One of the most peaceful ethnic group in the Niger Delta region, the Ijaws of Oporoza community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, awoke on Friday, May 5, 2009, to the aerial bombardment of their creek homes by a government that was supposed to protect them from aggression.

Right before their eyes, reminiscent like a war movie, but only this time a reality, they watched in awe as the firepower of the Nigeria Armed Forces descended on the community, destroying properties that have taken years to build, and forcing innocent children and parents to take refuge in the forest.

Fifteen years after, despite seeking for a legal redress and compensation from the federal government in an action which led to a N99.9 billion court judgement in their favour, nothing has been done on the part of the federal government to that effect.

Moreso is the fact that, the people of Oporoza and in extension other communities in the oil-rich kingdom, have continued to suffer unjustly deprivation from not only the government but investors alike, including the international oil companies, in their failure to offer meaningful and sustainable infrastructural and human capacity development.

But the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom have remained ever resilient and refused to be clogged down by the anti-development schemes of the enemies. While the kingdom has suffered much injustices and deprivation, with God's intervention the kingdom, despite its underdeveloped state, is like a shining star in the night hour and has become an admiration to all.

A kingdom that has produced notable sons and daughters as political leaders in the caliber of a deputy governor, speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Council...; and in the business sphere, renowned platforms like the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), Maton Nigeria Limited, Fenog Nigeria Limited among others.

In the 2023 general election, the kingdom played host to the current president Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT), who is the first in the present dispensation to have ever campaigned in the kingdom. Other prominent guests across the country as well as representatives from outside the shores of the country have also visited.

While it is not yet Uhuru, it is hoped that the episode of May 15, 2009, will not be repeated ever again in the kingdom. Rather, the people await the Federal and State governments bombardment of the kingdom with massive infrastructural projects, the establishment of institutes of excellence besides the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU) at Kurutie and Okerenkoko communities, and an army of investors having the welfare of the people at heart. 

It was indeed a night of celebration at the 15th edition of the Gbaramatu Annual Survival Day party in Oporoza community, a celebration which began from Wednesday, May 15, to the morning of Thursday, May 16, 2024. The Survival Day which has been celebrated for over the years is a reminder to the people that they are never conquered and will never be conquered.

View more photos of the celebration on PENGlobal Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/rZLjYCY3MkPkAi1v/?mibextid=oFDknk

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