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OKPE UNION FUMES OVER ANTI-OKPẸ IDENTITY ROLE OF DELTA MONARCH

OKPE UNION FUMES OVER ANTI-OKPẸ IDENTITY ROLE OF DELTA MONARCH

 

  • WARNS MISCHIEVOUS ELEMENTS

 

‘’The recent anti-Okpẹ Identity role of HRM Orhue l, the Orodje of Okpẹ Kingdom and some of his chiefs, is a challenge which we are destined by history to overcome for the interest of the Okpẹ Nation’’ says President General of Okpe Union Worldwide, Prof Igho Natufe.

 

Prof Natufe made this remark in Lagos on Thursday.

 

He said the union would not relent in its effort to ensure that the Okpẹ Identity project was achieved.

 

‘’The interference/usurpation of the role of Okpẹ Union as a registered body with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a socio-cultural cum a pressure group has limited our effectiveness, given that much financial resources have been diverted towards our court cases with the renegade group. This role amongst others is being threatened by the traditional leaders maybe for political reasons, as they now want to dictate who emerge the leaders of the Union’’.

 

In a New Year address to the public, Natufe observed that court cases had posed a cog in the wheel of progress of the union.

 

‘’Another major activity of the year 2025 is the progress recorded in ongoing court cases, which have continued to yield positive outcomes for the Union. This reflects the Union’s determination and commitment to protecting its interests through legal intervention. We shall continue our legal actions against the contemnors as a just and legal avenue to the restoration of democracy and good governance in Okpẹ Nation’’.

 

He told Nigerians to have a change of attitude in dealing with matters affecting the Okpe people.

 

‘’During the preceding year, the Union was compelled by several factors to address pressing issues affecting the Okpẹ people in the media. Some of these media engagements clarified deliberate distortion of facts regarding Okpẹ Identity. The Union was very active in the media space, either in the social media or mainstream media. These media visibility has positioned the Okpẹ Union as a strategic group among ethnic nationalities in Nigeria capable of championing and protecting the collective interests of the people at home and in the Diaspora’’.

 

 The president general also spoke on the large turn-out during the 95th anniversary of the Okpe Union in Lagos.

 

‘’2025 has been a landmark year for the Okpẹ Nation. One defined by unity, resilience, and purposeful remembrance. Most notably, we proudly commemorated the 95th Anniversary of the establishment of the Okpẹ Union on May 16, a historic milestone that honoured our roots, reaffirmed our identity, and strengthened our collective resolve as a people. Held at the registered national headquarters of the Okpẹ Union in Obalende, Lagos, the Anniversary was attended by members from all branches in Nigeria and from the Diaspora. I thank God for making it possible for me to physically attend this august celebration and to preside over it. The positive vibes at the event were electric and guided by our ancestors’’.

 

 He applauded members across Nigeria and in the Diaspora for rendering altruistic services to the Okpẹ Union and Okpẹ Nation.

 

‘’In the face of endogenous and exogenous challenges and distractions, our members remained resolute.  Mention must also be made of the invaluable financial and moral support we enjoyed from several Okpẹ nationals, non-members of the Union, in support of our activities since 2021’’.

 

 Natufe expressed delight at the numerous activities of the Okpe Union throughout 2025.

 

‘’Okpẹ Union continues to play critical roles in both the Movement for National Reformation (MNR) and The Rebirth Group (TRG); both national organizations that are actively engaged in the restructuring of Nigeria’s federalism. As a stakeholder in TRG, Okpẹ Union participated in its maiden symposium in Ibadan, in May 2024. Subsequently, in 2025, we participated in TRG Symposia on political restructuring of Nigeria, in Enugu, Gombe, and Port Harcourt, in July, October and December, respectively’’.

 

He said Okpẹ Union performed admirably in 2025.

 

‘’The Union took part in several social and community engagements, including funerals, weddings, and other important events. These representations were carried out by members of the NEC, Okpẹ Union branches and in some cases, both organs. We participated in the burial ceremonies of our brother and mentor, Rev. Dr. Charles E. Osume, an illustrious son of Okpẹ Nation and an unwavering advocate of Okpẹ Identity in March 2025. Overall, , demonstrating commitment, progress, and strong visibility across various engagements. Our branches have solidified their positions while some have engaged in initiatives geared towards the growth and promotion of Okpẹ Identity’’.

 

 Particularly, he gave Okpe Union, South-West Region a pat on the back for encouraging the young ones to participate in Okpe cultural dances and awarding bursary to Okpẹ Students in higher educational institutions.

 

 The former university professor of political science urged other Branches to emulate the South-West Region.

 

‘’We are also working on plans to open new branches of the Union in 2026’’.

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OKPE UNION BERATES ITSEKIRI LEADERS OVER BOGUS CLAIMS ON TERRITORIES

OKPE UNION BERATES ITSEKIRI LEADERS OVER BOGUS CLAIMS ON TERRITORIES

 

  • URGES OBOREVWORI, DAFINONE, OTHERS TO STAND UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
  • CALLS FOR CHANGE IN THE APPELLATION” SAPELE OKPẸ COMMUNITY”

The Okpe Union has advised Itsekiri leaders to honour the 1943 WACA judgement and desist from all their bogus claims on Okpẹ territories.

‘’As a nationality that prides itself as a respecter of the rule of law and court judgements, one would expect the Itsekiri Nation to honour the 1943 WACA judgement and desist from all their bogus claims on Okpẹ territories’’

The union also accused the Itsekiri leaders of renaming the sections they were allowed to reside as refugees with Itsekiri names.

‘’For example, they changed Etamua to Ogunaja”, Amua Ogodo to Aja Ogodo”, and a part of Amuokpe to Aja-Sagay”.

In a New Year Message to Okpe Nation, the union decried the blatant demonstration of reckless expansionism by some Itsekiris.

‘’The settler equates himself to the indigenes. The Okpẹ Union demands that Itsekiri leadership call to order these Itsekiri elements who denigrate the sovereignty of the Okpẹ Nation over its territories. The case of the Itsekiri threat in Sapele should be of serious concern to all Okpẹ people’’.

The message presented by President General of Okpe Union Worldwide, Prof Igho Natufe said the claims by the Itsekiris of Abigborodo, Obotie and others to indigenous communities in Okpẹ land were rubbished by the Delta State Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the Okpẹ Sobo Forest Reserve in 2020.

‘’The bogus claims by some Itsekiris to indigenous communities in Okpeland especially in the areas that were constituted into the Sapele Okpẹ Sobo Forest Reserve during the Colonial Era when the Okpẹ Nation was created under the Urhobo Division, led to the setting up of a Delta State Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the Okpẹ Sobo Forest Reserve in 2020 by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Administration. From the published Record of Proceedings of the Commission of Enquiry, the claims by the Itsekiris of Abigborodo, Obotie and others to indigenous communities in Okpẹ land were rubbished’’

According to the Union, the Itsekiris and the Okpẹs do not have any land boundaries.

‘’The territorial boundary between Okpẹ land and Itsekiriland is the stretch of the Hole in the Wall Creek, the tributary that extends into between Sapele and Abigborodo (boundary between Sapele LGA and Warri North LGA)over which the Emmanuel Uduaghan Administration constructed a bridge, to Obotie-Ugbukurusu, to Ikeresan, to Elume River, to Erogho water side, and finally to the water boundary between Ughoton and Omadino (the boundary between Okpe LGA and Warri South LGA) over which the James Ibori Administration constructed the Ughoton-Omadino Bridge’’.

The Union called on the Okpẹ Traditional Council and political leaders, especially the chairmen of the Sapele Local Government Council (LGC) and the Okpẹ Local Government Council (LGC) and representatives in the Delta State House of Assembly to stand up to their responsibilities as the defenders of Okpẹ sovereignty.

‘’The menace by some Itsekiris is more troubling to the Okpẹ Nation. Recalling that we opened our doors to welcome Itsekiri fleeing from their civil war and offered them shelter, it now seems that our hospitality has become a curse; just as the Hausas in the north and indigenous nationalities in central Nigeria are experiencing with the Fulanis. The Itsekiri civil war, known as the “Nana war” of 1894 forced scores of Itsekiris to flee their lands and ”ran for refuge to Sapele where they were granted refuge by the Okpẹ people”, the owners of Sapele. This was the judgement of the West African Court of Appeal (WACA), Holden at Lagos, Nigeria, on April 30th 1943, before their Honours: Sir Donald Kingdon, Chief Justice of Nigeria – President; Sir Philip Bertis Petrides, Chief Justice, Gold Coast (now Ghana), and George Graham Paul, Chief Justice, Sierra Leone’’.

It urged Okpẹ political leaders, specifically Okakuro Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Okakuro Senator Ede Dafinone, Hon. Ben Etanabene, Ekakuro James Augoye and Perkins Umukoro to begin to articulate and promote Okpẹ interests in their respective portfolios.

‘’The policy of peaceful coexistence continues to define the cornerstone of Okpẹ Union’s relationship with other ethnic nationalities. However, let it be known that, by any legitimate means possible, we will strongly defend the territories of the Okpẹ Nation against intrusions by any ethnic nationality on our sovereignty. While non-Okpẹ nationals are welcome in Okpẹ villages and towns; they must not forget that they are guests and not owners of Okpẹ land. Unlike other nationalities, some elements in the Itsekiri Nation do not seem to understand this fundamental principle of residency outside their ancestral lands. Interestingly, these Itsekiri elements will not dare to claim ownership of Ajoki, Ekehuan and Ologbo in the Benin Kingdom’’.

The union said the appellation” Sapele Okpẹ Community” should be changed.

‘’It has no conceptual difference with the other ethnic communities in Sapele, for instance, the Sapele Ndigbo Community, the Sapele Yoruba Community, the Sapele Itsekiri Community, etc. It is passive. A more positive name, for example, Sapele Indigenes Association should be considered as it connotes a definitive and positive meaning’’.

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LISTS PRIORITIES OKPE UNION REBUKES URHOBO LEADERS

OKPE UNION REBUKES URHOBO LEADERS, LISTS PRIORITIES

 

The Okpe Union has expressed concern over the nefarious activities of some elements of the Itsekiri and Urhobo nationalities.

‘’Some elements of the Itsekiri and Urhobo nationalities continue to constitute irritants to the Okpẹ Nation. The Urhobo via their nefarious WADO activities claim Okpẹ territories. We vehemently reject this as Okpẹ is not Urhobo and neither are we an appendage of any ethnic nationality’’.

The union also stressed its historical mission of facilitating the independence of Okpẹ Nation.

‘’We shall continue to encourage the use of Okpẹ Language in worship and the translation of Church sermons. We shall use the Okpẹ language to enhance the Okpẹ identity and development strategy of Okpẹ Nation. We shall continue to intensify our strategic collaboration with other Okpẹ organizations, as well as with other ethnic nationalities in Delta State and Nigeria, in the realization of this noble historical imperative’’.

The union in a New Year message to the public stressed the need for prominent Nigerians to be thorough and be armed with correct facts in the area of Okpe history, language and culture.

‘’While we reiterate our profound reverence for the Okpẹ Throne, we remain resolute in our defence of democratic tenets and good governance in Okpẹ Nation. We also reiterate our firm view that Okpẹ Kingdom is not an absolute monarchy where a monarch’s pronouncements are considered “final” even when they violate basic democratic norms.  We recognize that to toe the path of truth is a difficult choice that only a small minority with sound social consciousness can embark on. Truth can be suppressed  but can never be imprisoned’’.

The message delivered by the President General of Okpe Union Worldwide, Prof Igho Natufe emphasized the strategic approach to position Okpẹ stakeholders in the pursuit of the recognition of Okpẹ as a distinct ethnic nationality in Delta State.

‘’This objective remains an existential challenge of the Okpẹ Nation which Okpẹ Union was established to attain. We shall intensify our collaboration with internal and external forces for a better appreciation of the benefits of Okpẹ Identity to all parties, including the Urhobo. The two local government councils in Okpẹ Nation, Sapele LGC and Okpẹ LGC, shall be encouraged to play a pivotal role in the Redemption of the Okpẹ Nation’’.

The union called for cooperation and unity to enhance economic development of Okpẹ Nation.

 

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PREPARATIONS IN TOP GEAR FOR ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI'S BURIAL CEREMONIES

PREPARATIONS IN TOP GEAR FOR ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI’S BURIAL CEREMONIES

  • CAKASA, WEMA, POLARIS MOURN
  • IJAW LEADERS EXPRESS GRIEF
  • LAGOS RESIDENTS COMFORT ANTHONY GEORGE-IKOLI
  • CHARIS MICROFINANCE BANK EXTOLS LATE MATRIARCH’S VIRTUES

 

Preparations are in top gear as the family of First Republic politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, gets set to bid farewell to a woman of profound moral scruples, stickler for hard work and excellence, Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

The burial activities, scheduled for November 27 – 30 in Lagos, are expected to attract traditional rulers, clergymen, business tycoons, top government functionaries, prominent lawyers, public affairs experts, diplomats and media professionals across the world.

Following the demise of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli on September 2, 2025 at the age of 93, the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation released burial plans indicating that the burial ceremonies will take place between Friday, November 27, 2025 and Sunday, November, 30, 2025.

‘’The service of songs is scheduled to hold on Thursday, November 27, 2025 at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm. The funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos on Friday, November 28. This will be followed by internment. The entertainment of guests will take place at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island while Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island’’

The Ernest Ikoli Foundation Statement said Elsie Ajayi Ikoyi was a woman liked by everybody because she had dignity and integrity.

‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a mother to all, a church servant and a study in humility.

The woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace was born beneath the golden skies of Kaduna on June 24, 1932″

The statement highlighted Mama Ayo’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.

“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”

The statement issued in Lagos by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli (SAN), highlighted professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.

“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding  one of the activists of Nigeria’s political history from distraction”

 

Well known as a tireless and cheerful woman who could be counted on, the statement said Elsie avoided the spotlight that focused on Ernest Sissei Ikoli through his long political career.

“In her presence, chaos yielded to order. In her silence, purpose found its voice. She did not seek the spotlight, but stood steadfast in its penumbra — a dutiful woman, an unseen architect of legacy, ensuring that the man who helped forge Nigeria’s voice never lost his own”

The statement recalled the period when the mantle of the sole provider fell upon her shoulders.

“Mama wore it not as a burden, but as a covenant. She became a staff member and major distributor for Abbott Pharmaceuticals during its pioneering years in Nigeria — a time when Similac and Isomil were not just products, but promises whispered into the cribs of a hopeful, growing nation. With grit and grace, she out-distributed her peers, not through force, but through faithfulness – waking before dawn, returning long after dusk, her arms laden not just with formula tins, but with the nourishment of futures. In her, Abbott did not merely find a distributor — they found a disciple of diligence, a woman who treated every delivery as a divine assignment”

Widely respected for her innumerable contributions to the development of individuals and groups in Nigeria and the world at large, the statement emphasized courage in adversity and how life exacted its cruel toll on Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

“The loss of two of her children carved a canyon in her soul — a grief so profound it could have extinguished her. But Mama Ayo did not retreat. She ascended. In the hallowed halls of the Salvation Army, Marina Corps, she entered into a sacred covenant with God — a vow of everlasting service. There, as Welfare Keeper of the Home League Unit, she washed altar linens until they gleamed like morning snow, believing that holiness resided not only in prayer, but in purity of preparation. She folded hope into every crease, ironed devotion into every hem. Her hands, which once balanced ledgers and stacked crates, now cradled communion cloths with the reverence of a priestess”.

The statement emphasized her role in the women’s ministries.

“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a pillar in the Women’s and Mother’s Ministries, where her counsel was sought not for its volume, but for its virtue. And beyond the church walls, she poured her spirit into the Nembe Women Society (Lagos Branch) — gathering daughters of the Niger Delta in diaspora, weaving community from memory, stitching solidarity with stories. She did not merely lead — she mothered. She did not merely organize — she sanctified”.

 

Blessed with a rich and agile mind, the statement said Mama Ayo’s worldview was sculpted by sweat and scripture.

“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli believed work was worship, excellence an echo of the divine, and failure not a full stop — but a comma in God’s longer sentence. Like the ant she so admired, she saw the cathedral in the crumb, the empire in the errand. She got up early, humming hymns to the rhythm of responsibility. She taught by presence: “Do it yourself, Do it well and Do it now.” Not as a command, but as a creed”.

The statement lavished praise on her for the quiet revolution.

 

 

 

“Her altar remains spotless. Her hands shape us. Her name — Elsie — “God’s Promise” — echoes in every life she lifted. Rest now, Mama. The Rock you carried has become the monument. The vision you served has become a victory. Well done, good and faithful servant”

Elsie Ajayi Ikoli will be remembered for her restlessness in terms of work and her persistence in excelling. She will also be remembered with respect.

Meanwhile, major organizations in Nigeria have expressed their condolences following the death of Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

Charis Microfinance Bank has described the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as an irreparable loss.

‘’On behalf of the Management and Staff of Charis Microfinance Bank Limited, we wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, who slept in the Lord on the 2nd of September, 2025. We share in your grief during this difficult time and pray that God grants you and the entire family the strength and comfort to bear the irreparable loss’’ the bank said in a statement on Monday morning.

The dynamic financial institution also extolled the qualities of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli and relevance of Lagos lawyer, Anthony George-Ikoli, in the business community and political history of Nigeria.

‘’As our esteemed chairman, your leadership, wisdom and commitment have been instrumental in guiding the bank towards its vision of financial inclusion, sustainable growth and economic prosperity. The values of honesty, accountability and integrity that you embody are a true reflection of the strong foundation and nurturing influence of your late mother. Her legacy lives on through you and the many lives she touched’’.

The bank, according to the statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Obiora Unigwe and the Head, Products & Brand Management, Osasu Steve-Momoh, is deeply saddened by her death.

‘’At Charis Microfinance Bank, we consider ourselves a family, and in this moment of sorrow, we stand firmly with you in solidarity and prayer. While her physical presence will be greatly missed, we take solace in the knowledge that Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli lived a life of grace, faith and purpose, one that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy, and may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace’’

CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited also paid tribute to the memory of this role-model who stamped her footprints on the sands of time.

‘’On behalf of the Board, Management and the entire staff of CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited, I acknowledge the news of the transition to the glory of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli who slept peacefully in the Lord on 2nd September, 2025. What an irreplaceable loss’’ Cakasa (Nigeria) Company Limited said in a statement.

The statement by the Chairman of CAKASA, Christopher A. Alabi, described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a great mother.

‘’No doubt, the transition of our dearly beloved matriarch had left a great and indelible void in the hearts and minds of not just the immediate family but anyone who had had a rare occasion to meet her’’.

 

The engineering, procurement and construction company highlighted her virtue and nobility.

‘’The outpouring of grief and emotion over her transition is a clear affirmation of her personality as an embodiment of virtue and nobility. She showed love without expectation to all, cared for others without conditions and touched lives in innumerable and invaluable ways’’.

The statement advised Antony George-Ikoli and members of his family   not to grieve.

‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a rare gem. She personified selflessness, altruism and service to humanity. What a life well lived, a legacy superlatively delivered. She would be sorely missed, but we are not without hope. And so, it is well said that albeit ‘’ nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower’’. Let us grieve no more. But find hope and strength that whatever our worries and cares may justifiably be on account of her glorious transition. We must give them over to God for He cares for us. God’s care closes every void. His comfort soothes every pain and His love trumps every loss.

 

It also reminded Antony George-Ikoli of the roles played by Elsie Ajayi Ikoli in the Lord’s Vineyard.

‘’Thus,  as we grieve the irreparable loss, we must take solace in the sublime truth that our sister, having died a worthy daughter of the Lord and servant in His Vineyard, the heavenly hosts are rejoicing  to meet her behind the veil of immortality of course.

 

Similarly, WEMA Bank extended condolences to Anthony George-Ikoli on the passing of his dearly beloved mother.

‘’As a team, we are deeply saddened by this loss and understand how difficult it is to part with a loved one.

In a letter signed by Business Development Manager, Olaniyi Saheed and Zonal Manager, LM, Lucky Imoisilli, the bank expressed solidarity with the family during the period of mourning.

‘’Please accept our deepest sympathy and we pray that God grants you and your entire family the strength and comfort you need during this time and may her soul rest in peace’’.

In the same vein, Polaris Bank extended sympathies to the family of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

‘’It was with deep sadness that we received the news of the passing of your dear mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli. On behalf of the Management and Staff of Polaris Bank, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to you and your family during this difficult time’’

The bank in a letter by its Relationship Manager, Nta Henshaw and Branch Manager, Cibuzo Ogbonna acknowledged Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s contributions to the growth of the family.

‘’We understand that the loss of a mother leaves a void that cannot be easily filled. May you find strength in the cherished memories you shared with her and may her legacy of love and guidance continue to comfort and inspire you. Please be assured of our thoughts and prayers as you go through this period of grief. We stand with you and wish you and your family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss’’.

The leaders of the Ijaw Nation expressed grief over the demise of Anthony George-Ikoli’s mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

In a statement on Monday, the Ijaw leaders paid their deepest and heartfelt condolences, saying that the prayers of the Ijaw people are with Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his family at this difficult time.

‘’Our prayers are with you and the entire bereaved family because of this irreparable loss. Though a painful exit of a good mother, God loves her more’’.

The statement by the Lagos State Chairman, Tonye Leonard Harry and State Secretary, Elayelagha Golden Ambakaderemo commiserated with Anthony George-Ikoli over the demise of his beloved mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

‘’Please accept our heartfelt condolences and may you find comfort and strength during this difficult time’’

 

The statement by the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos chapter urged Anthony George-Ikoli and his relatives to draw strength from the mother’s illuminating attributes of honesty, discipline, resilience and joyful spirit.

‘’Her sweet memories will forever be etched in our minds” the statement added.

Lagos residents also expressed profound sadness at the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

A statement by the Alaka Executive Committee offered the deepest and most heartfelt condolences to famous lawyer, Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his entire family.

‘’The loss of a mother is one of life’s most profound sorrows and we understand that no words can fully ease the pain you are experiencing’’.

 

The statement was signed by the Alaka Estate Chairman, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ugwu and the General Secretary, Mrs. Kemi Awe

‘’We stand with you in solidarity during this period of bereavement” the statement said.

‘’Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you navigate through these challenging times. We pray that the Almighty God will grant your mum eternal rest and provide you and your family with the strength, comfort and solace needed to bear this irreplaceable loss’’.

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NYESOM WIKE VERSUS THE GENERAL: AD-HOC MILITARY SYSTEM DEFINED BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

NYESOM WIKE VERSUS THE GENERAL: AD-HOC MILITARY SYSTEM DEFINED BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

Nothing exemplifies more about the ad-hoc system than the altercation that took place between the Minister of the Federal Capital, Nyesom Wike and Lieutenant A. M. Yerima a few days ago.

 

Some persons familiar with the theatrics of Wike may condemn his method but you can see that his heart is in the right place.

 

A lot of Nigerians suffered damage from ad-hoc military rule and the lack of respect for citizens and the rule of law. This military induced cognitive dissonance makes them accept military abuse as normal. This cognitive dissonance is the reason a lot of people are focusing on the wrong elements in the interaction of the duo.

 

What took place in Abuja is a microcosm of what Nigerians suffer daily from the hands of soldiers in Nigeria. Ad-hoc system leads to the breakdown of the rule of law and personalization of power.

 

 The prick waving between the officer and Mr. Wike is the result of the imposed military ad-hoc culture. Instead of following the due process of law, it became a competition of who is more important. Instead of legal questions, the arguments become personal.

 

 If Wike was not a minister, the officers would have assaulted him and locked him up in some military guardroom. This is the Nigerian reality. This is why that officer must be prosecuted for being in that place unlawfully.

 

If Wike was not a minister, the story would have been different and buried.

 

The years of military rule and their ad-hoc system of governance led to unprofessionalism of the Nigerian soldier and the total disregard for the rule of law.

 

The average Nigerian soldier seems to think he is above the law. They violate traffic regulations all the time and cause a lot of misery to citizens. They seem to think they have the legal right or duty to arrest civilians.

 

 They should be made to understand that they are not superior citizens, and they are not above the law.

 

They must stop using their military positions to take laws into their own hands.

 

You may say the minister insulted the soldier. That is not the point. You may say the soldier was polite, that is also not the point. The question to ask is: why was the soldier there with other soldiers who were armed? Who gave the order for the officer to be there with other soldiers? Why did they go there armed? What was their rule of engagement? Was that the proper method to seek resolution in a dispute between two parties? Why was officer Yerima taking orders from a retired general? What does the uniform code of military justice say about this? Can retired soldiers command active-duty officers to carry out military exercises? Who was paying for the time that officer Yerima was using to do private security for his retired General?

 

The answer to these questions will tell us how unprofessional and lawless the Nigerian soldier is.

 

The reason the officer went to that site is to use intimidation to stop the workers from their legitimate duties. This is an illegal act that should have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of that officer.

 

He left his duty post under unlawful command to assault citizens engaged in their lawful duties.

 

Due to successive military governments in Nigeria, the average soldier thinks he has the right to arrest civilians. He thinks he is above the law. This is very wrong. They should be disabused of this notion.

 

They must subordinate themselves to civilian authority. The soldier is not a prosecutor, and he does not have the power to arrest any civilian.

 

Due to lack of knowledge, soldiers have been engaging in these activities. Some would arrest and detain civilians in military guard rooms which is illegal.

 

The general who sent officer Yerima does not think he is subject to the rule of law in a democratic society. That is why he decided to take the law into his own hands and intimidate the civilians involved.

 

We should review the unified code of military justice and see if a retired officer has the right to give order to a serving officer. If the answer is no, then Officer Yerima should be prosecuted for abusing his position.

 

He carried out an unlawful order from an officer who is no longer in service. He does not have the authority to interfere or interrogate any civilian in their place of work.

 

We as a nation must condemn what has happened and use this as a teaching moment.

 

The army must subordinate themselves to civilian authority. They work for us.

 

While I may be uncomfortable with Wike’ s theatrics, he should never apologize to Yerima. Yerima was there unlawfully and also in breach of military protocol. He should be arrested and prosecuted.

 

This will serve as a deterrent to soldiers who think their uniform is an emblem to intimidate and harass Nigerian citizens.

 

DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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OTHERS EULOGIZE ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI AS DIGNITARIES GATHER IN LAGOS PRISONERS CARE VIBROFLOTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL

VIBROFLOTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL, PRISONERS CARE, OTHERS EULOGIZE ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI AS DIGNITARIES GATHER IN LAGOS

VIBROFLOTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL, PRISONERS CARE, OTHERS EULOGIZE ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI AS DIGNITARIES GATHER IN LAGOS
Dignitaries from all over the world will gather in Lagos on Friday, November 28, 2025 to pay their last respects and bid farewell to Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
A statement on Friday morning by the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation said Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s burial activities would begin on Thursday, November 27 in Lagos.
The statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli, said a service of songs and nights of tributes would hold on Thursday, November 27 at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm.
“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos on Friday, November 28, 2025.”
The statement also said a private family interment for Elsie Ajayi Ikoli would take place immediately after the church service.
“The casket will be lowered into the ground at 1:30 pm”
“Reception will be by 2:00 pm at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island” the statement said.
“Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island” the statement said.
The Foundation described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a priceless Jewel that would be hard to replace.
“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was an embodiment of the virtues of doggedness and resilience”.
She passed on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at the enviable age of 93.
Fondly called “Mama Ayo” by friends and associates, Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, according to the family, was a good mother, matriarch, cook and counselor.
Meanwhile, some lawyers and organizations Friday evening extolled Mama’s love for the family, leadership roles and the breeding of a new generation of great thinkers and leaders.
‘’Her life was marked by grace, generosity and steadfastness Legal Answers said in a statement.
The statement signed by Teinane Okpokiti and Owokori Akuiyibo recalled that Elsie Ajayi set an example of the kind of things all of us should be doing.
‘’As a distinguished Senior Advocate in Nigeria, your work stands as a testament to the values she quietly imparted – integrity, resilience and a respectful dignity. Her steady encouragement, prayers and belief in you helped shape a part of purpose and perseverance and her influence is reflected in the principled example you set in your career and life’’
They urged Nigerians to emulate the late matriarch who they said lived a selfless life.
‘’Mama’s warmth touched many and her legacy of service and quiet strength will be remembered with respect’
The Prisoners Care Support Association said Elsie Ajayi Ikoli acquired a robust experience which she put at the service of the people.
‘’We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and also grant her eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord’’ a statement by the Acting President, Peter Alex Ochor said.
Vibroflotation and Geotechnical Nigeria also joined others in mourning the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli who lived a life of service to humanity.
‘’On behalf of the Management and Staff of Vibroflotation and Geotechnical Nigeria Limited, we extend our sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time and we pray for strength and comfort for you and your loved ones’’ a statement by the Acting Managing Director, Kemi Fadipe, said.
The Adam & Eve Team also sent condolences to Chief Anthony George-Ikoli.
‘’Losing a mother is a profound experience and we can only imagine the grief you are feeling right now. Please note that we are keeping you and your family in our thoughts during this difficult time’’
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OUR RELIGIOUS ALBATROSS BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

OUR RELIGIOUS ALBATROSS BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

OUR RELIGIOUS ALBATROSS BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

If we aspire to be a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, we have to remove religion from the centrality of our politics. We must decentralize governance.

We have too many religious holidays and none of the religions is indigenous. Religion should have no place in our public lives.

The minds of our people have been seriously poisoned and corroded by religion. If we want to change our situation, we have to change the way we think. How can we think when the minds of the majority of our people have been corroded by religion?

 What is happening in Nigeria is akin to mass psychosis. How do we extricate our nation from this?  I am tempted to say let us pray. There goes my brain. Religion short circuits any thought process and leads to arrested development. What is the point of thinking when God is in charge? This leads to fatalism that is prevalent in Nigeria.

The present way and verve which Nigeria embraces religion is destructive to a society that is struggling to render service to its people in a pluralistic society. If Religion is such a good thing, the benefits will have been everywhere by now and the colonizers will never give it to us for free.

In order to create docility, they forced the Chinese to consume the real opium which was medicinal in China at that time. The Chinese leaders saw the harm it was doing to the people and they picked up arms. This led to the Opium wars that led to the loss of Hong Kong and Macao.

Africa had no opium and the colonizers discovered religion could be more addictive than opium and they cultivated it as it was cheaper than the real opium.

Docility has always been the endpoint of slavery and colonialism. Nigerians are more docile and self-destructive than any group of people I know. They worship and nurture those who steal and vandalize their commonwealth and without a blink lynch a person who steals a loaf of bread to ward off starvation. This level of cognitive dissonance is only seen amongst drug addicts.

When I hear of foreign aid, I squirm at the thought of adding foreign priests and pastors to these orgies of abuse of Africans.

The most religious geographies in Nigeria are the most violent and destructive to the body politics of Nigeria. Religion is not about love. It is about power.  Since rulers around the world adopted religion to fortify their legitimacy, religion has always been a tool of power.

Every religion started with the founder having some private revelation. These revelations were not corroborated by a third party or done in the glare of the public. Someone said he saw God and we believed him. The king believed him and the king adopted the religion and the king became God and no one can criticize the king because the king is God.

 In the prescientific world of yore, anything could be a miracle. Most early religious people directed their ire at the rulers. The wily rulers simply adopted the religion and usurped God’s power. The conundrum I continue to find is that none of the so-called founders actually set out to start a religion. These religions started many years after they were dead.

Moses criticized pharaoh and Jesus condemned the High Priests who were working in tandem with the Roman government in the occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.

In today’s world, the Pope who is preaching Jesus will be on the side of Rome.  Mohammad was not loved by the rulers of his time. Early prophets told the truth. Nathan told David about his lust. Nigerian prophets of today would collect their tithes and personally get rid of Uriah.

Why should the king bother with such little people like Uriah? Every great prophet was anti-establishment. The prophets of today, especially in Nigeria are the establishment. Whatever they say is not of God but from their selfish desires to covet what belongs to others. This is why religion is at the root of all corruption in Nigeria.

For Nigeria to be whole, we must excise religion from all our public interaction. Those who want sharia should find another country.

Nigeria is an African Country. It has no relationship with Saudi Arabia. Any organization that condones the killing of Nigerians like those being ministered to by the likes of Gumi should be outlawed.

Our aspiration is to run a country with objective scientific principles that are objective and verifiable. Any religious gobbledygook must be rejected.

Religion has not developed in any country in the world. The poorest nations in the World are overwhelmingly religious. In Bangladesh, the average religious holiday is about 2 weeks.

The two regions that have religious extremism in Nigeria are the North and the South-East. If there is goodness in religion, we will see it in these regions.

What do we see? In the South East, we see violence, kidnappings, ritual killings and fake manufacturing of drinks and drugs that the good Christians there produced for their neighbors.

 Every morning in Aba, Onitsha and the environs, the good Christians wake up early to prepare a poison that will be unknowingly consumed by their neighbors for a fee. Did Jesus teach that? In the North, violence, human trafficking, child abuse, child marriages and religious killings, raping and kidnappings that numbs the mind. This is what religion breeds.

 Every Friday morning in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto, the “good” Muslims lay their praying mats on the road oblivious to traffic and start praying. The road is blocked and others cannot engage in their activities of daily living. At the end, they rise up and sacrifice Deborah Samson to their Allah. Any person who challenges this barbaric behavior is subjected to vigilante justice. Is this what Mohammed taught them? Jesus actually referred to this kind of people as the Pharisees. Why do I have to know you are praying? Why is it necessary to obstruct my movement because you are praying? This is nothing but an exercise of power.

Religion is the devil but the priest has been able to convince their gullible and ignorant followers that the opposite is true. Most of the religionists in Nigeria will say they love God but will not blink as they kill their fellow man in the name of God.

From what is happening in Nigeria, it will be difficult for any of these religious gooks to convince me that they are not working for the devil. At times like this, I am beginning to think of Tom Payne, my Idol. If God is capable of these atrocities, then the devil has nothing else to do. The devil should join the Church or mosque and do what the devil does best: Destruction.

 What I try to emphasize in my writing is that at this time in our history, we have to learn to live together as black people. If we aspire to become the hope of the Black World, we must learn to have allegiance to each other. It is difficult to do so now because the colonizers left their Trojan horses of religion which we have fashioned into Molotov cocktails to haul at each other every now and then.

We must learn to love each other. We don’t have to like each other but we can develop the capacity to evolve a society where our laws prevent us from hurting each other.  The religions that are creating these divisions are imported and are tools the colonizer used to make us pliant for servitude.

We need to learn how to remove these barriers that were created by those who came into our land for conquest. This needs the art of diplomacy and time. We have to understand we need each other to survive. Things will change when we start seeing ourselves in each other.

Europe lived through a period where they were intolerant of each other and the continent is gradually resuming some semblance of civility towards each other. The world war was actually intertribal and religious wars. Kosovo is still almost a war zone with animosities but life is getting better.

This is where I fault the proponents of Biafra. The quickness in which they want to resolve issues with violence or war is akin to people who have no experience with the devastation war brings. They are quick to issue ultimatums and engage in kinetic actions that will rally an opponent against them. This bellicosity and lack of diplomacy is due to the fact their societies never engaged in many wars as a nation, where serious thought is given to the consequences of losing. They made this mistake in the Nigerian civil war and they are at it again.

The Oyo Empire was one of the bloodiest empires in West Africa. The fall of the Oyo Empire led to the wholesale enslavement of the Yoruba people. The Yoruba people are the largest enslaved tribe in Africa. From Brazil to Suriname Cuba, the Yoruba language and religion are the norm. This devastation had an effect on the Oyo Empire and they learned from it.

This is the reason why the Yoruba people are very diplomatic about thorny issues. They have been accused of being tricky. They learned a lot from their history and a Yoruba man will never beat his chest to a man who has an AK 47 pointing to his chest. If a Yoruba man decides to go to war, I will not have many questions to ask before I join because I know he has deliberated about everything and he has no other choice and I know he will win because he also understands the opposition.

When Nnamdi Kanu threatens a Buhari who is a President, Kanu assumes that Buhari is an idiot because of Igbo man’s arrogance and limited education. Where is Kanu today? Buhari could have eliminated Kanu in Nairobi if that was his mission. His mission was to arrest and prosecute him. Notwithstanding his theatrics, Nnamdi should thank Buhari for not murdering him in Nairobi or through a calculated plane crash. He should learn that a good leader is not a blood thirsty vagabond who issues orders to kill people at will. He should respect our courts and follow the due process of trial.

Those who are asking America to invade Nigeria have the same infantile thinking. They think Trump will drop the bombs, the Muslims will disappear and they will have their Biafra and everything is over. This naivety led to the colossal failure of Ojukwu and the Igbos still call him the people general.

Please turn the page. It is titled the “Day After “ For some reasons, the Biafrans don’t know that their book of dreams has  a next page. Ojukwu forgot that page too. “After Biafra lost, they blamed everyone but themselves. The people who rejected the advice of Nnamdi Azikiwe, a seasoned statesman for the bellicosity of a renegade now tell us it was other people’s fault.

Warriors don’t brag about battles. They don’t even show us their scars.  They leave that for amateurs who have never seen widows and orphans. Hitler tried it the second time and the results were the same and more devastating. It is not necessary to repeat a class if all lessons are learned.

My submission is that we should learn diplomacy. The making of a nation requires this. Those who negotiate on behalf of their people should always avoid the temptation to think their adversary is an idiot.

America has not given us creative leaders lately. They have become used to antiseptic wars. Donald Trump coming to Africa to save Christian sounds like a 419 proposition for the racist religious right of America. He doesn’t need to spend much effort to destroy Nigeria or kill those causing the problem.

Let’s be more creative. He should tell Nigeria he is dropping 20 billion dollars in Lokoja for Christians and Muslims to share equally. He should then sit and wait. All the Muslims and Christians will arrive with their swords and AK 47. There will be a holy war as each side tries to claim this loot. The only ones who will be left alive are Nigerians who didn’t believe the story and those who have not been converted or sent away by their priests because they are not real Muslims or Christians. The Catholics will ask for confessions before any one is allowed to join the broil. By morning, America can walk in and take the rare earths and minerals without firing a shot . They can collect their money from the pockets of all the dead Christians and Muslims who were engaged in a jihad.

Where are the good Christians in Nigeria? They have been raptured. Where are the Muslims? They are in paradise with their 72 virgins. Religion has always been a lie, a big lie. Religion is an intoxicant invented by men of power. This intoxicant is the greatest purveyor of violence and cruelty in our world. The exceptions don’t make the rules. Prove me wrong.

What is so holy about a war that God has to take sides? If America defeats Nigeria tomorrow, does it mean America was right and God was on their side? No, they have better intelligence and technology. God wasn’t the referee.

DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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CONTRACTORS GOVERNMENT AGENTS AND THE STABILITY OF NIGERIA BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

CONTRACTORS, GOVERNMENT AGENTS AND THE STABILITY OF NIGERIA BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

CONTRACTORS, GOVERNMENT AGENTS AND THE STABILITY OF NIGERIA BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

 

 

Who makes these changes?

“I shoot an arrow right, it turns left“

I chase after a deer; I get chased by a lion.

I dig a hole for my enemies, and I fall into it……….

I should be careful about what I want” …. RUMI

 

Who makes these changes? Why can’t we understand that what goes around comes around? I have been doing some random musings lately. Why is it so easy for government agents not to pay contractors who have diligently completed an assignment on behalf of the government? The government being the largest employer is setting bad examples to rogue employers who are exploiting Nigerians daily.

 

 

How can the government compel private institutions to pay what they owe, when the government is the chief culprit in this regard? Those in government must ask the critical question. Is the non-payment for services part of the root cause of the various unrest in Nigeria? These actors may be those who have been damaged by government actions. This is a big issue that should worry any person or politician in any position of authority.

The stories concerning non-payment for duly executed contracts are very disturbing. The cavalier altitude of the elite in this regard is overwhelming and numbing. All tiers of governments in Nigeria treat their contractors and workers with arrogance and disdain like the military used to do. This attitude of not paying contractors and suppliers has become a culture that will cripple the country. A businessman takes a loan from a bank to execute contracts on behalf of government and there is no hope of him getting paid. The bank comes after him and he loses everything. This is cruel and unfair.

 

No government should consider owing contractors as a policy of development. Some of these folks die without collecting what is owed to them. There should be a law to stop the government from these abuses of citizens. The stories are so numerous and heartbreaking. There was the story of a contractor who procured vehicles for some state government.  Many months have passed, and nothing has been paid. The contractor lost his collateral to bank seizures.

 

We cannot develop Nigeria with this primitive way of thinking and interaction with citizens who use their resources and ingenuity to provide services to the government that have no respect for the sanctity of contacts.

 

 

All the politicians in this country profess some faith. It is sacrilege not to pay the laborer his just wages. No economy can develop if those who participate and deliver service are not paid their just wages after completion of set contracts.

There should be a law to stop this abuse of citizens. If this situation is not remedied, it will soon have a multiplier effect that will drag the economy down and increase the suffering of hard-working Nigerians who dare to participate in business ventures with the government and its agencies.

A law should apply here, that sixty days after completion of a project, the government must pay if the work is satisfactory. If there is any dispute, the agencies involved must pay fifty percent and the other fifty percent should be paid with interest when the dispute is resolved.

Those who are in charge and derive joy from withholding citizens legitimate earning should know that what goes around comes around. Someone may not release their pension until after their death. If this attitude becomes the Nigerian culture, they have a responsibility to be a bull work against rogue government policies. No one should protest to be paid his just earnings. This sordid behavior in the corridors of power should be stopped as it is beginning to be a culture.

The nature of Nigerian society is that the dark is always calling to the dark. Before we know it, all government agencies will be like NEPA that charges exorbitant fees without supplying a single unit of electricity.

Pay the laborer his just wages. Government should not engage in theft of service. The National Assembly should conduct a study to see how prevalent this malady is in this country and advance legislation to preclude it.

If you don’t pay those who work, don’t be surprised when your system becomes clogged with flotsam and jetsam that will sink the ship of state. No one should work for a government that does not pay. Those who will do so are desperados who are there to deplete and convert government resources. Some of the unrest throughout the country may be due to people who feel they have been taken advantage of by the state or federal government. These include those who executed contracts and were not paid and became desperate.

Government must at all times try to reduce the ranks of desperado by not deliberately pushing people into poverty.  This lack of regard of citizens leads to a culture of nonchalance that defines Nigeria today. We can do better by refusing to race to the bottom.

All governments must as a matter of urgency assume their responsibility to pay their workers and contractors their fair and just compensation. Any government that does not comply with this fundamental objective is a rogue government that has no place in civilized societies. Such governments can only produce discontent and anarchy.

DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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Elsie Ajayi Ikoli dies at 93

Elsie Ajayi Ikoli dies at 93

 

The Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation on Sunday announced the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

Elsie Ajayi Ikoli departed this earth on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in the quiet of her Lagos home — not with fanfare, but with fulfillment. She was 93.

 

A statement issued in Lagos by the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation described the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a big loss to the people of Bayelsa and Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general.

 

“Mama Ayo, as friends, family members and neighbors called her, was a good mother, a church servant and a quiet revolutionary. She turned duty into destiny, grief into gospel, and labour into love. She also turned scarcity into a sanctuary for her children with hands calloused by labor and a heart softened by grace”

The statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli, said the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli has robbed Nigeria of a seasoned business icon.

 

“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace”

 

The statement highlighted Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.

 

“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”

 

The statement highlighted  professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.

 

“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding his genius from distraction”

 

A tireless and cheerful woman who could be counted on, the statement said Elsie avoided the spotlight that focused on Ernest Sissei Ikoli through his long political career.

 

“In her presence, chaos yielded to order. In her silence, purpose found its voice. She did not seek the spotlight, but stood steadfast in its penumbra — a dutiful woman, an unseen architect of legacy, ensuring that the man who helped forge Nigeria’s voice never lost his own”

 

The statement recalled the period when the mantle of the sole provider fell upon her shoulders.

 

“Mama wore it not as a burden, but as a covenant. She became a staff member and major distributor for Abbott Pharmaceuticals during its pioneering years in Nigeria — a time when Similac and Isomil were not just products, but promises whispered into the cribs of a hopeful, growing nation. With grit and grace, she out-distributed her peers, not through force, but through faithfulness – waking before dawn, returning long after dusk, her arms laden not just with formula tins, but with the nourishment of futures. In her, Abbott did not merely find a distributor — they found a disciple of diligence, a woman who treated every delivery as a divine assignment”

 

A study in humility, matriarch, cook and counselor, the statement recollected how life exacted its cruel toll on Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

 

 

“The loss of two of her children carved a canyon in her soul — a grief so profound it could have extinguished her. But Mama Ayo did not retreat. She ascended. In the hallowed halls of the Salvation Army, Marina Corps, she entered into a sacred covenant with God — a vow of everlasting service. There, as Welfare Keeper of the Home League Unit, she washed altar linens until they gleamed like morning snow, believing that holiness resided not only in prayer, but in purity of preparation. She folded hope into every crease, ironed devotion into every hem. Her hands, which once balanced ledgers and stacked crates, now cradled communion cloths with the reverence of a priestess”.

 

The statement emphasized her role in the women’s ministries.

 

“She was a pillar in the Women’s and Mother’s Ministries, where her counsel was sought not for its volume, but for its virtue. And beyond the church walls, she poured her spirit into the Nembe Women Society (Lagos Branch) — gathering daughters of the Niger Delta in diaspora, weaving community from memory, stitching solidarity with stories. She did not merely lead — she mothered. She did not merely organize — she sanctified”.

 

Blessed with a rich and agile mind, the statement said Mama Ayo’s worldview was sculpted by sweat and scripture.

“She believed work was worship, excellence an echo of the divine, and failure not a full stop — but a comma in God’s longer sentence. Like the ant she so admired, she saw the cathedral in the crumb, the empire in the errand. She got up early, humming hymns to the rhythm of responsibility. She taught by presence: “Do it yourself, Do it well and Do it now.” Not as a command, but as a creed”.

 

The statement lavished praise on her for the quiet revolution.

 

“Her altar remains spotless. Her hands still shape us. Her name — Elsie — “God’s Promise” — echoes in every life she lifted. Rest now, Mama. The Rock you carried has become the monument. The vision you served has become a victory. Well done, good and faithful servant”

The Ernest Ikoli Foundation highlights the values of the late First Republic politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, to inspire present and future generations.

 

It also promotes the ideals of integrity, unity and service that the late leader championed.

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FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES MADAM ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI'S PASSING

FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES MADAM ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI’S PASSING

 

The Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation on Sunday announced the passing of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli departed this earth on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in the quiet of her Lagos home — not with fanfare, but with fulfillment. She was 93.

 

A statement in Lagos described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a good mother, a church servant and a quiet revolution.

 

“Mama Ayo, as friends, family members and neighbors called her turned duty into destiny, grief into gospel, and labour into love’’

 

The statement from the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation called Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli a woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace.

“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was born beneath the golden skies of Kaduna on June 24, 1932”

 

The statement highlighted Mama Ayo’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.

 

“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”

 

The statement issued in Lagos by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli (SAN), highlighted professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.

 

“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding  one of the activists of Nigeria’s political history from distraction”

 

Well known as a tireless and cheerful woman who could be counted on, the statement said Elsie avoided the spotlight that focused on Ernest Sissei Ikoli through his long political career.

 

“In her presence, chaos yielded to order. In her silence, purpose found its voice. She did not seek the spotlight, but stood steadfast in its penumbra — a dutiful woman, an unseen architect of legacy, ensuring that the man who helped forge Nigeria’s voice never lost his own”

 

The statement recalled the period when the mantle of the sole provider fell upon her shoulders.

 

“Mama wore it not as a burden, but as a covenant. She became a staff member and major distributor for Abbott Pharmaceuticals during its pioneering years in Nigeria — a time when Similac and Isomil were not just products, but promises whispered into the cribs of a hopeful, growing nation. With grit and grace, she out-distributed her peers, not through force, but through faithfulness – waking before dawn, returning long after dusk, her arms laden not just with formula tins, but with the nourishment of futures. In her, Abbott did not merely find a distributor — they found a disciple of diligence, a woman who treated every delivery as a divine assignment”

 

A mother of all and a study in humility, the statement recollected how life exacted its cruel toll on Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

“The loss of two of her children carved a canyon in her soul — a grief so profound it could have extinguished her. But Mama Ayo did not retreat. She ascended. In the hallowed halls of the Salvation Army, Marina Corps, she entered into a sacred covenant with God — a vow of everlasting service. There, as Welfare Keeper of the Home League Unit, she washed altar linens until they gleamed like morning snow, believing that holiness resided not only in prayer, but in purity of preparation. She folded hope into every crease, ironed devotion into every hem. Her hands, which once balanced ledgers and stacked crates, now cradled communion cloths with the reverence of a priestess”.

 

The statement emphasized her role in the women’s ministries.

 

“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a pillar in the Women’s and Mother’s Ministries, where her counsel was sought not for its volume, but for its virtue. And beyond the church walls, she poured her spirit into the Nembe Women Society (Lagos Branch) — gathering daughters of the Niger Delta in diaspora, weaving community from memory, stitching solidarity with stories. She did not merely lead — she mothered. She did not merely organize — she sanctified”.

 

Blessed with a rich and agile mind, the statement said Mama Ayo’s worldview was sculpted by sweat and scripture.

 

“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli believed work was worship, excellence an echo of the divine, and failure not a full stop — but a comma in God’s longer sentence. Like the ant she so admired, she saw the cathedral in the crumb, the empire in the errand. She got up early, humming hymns to the rhythm of responsibility. She taught by presence: “Do it yourself, Do it well and Do it now.” Not as a command, but as a creed”.

 

The statement lavished praise on her for the quiet revolution.

 

“Her altar remains spotless. Her hands, though stilled, still shape us. Her name — Elsie — “God’s Promise” — echoes in every life she lifted. Rest now, Mama. The Rock you carried has become the monument. The vision you served has become a victory. Well done, good and faithful servant”

 

Ernest Ikoli fought alongside great nationalist leaders like Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello in the struggle for the political independence of Nigeria.

 

The Ernest Ikoli Foundation highlights the values of the late First Republic politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, to inspire present and future generations.

 

It also promotes the ideals of integrity, unity and service that the late leader championed.

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