Rivers
Committee Dissolves MOSOP Factions, Plans Fresh Elections
Ogoni people have been enjoined to avoid divisive tendencies but rather unite and move forward.
The former President of Movement for Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr Ledum Mitee, who made the call during a Peace Committee Congress, convoked to chart a way forward for MOSOP, in Bori, announced the dissolution of all existing factions of the group forthwith.
According to Mr Mitee, MOSOP should be united in their struggles and move with one accord.
“I also hear you people say that MOSOP and Ogoni people should be united, if we are united, we can deal with our enemies, if we are united, we can deal with the issues of violence, and MOSOP can champion the move against those who want to exploit us.
And that MOSOP will carry our collective support. This is the time to move forward.”
The former MOSOP President, who is also a lawyer, noted with displeasure that some members of the body had not been faithful in their financial contributions to the progress of the pressure group, which he stated was a prerequisite to stand for elections.
“In the course of our consultations with the grassroots of MOSOP, the Chapter leaders and the Kingdom coordinators, they indicated to us that even some who claim to be heads of MOSOP and its organs don’t even have their names in MOSOP register in their respective chapters.”
Mr Mitee who asked the communities to go back to their clans and solidify their commitment to Ogoni struggle, told them that an electoral committee will be set up to midwife a new leadership for the group.
Similarly, two other stakeholders, Prof. Ben Naanen and Dr. Owens Wiwa while expressing sadness over balkanisation of MOSOP, stressed the need to have a common front by all Ogonis.
According to them, the disintegration that hit the socio-cultural organisation has watered down its advocacy for economic liberation of Ogoniland.
“Over the years, our entire efforts have been overtaken by personal ambition and so, we all are committed to the belief that MOSOP will never die. That MOSOP shall rise again.”
“We can only have our place in Rivers State if we are united, we can only have our worth in Ogoni if we are united, if we stay divided, we are not going to get it.”
“And we are going to continue to fight for our rights, peacefully and non-violently and we shall win.”
Professor Naanen and Dr. Wiwa reminded the participants that if they continued to be divided among themselves, strangers would take advantage of their treasures.
Adding their voices for the female-folk, Gbene Joi Nunieh encouraged Ogoni people to make good, the sacrifices of their heroes past by being courageous in the principles they stood for, such as love for one another, integrity and truth.
She stressed the need for inclusiveness, especially for the women.
In the same vein, Dr. Patience Osaroejiji, while telling the participants to be united and sacrifice for the peace of Ogoni, decried the environmental degradation of Ogoni Land; adding that progress can only be achieved in a peaceful environment.
The event was attended by elders, youths and women from the four local government areas that make up Ogoni land.
The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Leslie N. Eke, has pledged his support for the governorship aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda.
He gave the assurance when members of the Divine Mandate Progressive Movement (DMPM), a support group for the APC governorship candidate, led by its leader, His Most Royal Eminence, Cardinal Jephthah Ikezim, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Woji Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Friday.
The Monarch, who also is the Eze Gbakagbaka and Chairman, Supreme Council of Ikwerre Government Recognized Traditional Rulers, said his decision to support the project was influenced by the group’s conviction that Chinda’s emergence as the next governor of Rivers State was divinely inspired.
According to him, no individual has the power to frustrate the will of God, stressing that he identified with the movement because of what he described as its divine mandate.
“As a traditional ruler overseeing 33 communities, I have my vote, and my vote is my conscience and I will vote my son”, the monarch stated.
The Eze Woji XII urged members of the group to remain steadfast and focused in pursuing their objective, warning them against distractions that could derail the vision.
He observed that any mandate, no matter how noble, could be undermined if those championing it failed to remain committed and united in purpose.
Describing Chinda as an articulate, brilliant and intelligent lawyer, King Eke, who is also the Grand patron of the group, expressed confidence that he possesses the capacity to provide purposeful leadership if elected governor of Rivers State in 2027.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Cardinal Jephthah Ikezim, said the group visited the monarch to seek his royal blessings and support for the governorship ambition of Chinda.
He noted that while prayers remained essential, they must be complemented with active political engagement and grassroots mobilisation to actualise the aspiration.
Cardinal Ikezim appealed to Rivers people to embrace what he described as a divinely inspired project and give it the necessary support ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
He disclosed that the Divine Mandate Progressive Movement would embark on mobilisation across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State to canvass support and votes for the APC governorship candidate.
By: King Onunwor
The Kalabari Renaissance Foundation, organisers of the Kalabari New Year Festival, has formally endorsed the Minama Community in the Asari-Toru Local Government of Rivers State as the host of the 2027 edition of the festival.
A statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Foundation, Mr. Harry Awolayeofori Mcmorrison and Ibiba Don-Pedro, respectively, states that Minama was chosen to host immediately after Elem-Kalabari because of the special historical ties between Minama and the founding fathers of Kalabari.
According to the statement, the festival, planned for November 16, 2026, promises to be bigger because of the accessibility of the venue by road and the opportunity to revisit the history of Kalabari in its undiluted form.
The statement also notes that even more attractive are the unique spiritual and cultural contents in Minama that a lot of people would want to see and benefit from.
The Foundation used the opportunity to publicly thank the Amayanabo of Minama, HRH King, Dr. Iboroma Pokubo, Loku Xll, and the Minama Council of Chiefs, for accepting to host the new year festival this November.
To facilitate another successful outing, the Foundation called for financial support, advertising and vendors.
It also announced the appointment of a new Finance and Fundraising Committee and Contact and Mobilisation Committee.
As usual, the festival would include cultural displays, boat regatta, environmental rejuvenation and keynote speeches. Also expected are troupes from neighbouring kingdoms, the Nigerian Tourism Board, diaspora presentations, among others.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, has said the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse (RSMDC) was primarily established to decongest the High Courts and bring justice administration closer to the people.
Speaking last recently while declaring open the 2026 RSMDC Second Statewide Settlement Week at the High Court Complex in Port Harcourt, Justice Amadi, who also chairs the RSMDC Governing Council, stressed that the fees must remain low, because low costs will encourage litigants to choose the Multi-Door Courthouse over the High Court.
“Whatever the RSMDC is doing is what the Rivers State Judiciary is doing”, he noted, adding that affordability is central to the court’s alternative dispute resolution mission.
The Chief Judge also announced a change for future exercises, saying that judges will be present at the next Settlement Week.
He advised that subsequent editions should not be scheduled during court vacation when judicial officers are away.
“As you all know, we have started our vacation and judges are on vacation. Settlement Week is not for a particular litigant, judge, lawyer, NBA branch, or magistrate”, he said, “the process, must involve all stakeholders.
“To achieve this, the next Settlement Week will be held during the legal year. That week will be declared a ‘free week’ so that lawyers will not be required to appear in any other court.”
Justice Amadi further disclosed that a new committee has been set up to review the current RSMDC fees, which he described as “very, very low”, and explained that the review aims to keep the fees accessible and further encourage litigants to use the Multi-Door Courthouse instead of the High Court and Magistrate Courts.
According to him, “The Multi-Door Courthouse was not established to make revenue for the Rivers State Government, but to help decongest the High Court and bring justice nearer to the people.”
The Chief Judge congratulated the RSMDC and the Alternative Dispute Resolution judges for successfully hosting the first RSMDC Settlement Week in September 2025.
He also commended them for the improved preparations ahead of the second edition, and thanked all volunteer mediators, conciliators, arbitrators, and neutral evaluators offering their services at no cost, and also acknowledged the support of the High Court, Customary Court, Appeal Court, and Magistrate Courts.
Amadi urged parties and their lawyers to cooperate and act responsibly before the neutrals, qhile also charging the volunteer neutrals to remain impartial and give every party and lawyer a fair hearing.
“Take the Settlement Week and your work seriously because people are watching”, he advised.
In his welcome address, the Director of RSMDC, Victor E. Nweke, explained that Section 32 of the RSMDC Law 2019 defines a Settlement Week as a period set aside by the Chief Judge for designated courts to clear case backlogs.
Cases are mandatorily referred to the RSMDC for possible resolution through mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, or other ADR procedures.
According to him, Section 3(h) lists Settlement Week as a periodic ADR activity. Section 18(1)(e) provides for mandatory referral, where a party applies for a matter to be referred to the RSMDC.
Although ADR is ordinarily consensual, the law empowers courts to manage their dockets with RSMDC’s assistance. The Chief Judge may also refer matters upon filing, and after resolution, assign them to an ADR judge or any other judge under Section 4(1) and (6).
Nweke said both civil and criminal matters suitable for ADR can be referred during Settlement Week.
He said, Civil matters typically include commercial and family disputes, and ADR can handle ancillary issues in divorce such as child custody, property settlement, and maintenance, while the final divorce order must come from a competent court.
For criminal matters, the RSMDC does not conduct trials but helps parties explore reconciliation where permitted, with reports sent back to court.
This year, 48 mediators and 14 arbitrators will participate, with 12 mediation panels and 3 arbitral tribunals — one more tribunal than last year.
He appealed to lawyers and litigants to cooperate with the RSMDC to strengthen the Dispute Systems Design of Rivers State through mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation, and hybrid processes.
In a goodwill message, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd.) also commended the Chief Judge and the RSMDC Director for their commitment to expanding access to justice.
Also speaking, the Director of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse, and the representative of the Association of Directors of the Multi-Door Courthouses in Nigeria, Nyingi Eke-Spiff, in her goodwill message, noted that the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse is developing rapidly, and expressed happinees over her associate with the developmental strides.
By: Kiadum Edookor