Asagba of Asaba Leads Call For Accountability At Enuani Conference
By PAULINA NZERUBE
Asagba of Asaba Opens Enuani’s Biggest Convergence
THE 2025 Njiko Aniocha-Oshimili Annual Conference was declared open on Sunday by the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, at Ogwa Ukwu Ahaba, Millennium Park, Asaba, in a ceremony that blended heritage, policy reflection, and regional aspiration. The conference, themed “Unity, Development and Security – Unifying Development and Securing the Vision, Aspirations and Future of Aniocha-Oshimili People,” marked its 20th edition and drew stakeholders across Nigeria’s political, business, and traditional leadership spectrum.
Azinge, the Chief Host, publicly commended Architect Kester Ifeadi, Chairman of the Planning Committee, and the entire organising team for delivering what he described as a seamless and historic gathering. Reflecting on the evolution of the Njiko movement since his ascension to the throne, the monarch revisited the group’s origins, narrating its cultural foundation and lauding key reformers who restructured the socio-cultural bloc into a unifying force for Enuani people.
The monarch also issued a firm rebuke to Nigeria’s political class, stating that elected officials from the Aniocha-Oshimili axis must remain answerable to their constituents beyond elections. He framed unity as the prerequisite for development and stressed that progress would remain fragile without community-led accountability and locally-driven security frameworks. He formally opened the conference with ancestral prayers, invoking the names of his forebears.
Earlier, Njiko leader Engr. Igwe Enuoyibo, FNIOB, MNSE, MNSE, in his welcome address, acknowledged participants and emphasised the group’s role as a vehicle for cohesion, resilience, and self-determination. The conference also featured an array of high-level speakers, including Vice-Chancellor of Igbenedion University, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, who delivered a policy-heavy keynote on “Blueprint for Enuani Unity and Resilience,” outlining frameworks for socio-cultural resilience. Delta State Assembly lawmaker, Hon. Barr. Bridget Anyafulu, in her session on “Empowering the Next Generation,” focused on youth inclusion, human capital investment, and generational transition, while legal and security expert, Chief Barr. Mike Ejiofor, former DSS Director, spoke on environmental security and public safety, warning that farmland and forest vulnerabilities had become the region’s most pressing threat.
During the discussant segment, Dr. Chris Uwaje proposed the establishment of a community-rooted storytelling theatre to institutionalise Enuani history, a recommendation that gained traction among participants. Former Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga, added that Njiko must now produce policy resolutions that demand federal and state buy-in, especially on security governance. The Obi of Ukala, HRM Clement Ifeanyi Ejiofor, aligned with the call for stronger local security control but advocated that traditional institutions should lead community-level policing, not central agencies alone.
Governor’s aide Hon. Bossy Jonnah urged the region to adopt a structured security action plan, stating that peace was foundational to development. Business leaders honoured at the event included Chief Newton Jibunoh, Chairman, Nelson Mandela Garden, and Group Managing Director, Rainoil Ltd., Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, among others recognised for contributions to national economic and social development.
Attendees included Senator-designate Ogbueshi Ngozi Okolie, FRSC Director-General nominee Chief Patrick Ukiah, and Chairman of Oshimili North LGA, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, among a large cohort of traditional rulers, public officials, and youth leaders. Architect Kester Ifeadi delivered the vote of thanks, while Rev. Fr. Ubaka Jonathan Allanah led the closing prayers.
