a linkage of the “Central Group” Communities which consists of Krakrama, Angulama, Omekwe. Ama, Omekwe Tari Ama, Ifoko, Tema, Sangama. It is the peripheral of the Trans-Kalabari Road. The completion of the Main Trans Kalabari project will free Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor areas from congestion. It will motivate residents and people of the three local areas to contribute to the development of their Communities. If the Ogonis, Etches, Emohuas, Oyigbos, Okrikas, Elemes can feel comfortable doing business in Port Harcourt from home, residents and people whose communities are linked to Port Harcourt through the Trans-Kalabari Road will no doubt, do likewise. The vast arable virgin land of the Bukuma people can be open for development and sustainable agricultural ventures by Local, State and Federal Government.

It is necessary to recall that the Bukuma community was host to the Federal Government’s Graduate Farmers’ Scheme and the Rivers State Government moribund School-to-Land Scheme under Governor Fidelis Oyakhilome. Bukuma was the only community in Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas that has the capacity to carry those agricultural programmes. However the lack of road to transport farm produce to Port Harcourt and facilitate the movement of the beneficiaries of the scheme who lived in the community which is several miles away from the farms, hampered the sustainability of the programme. The main Trans-Kalabari Road remains the best gift to the people of Degema, Asari Toru, and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas. Kudos to Sir Siminilayi Fubara.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

That U.S. Capture of Maduro

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”Strategic convenience does not nullify sovereignty. Political frustration does not authorise military abduction.”

The first part of this story was published in our last edition.

In Africa and the Middle East, regime change—whether by invasion, proxy warfare, or sanctions—has often left behind fractured states, weakened institutions, and prolonged instability. Washington’s motivations in Venezuela are widely understood: vast oil reserves, alliances with U.S. rivals, and symbolic defiance of American influence in the Western Hemisphere. But none of these reasons confer legal or moral legitimacy. Strategic convenience does not nullify sovereignty. Political frustration does not authorise military abduction. If every powerful nation acted on its grievances in this manner, global chaos would inevitably follow. International law provides mechanisms for accountability. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), individuals accused of crimes against humanity or other grave offences are subject to investigation and prosecution through judicial processes.

Likewise, extradition treaties, mutual legal assistance agreements, and Interpol mechanisms exist to ensure accountability while respecting due process. These frameworks were designed precisely to prevent unilateral enforcement of “justice” by military force. The most profound consequence of America’s action may not be in Caracas, but in the precedent it sets. If the world accepts that a superpower can unilaterally depose another country’s president, then the foundation of the international system is weakened. Sovereignty becomes conditional—no longer a right, but a privilege tolerated at the discretion of the powerful. Going forward, if another country invades its neighbour, will the United States retain the moral authority to impose sanctions or demand restraint? Some analysts already warn that parallels between Russia’s actions in Ukraine and America’s conduct in Venezuela risk further eroding global norms. Selective adherence to international law breeds cynicism and accelerates the drift toward a world governed by force rather than rules.

Power—military, economic, or political—should serve human progress and collective well-being, not domination and destruction. For African nations, many of which emerged from colonial rule through bitter struggle, this precedent is especially alarming. Sovereignty is not an abstract legal concept; it is a hard-won shield against external domination. Any erosion of that principle anywhere weakens it everywhere. Africa’s painful history of foreign interference makes this lesson especially urgent. For me, the real issue is not whether Nicolás Maduro is a good or bad leader. That judgment belongs, first and foremost, to the Venezuelan people. The larger issue is whether the international system still operates on law—or has quietly reverted to hierarchy. If America insists it is defending global order, it must ask itself a difficult question: can an order survive when its most powerful guardian feels entitled to violate it? Until that question is answered honestly, the capture of a foreign president will remain not a triumph of justice, but a troubling symbol of a world drifting from law toward force.

If the United States felt so strongly about the allegations of terrorism, drug trafficking against Maduro, were there no other lawful options? Judicial accountability, diplomacy, regional mediation, and multilateral pressure may be slow and imperfect, but they reflect respect for international law and sovereign equality. Military seizure is a blunt instrument. It humiliates institutions, radicalizes populations, and hardens resistance. It may remove a leader, but it rarely resolves the underlying crisis. History teaches that military interventions seldom result in stable democratic outcomes. More often, they breed resentment, resistance, and long-term instability. For the sake of global order and the rule of law, the United States should reconsider this path and recommit to diplomacy, legal cooperation, and respect for the sovereign equality of states. Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly described the invasion of Venezuela as “unlawful and unwise,” warning that such actions “do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.” Her words reflect a growing recognition, even within the United States, that force without legitimacy undermines both moral authority and global stability.

Should what happened in Venezuela serve as a wake-up call for corrupt African leaders who undermine the people’s right to choose their leaders? The answer is yes. The capture of Maduro should alarm African leaders who manipulate elections, weaken institutions, suppress opposition, undermine citizens’ rights, or cling to power at all costs. Venezuela faced widespread criticism over disputed elections and repression long before this episode, and that context shaped how the world reacted. This does not justify foreign military intervention, but it highlights an uncomfortable truth: prolonged democratic decay isolates nations and invites external pressure—from sanctions to diplomatic censure. Global opinion matters, and legitimacy at home strengthens sovereignty abroad. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and several African leaders have rightly condemned the events in Venezuela, invoking the principles of sovereignty and non-interference enshrined in international and regional law.

Beyond condemnation, however, African leaders must look inward. The continent’s future cannot be built on repression, constitutional manipulation, and personal greed. Leadership must reflect the will of the people, not desperation for power. Two days ago, a social commentator on a radio station argued that Trump’s action—though condemnable—demonstrates how far a leader can go for his country’s interest. According to this view, he did not intervene in Venezuela for personal enrichment, but to strengthen his nation. In stark contrast, many African leaders plunder their own countries. They siphon public resources, impose crushing taxes and harmful policies, and leave their citizens poorer—all for selfish gain. That contradiction is the deeper lesson Africa must confront.True sovereignty is protected not only by international law, but by accountable leadership at home.

By: Calista Ezeaku

Opinion

Kudos Gov Fubara

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Please permit me to use this medium to appreciate our able governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the inauguration of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road in Ahoada-East Local Government Area. This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the history of our communities and deserves commendation. We, the people of Ozochi, are particularly happy because this project has brought long-awaited relief after years of isolation and hardship.

The expression of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, during the inauguration captured the joy of our people. He said, “our isolation is over.” That reflects the profound impact of this road on daily life, economic activities, and social integration of the people of Ozochi and other neighbouring communities. The road will no doubt ease transportation, improve access to markets and healthcare, and strengthen links between Ahoada, Omoku, and other parts of Rivers State.

The people of Ahoada, Omoku, and indeed Rivers State as a whole are grateful to our dear governor for this laudable achievement and wish him many more successful years in office. We pray that God endows him with more wisdom and strength to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the benefit of all. As citizens, we should rally behind the governor and support his development agenda. Our politicians and stakeholders should embrace peace and cooperation, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of conflict. Sustainable development in the state can only thrive where peace prevails.

Samuel Ebiye