ONDO GOVT. CONSTITUTES 30-MEMBER COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS

The Agadagba of Arogbo-Ibe HRM D.M.E.Eperetun Aagu II

Ondo state government has constituted a 30member Council of Traditional Rulers to be headed by the Jegun of Ile-Oluji, Oba Suulade Stephen Adedugbe.

Addressing newsmen recently the Information, Sports, Culture and Tourism Commissioner Mrs. Tola Aworh said that the new Council of Traditional Rulers comprise 11 permanent members.

The permanent members include The Agadagba of Arogbo-Ibe HRM D.M.E.Eperetun Aagu II who is of Ijaw extraction, The Olubaku of Oka, Oba T. A. Adeleye, Owa of Idanre Oba Aroloye Arubiefin, Olukare of Ikare Oba Momoh, Osemawe of Ondo Oba Festus Adesanoye, Olugbo of Ugbo Oba Adebanjo Mafimisehbi.Others are Abodi of Ikoya Oba Faduyi Adegun, The Deji of Akure, Amapetu of Maluri and the Olowo of Owo.

According to the Commissioner the 41 member Council of Traditional Rulers constituted by the Adefarati led administration was disbanded for contravening the chieftaincy law of March 2000 which recongnised 30 Traditional Rulers, with 11 permanent and 19 rotational. She added that the state government took the latest decision to reconstitute the council after it had received submission from Royal Fathers and other traditional rulers in all the local government areas.
The commissioner reiterated that government will not intervene in the controversies trailing section of tradition rulers in some town and communities.

By Ayakpo Aguamah

Ijaws in the United Kingdom under the auspices of Ijaw Peoples Association (IPA) has launched a Charity which is a subsdairy of the Ijaw People’s Assocation IPA.

The fund Raising/Dinner to the IPA Charity took place precisely on Saturday May 10, 2003, at Selby Centre, White Hart Lane in Tottemham London N17.

To grace the epoch making occasion included the Pere of Seimbiri, His Majesty Pere Charles Ayeni-Botu from Nigeria who was the Special Guest of Honour. Others were Chief (Mrs.) Egbe who herself was visiting from Nigeria, Chief (Dr.) Rose Ezonbodor Akwagbe, Dr. Edwin Sawacha Immediate past President of the IPA, Dr. Richard Angiama, Mr. Steve Okorodudu, Mrs Sikpi, Mrs. Abile, Mrs. Patricia Lynon-Garry, Mrs Ekperi, Kenny Ebiowei and Ebi Garry amongst others.

The Chief launchers of the Day were Senator James Manager who was a Senator-elect then and Mr. Timi Alaibe, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration NDDC. Both of them were unaviodably absent but were ably represented at the occassion.

Mr. Roland Ekperi, President Ijaw People’s Association IPA stood in for Mr. Alaibe while Mr. Emmanuel Amgbadaba represented Senator James Manager.

Presenting his welcome address, the Chairman of the IPA Charity committee Dr. Micheal Narebor explained that, the Charity which actually is a subsidiary of the IPA was registered with the Charity Commission of the United Kingdom in 1995.

He started by saying that, “the IPA founded by Ijaw fathers in the United Kingdom in the late 1940’s, soon after the 2nd World War, now marks the beginning of an object those non - academic men who had much more brighter foresight, create the IPA which the Ijaws in the United Kingdom enjoys today”.

He maintained that “the chapter of the object is the creation and launch of the Charity a subsidiary of the IPA”.

The registration of the Charity with the Charity Commission, he disclosed, permanently puts the body in a public record in the United Kingdom. This Dr. Narebor posit, is what all present at the launching has come to witness.

He further stated that, the Charity is a body that will be seen to be such meaningfull, essentially to the Ijaw natonality.

He revealed that, preliminary results of a research conducted on the Ijaw status, clearly shows that the identity of the Ijaw nation is gradually being eroded. Hence he pledged that the Charity within its working mind-set will endeavour to re-institute the Ijaw culture and value as it will work consciously to revive the speaking of the Ijaw dialect amongst its Kit and Kin out there in the United Kingdom.

He promised that the committee to which he is the Chairman, shall be able to put in place relevant apparatus that will provide the teaching and learning of Ijaw dialect for the people, especially Ijaw youngsters born outside the Ijaw home and also those who wish to learn the language.

Besides the issue of speaking of the Ijaw language, Dr. Narebor explained that the Charity will be able to provide support for Ijaw kindreds that request for its assistance in the United Kingdom to achieve fully their natural potentials.
At the same time he posit that the Charity will honour young achievers of Ijaw extraction in the UK as well as act as a spring board for the Ijaw enterprenuers to achieve their set goals.
On hand to entertain the guest was a live Band, side by side supported by a Musical DJ. The Orubo sister thrilled the gathering with Ijaw cultural dance steps.
At the end of the day over 4,000pounds were realised from the fund raising, while guest were treated to sumptuous dinner provided by the organisers.

Mr. Sam Ogori was the Master of Ceremony of the epoch making occasion.

(L-R) Dr. Narebor, Chairman, IPA Charity, Mrs. Sikpi, Mrs. Ekperi, His Majesty Pere Ayeni-Botu, Mr. Roland Ekperi - IPA President and Ebi Garri at the Launching.

Dr. Micheal Narebor, Chairman of IPA Charity (London) presenting his welcome speech.