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Okuama Inks 9-Point Peace Accord With Okoloba
The leaders of the two neighbouring communities of Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) and Okoloba of Bomadi LGA of Delta State have signed a nine-point peace accord to draw the curtain on their longstanding hostilities.
To add bite to the accord, they set up a 10-man Monitoring Committee at a meeting on Saturday at the Government House Annex, Warri.
It was gathered that the Chairman, Bomadi Local Government council, Rawlings Andaye, brokered the peace meeting in collaboration with his Ughelli South counterpart, Lucky Iroro Avweromie.
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Notable attendees of the meeting where Okuama and Okoloba communities resolved to embrace peace and to “live in peace and harmony” were the leadership of both communities, royal fathers and security agents from both Local Government Areas.
The Peace accord provided thus, “Immediate Ceasefire: Both communities agree to an immediate ceasefire and an end to all hostilities.
“Denouncement of Violence: Both communities denounce the recent military operations and the looting and destruction of property in the Okuama community.
“Reconciliation: Both communities agree to work towards reconciliation and forgiveness.
“Access to Farmlands and Farming Activities: Both communities agree to grant free access to farmlands and farming activities within our respective boundaries, recognizing the importance of agriculture to our livelihood.”
In addition, the peace accord provided that both communities appealed to the government to strengthen the joint patrols along the Forcados River bank to ensure safety and security.
“Free Passage along the Forcados River: Both communities agree to allow free passage of boats and passengers along the Forcados River bank bordering both communities.
“Release of Properties: Both communities appeal to the chairmen of both local governments to launch a thorough investigation into the alleged theft of belongings by neighbouring communities during and after the operations of the military at Okuama community. We further appeal to both chairmen for commitment towards identifying and recovering the stolen items, ensuring that justice is served and affected individuals are duly compensated.
“Dispute Resolution: Both communities agree to resolve disputes through dialogue and peaceful means.
“Community Engagement: Both communities agree to engage in community outreach programmes to promote peace and understanding.”
Declaring open the peace parley, Andaye, who chaired it, noted that it was convened at the instance of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori who, according to him, mandated him to “iron out all aching issues between the two communities”.
“The main purpose of this meeting is that we have no other option than to live in peace. The Okoloba and Okuama crisis is not from God, it is of the devil and no price is too big to pay for peace to reign between these two communities”, the Bomadi Council chairman stated.
He spoke further, “You people have lived together peacefully in the days of old and you can do same today. Let that old relationship between Okuama and Okoloba be sustained.
“Our governor, Sheriff Oborevwori is aware of this meeting and he is expecting us to report back to him after the meeting. If we don’t agree to live in peace now, we are planting hatred and persistent conflicts for our future generations.
“The ultimate goal of this meeting is to ensure lasting peace between Okuama and Okoloba communities, and we want both communities to go back to your age-long relationship of peaceful co-existence”.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Ughelli South LG, Avweromie, stated that “sustainable peace could only be achieved if both communities forgave one another’s offences and mistakes”.
According to Avweromie, “No other person can settle this issue but the people of Okuama and Okoloba communities. We have to speak as brothers and sisters, lasting peace can only be achieved if you forgive one another.
“Let us maintain our old relationship where we farm and fish together because we want free access to the river, we want free trade in the river and it is a must Okuama and Okoloba lived peacefully”.
In his contribution, the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom, His Majesty, Clement Oghenekevwe Ikolo, emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence between the two communities, stressing that “an atmosphere of crisis often hatched out negative effects on an area and the people.
“Crisis destroys the very fabrics of our communities. Crisis breeds fear, sorrow, economic hardship and deaths. When we live in peace, we develop our domains and there is no need for us to be fighting one another.”
He urged the representatives of both communities to “go back home and talk to your people on the need for peaceful coexistence.
“We must refresh our minds and have the spirit of forgiveness so we can stand together as a people.”
On his part, the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, Pere Kalanama VIII, commended the two Local Government Council Chairmen on the peace deal.
In his words, “both Okoloba and Okuama have been living together for over three hundred years and I want to appeal that it’s enough of the fight. The land dispute should be amicably settled.
“I want to urge the state government to step in to demarcate the boundaries between the two communities for lasting peace to reign.”
Also, the Ovie of Arhavwarien Kingdom, Solomon Okukeren, preached peace and unity to both communities urging them to stop the spread of hate speech.
“Okuama and Okoloba communities were one people. I want both communities to embrace peace and harmony”, the Ovie said.
The leadership of both communities pledged their willingness to live as brothers and thanked the initiators of the peace move, in their respective responses to the speeches.
The Secretary-General of Ewu Kingdom, Amb. Edewor Egedegbe, who led the Okuama community representatives, commended Gov Oborevwori and the two Local Government chairmen for initiating the peace move.
While pledging Okuama community’s readiness to live peacefully with its neighbouring Okoloba community, Egedegbe lauded Gov Oborevwori “for ensuring that there is sustainable peace between us.
“I also commend the efforts of the council chairmen and traditional rulers on this peace building process.”
He assured that “the people of Okuama are eternally committed to peace between both communities.
“We also use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to follow due process in the approach on issues as innocent Okuama indigenes are suffering, and as we are speaking we don’t know the whereabouts of our frontline community leaders.”
On his part, leader of the Okoloba community delegation Dr David Akpobolokemi, assured that the community fully subscribed to the peace accord which he described as “a fundamental move”.
“We subscribed to it in its entirety and Okoloba community is committed to ensuring sustainable peace between us. We will do everything humanly possible to live together in peace and move forward”, he averred.
He commended Gov Oborevwori and the two council chairmen for the tireless efforts made towards achieving sustainable peace between the two communities
The Presidency has clarified that President Bola Tinubu is not on trial in the United States, describing the ongoing legal proceedings involving records linked to him as a civil dispute over access to government documents.
The clarification was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, amid renewed attention to the case before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
According to the Presidency, the matter arose from requests submitted under the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for records relating to Tinubu.
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“For clarity, the matter is a civil records-disclosure dispute under the United States Freedom of Information Act. It is not a criminal case against President Tinubu, nor has the court found him guilty of any criminal wrongdoing,” the Presidency stated.
The government explained that Aaron Greenspan submitted FOIA requests to several US government agencies in 2022, seeking records relating to the President.
After some agencies withheld certain records or declined to confirm or deny their existence, Greenspan commenced Civil Action No. 23-1816 before the US District Court for the District of Columbia in 2023.
The court subsequently permitted President Tinubu to participate in the proceedings as an intervenor.
The Presidency said some of the agencies invoked the “Glomar defence”, a legal position that allows US government agencies, under certain circumstances, to neither confirm nor deny the existence of particular investigative records.
It added that the court subsequently granted summary judgment in favour of the CIA, Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of State, Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, effectively removing them from the proceedings.
However, aspects of the case involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration remained subject to further consideration.
The Presidency further disclosed that the FBI and DEA had produced 399 pages of records in compliance with court orders, although portions of the documents were redacted under exemptions provided by US law.
According to the government, the plaintiff challenged the agencies’ decision to redact parts of the documents and sought their release without the redactions.
The FBI and DEA, through the US Department of Justice, opposed the request, citing legal protections covering certain categories of information.
The Presidency said some of the records relate to grand jury proceedings, which are protected from public disclosure under US law.
It also cited protections covering information connected to certain court orders authorising pen registers or trap-and-trace devices, as well as documents protected by attorney-client and attorney-work-product privileges.
The Presidency’s clarification comes amid heightened political debate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with opposition figures continuing to scrutinise the President’s past and administration.
The government, however, maintained that the US proceedings should not be misrepresented as a criminal trial against Tinubu, stressing that the case concerns the disclosure and withholding of government records.
Renewed tensions in the Middle East have seen crude prices push towards $100 per barrel riding on the back of US sanctions and a blockade of Iranian oil exports, which have escalated the Asian country’s economic woes.
Consequently, the Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed to $97 per barrel on Thursday before declining to $95.50, as reported at Oilprice.com.
On its part, Reuters reported that the surge in oil prices came as Washington intensified its campaign to cut off Iran’s access to international financing and prevent the country from circumventing sanctions.
Three senior Iranian sources reportedly told Reuters that the latest measures were proving increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, with the country facing dwindling channels for securing foreign currency and importing essential goods.
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The pressure has also severely affected Iran’s oil exports.
Iranian crude loadings have fallen to about 260,000 barrels per day this month, from around 1.7 million bpd a year earlier, according to commodity analytics firm Kpler.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the impact of the sanctions on global oil markets, particularly as the conflict has disrupted energy supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
While some energy continues to flow through the strategic waterway, the US blockade of Iranian oil exports has effectively cut off Tehran’s main source of revenue, Reuters reported.
Iran’s economic problems have been compounded by a sharp collapse in its currency and accelerating inflation. The rial has fallen from about one million rials to the dollar a year ago to more than 2.2 million rials currently.
Official figures put Iran’s 12-month average inflation at 69.9 percent, while prices of food, beverages and tobacco have risen at nearly twice that rate.
The squeeze has also affected Iran’s ability to maintain its sanctions-evasion networks, with front companies, unregistered tankers and smuggling operations becoming increasingly expensive.
The country’s trade has fallen by between 25 and 35 percent, with imports hit harder than exports, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also disrupted a major channel for Iranian commerce, announcing on 19 August that all commercial exchange and financial dealings with Tehran had been halted until further notice.
These have plunged Iran’s domestic fuel situation into some sort of turbulence.
One senior Iranian source told Reuters that the country has only about two months’ supply of petrol, which it needs to import despite its domestic oil production because of limited refining capacity.
The deteriorating economic conditions are also placing severe pressure on Iranian households. Average monthly salaries are estimated at about $125, compared with basic household spending requirements of roughly $450, according to official data.
The economic squeeze comes as fighting between Iran and the United States has intensified, with attacks and retaliatory strikes raising fears of further disruption to oil supplies and shipping.
Leading economists, financial experts and industry stakeholders have described the Dangote Group’s investments as major drivers of industrialisation and economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.
The experts cited the Group’s impact on job creation, import substitution, foreign exchange conservation and economic competitiveness.
They voiced their thoughts at the Lagos Economic Summit themed “The Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity,” where they urged governments to implement policies that strengthen local industries and accelerate economic diversification.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu, commended the Dangote Group’s sustained investments across Africa, describing them as critical to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
He noted that while recent economic reforms have improved foreign exchange stability, strengthened reserves and eased inflationary pressures, the focus must now shift to growth in industry, productivity and employment.
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Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said industrialisation remains the most effective path to sustainable economic development.
He called for better alignment of trade and industrial policies, stressing that local manufacturers require strategic support to compete effectively and drive broader economic benefits.
Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, said Africa’s growing population presents a significant industrial opportunity, noting that investments such as the Dangote Refinery are helping to retain capital within the continent while strengthening local production capacity.
In his keynote address, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria is gradually transitioning from a consumption-led economy to one driven by investment and production.
He added that sustained investments in productive sectors will continue to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve living standards.
Participants at the summit also advocated stronger credit infrastructure, improved national identification systems and increased investment in skills development to enhance the productivity and global competitiveness of Africa’s growing youth population.
Photo Caption: From Left – Chief Economist, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Hassan Mahmud; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman of Occasion/Special Guest of Honour, Samaila Zubairu; Key Note Speaker Session 1, Bismarck Rewane; during the Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity, Sponsored by Dangote Industry Limited in Lagos on Thursday 3, September 2026.
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