• Ateke Tom, Dokubo-Asari in Rivers; Binidodogha in Edo 

•‘Kinsmen stop Torughedi, aka Young Shall Grow, in Bayelsa

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South

BEFORE 2009, they were dreaded warlords in the creeks of the Niger Delta whose activities created fear, especially among the government and its security forces, eager to keep the oil installations risk-free for uninterrupted drilling of oil by the multinational companies.

Notwithstanding their wrongdoings against the state which they branded as the ‘Niger Delta Struggle’,  some ex-militant leaders and ex-agitators who accepted amnesty 16 years ago across the Niger Delta under the late President Musa Yar‘Adua have unpredictably risen to become traditional rulers, strong forces to reckon with in their communities and states, and above all, advocates for peace.

Behold Ateke Tom, Amanyanabo of Okochiri Sixty-year-old Ateke Michael Tom, erstwhile leader of a militia group, Niger Delta Vigilante, NDV, presently the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Town, Wakirike in Okrika local government area, Rivers State, is one of them.

Back in the day, his assembly engaged other splinter militia groups and the security forces in gun battles in the oil region. On October 1, 2009, he voluntarily accepted amnesty and laid down all his arms to embrace peace.

His kingship came earlier than others, eight years after accepting amnesty. Then-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, currently Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, crowned him the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Town on November 25, 2017.

He was known to be very close to the former First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, who also comes from Okrika.

To date, Ateke remains the first Amanyanabo of the ancient Okochiri Kingdom.

The people love Ateke, and his levitation has undoubtedly brought peace to the Okrika area and beyond.

They came out in their thousands for his installation and still troop to his palace today.

Wike noted in his address at the Amanyanabo’s installation: “With what you have seen here today, it is a clear testimony that your people love you. That is why it is good for every one of us to defend the interest of our people at any given time so that your people will honor you at the appropriate time.”

“Today, because of what you have done for this kingdom, the people have called you back home to come and be their new king.”

Sunday Vanguard learned that the traditional ruler has maintained peace in his monarchy since his installation.

Dokubo-Asari, Amanyanbo of Torusarama Piri, wards off oil thieves

 Prevalently known as Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the massive and vocal Kalabari-born ex-militant leader, who disliked being addressed as a militant but accepted the nomenclature of freedom fighter, is the second Niger-Delta militant leader to be crowned a traditional ruler in Rivers State.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State approved Dokubo-Asari as the Amanyanabo of Torusarama Piri in December 2024.

Born Melford Dokubo Goodhead Jnr in 1964, Dokubo-Asari became the President of the Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, in 2001.

The ‘freedom fighter’ founded the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, NDPVF, a militant group notorious for terrorizing the state and causing panic among the political class.  

The militia group has lately ensured peace, minimized oil theft, and warded off criminals in the domain, and severally received accolades from delighted residents.

The monarch abhors marginalization and does not want any power, be it government or an oil company, to marginalize his people. He speaks for his people and they love his powerful advocacy.

“I do not want you to see this elevation as another platform to create problems in your locality,” Fubara declared on Dokubo-Asari’s new job. 

The politics of coronation – Wike, Fubara connection 

 To political observers in Rivers State, the coronation of former warlords goes beyond a mere gesture.

A former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, led security forces to chase Ateke, a militant leader out of his Okochiri domain. Therefore, many think Wike crowned Ateke Tom to provoke Amaechi. 

Wike, who fell out with Amaechi, saw the window to flex muscle with his former boss by realigning with Ateke and used it. 

Some observers saw the elevation of the former warlord by Wike as his appreciation of the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, a strong supporter of then governor.

Not a few also see Governor Fubara’s recognition of Dokubo-Asari as the traditional ruler of Torusarama Piri as a subtle way of courting the substantial support of the Kalabari people.

Dokubo-Asari, no doubt, is an important political figure in Kalabari.

With the raging political crisis between the governor and his estranged godfather, Wike, it only makes political sense to court the support of the Kalabari warlord.

Nevertheless, Governor Fubara and Dokubo-Asari are from the riverine dichotomy of Rivers State.

Many think that with Dokubo-Asari’s enthronement, Fubara has kick-started his plan to consolidate power ahead of 2027. 

Fearless personalities like Dokubo-Asari and others are potent weapons against Wike’s onslaught any time, any day. 

 Henry Binidodogha, Ojuaga 1, focuses on reuniting Egbema people

 A former militant leader who grew up in the Ofunama community, Edo State, and operated in the creeks,  Henry Binidodogha, aka Egbema 1, ascended the royal stool of his clan as the Ojuaga I of Egbema Clan, Ovia Southwest local government area on March 25, 2018.

His ascension came nine years after Ateke Tom, the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Town in River State. The elders, chiefs, and leaders of the seven major Egbema communities in Ovia South-West local government area of the state namely – Ofunama, Jamagie 1 and 2, Ugbolukanga, Abere, Gbeoba, and Ajakurama – endorsed him.

Shortly after he accepted amnesty in 2009, then-Governor Adams Oshiomhole appointed him Senior Special Assistant on Waterways Security.

However, his hegemony raised some dust, especially from Benin and other traditional rulers in Edo, who claimed that the land and the communities belonged to Benin and there could not be any other king except the Oba of Benin.

He has remained in power but we could not confirm if he enjoys any patronage from the state as a recognized traditional ruler.

The former militant leader is bent on reuniting his people. 

The Ojuaga 1 sent a public goodwill message last month to the Oba of Benin, HRM Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, on the occasion of the celebration of the annual Igue Festival.

In the message, Binidodogha exalted the Benin monarch for his reign on the throne of his forebears which he averred has brought to the Benin Kingdom loads of positive happenings.

Azuzuama chiefs stop Torughedi with a court injunction in Bayelsa

 In Bayelsa, a section of Azuzuama Kingdom in the Southern Ijaw local government area, led by chiefs, resisted an audacious attempt by an ex-militant leader, who commanded the south wing of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, Selky Kile Torughedi, aka Young Shall Grow, to claim the throne of the kingdom as Eyewei V.

The ex-warlord allegedly imposed himself on the throne in the wake of the void created by the demise of the paramount ruler of the Azuzuama Kingdom in 2013 but the unbending chiefs dragged him to court.

His supporters claimed he brought a youthful vibe and energy to the throne.

While it lasted, he relished the trappings of the office with the support of some women, and youths because of his alleged generosity.

However, those opposed to his purported forceful takeover of the throne obtained a court injunction restraining him from parading himself as the paramount ruler or Amananawei of the Azuzuama Community.

A community source said efforts to enthrone a new paramount ruler, including the successful review of the kingdom’s constitution, had reached an advanced stage before some disgruntled elements scuttle the process.

No ex-militant crowned monarch in Delta, A’Ibom

 Findings show that no ex-militant leader who accepted amnesty in 2009 has emerged as monarch in Delta and Akwa Ibom States.

Some genuine ex-militants got chieftaincy titles in some communities because of their humanitarian and nonviolent disposition.

An ex-agitator in Akwa Ibom State said: “We do not have any member crowned as a village head, clan head, or paramount ruler. There is none for now but we only have a few given chieftaincy titles because they are philanthropists.”