Our culture is suffering mismanagement – MD of NDDC, Ogbuku

The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, says our culture is suffering mismanagement and a lot of damages, which the younger ones need to know and correct the misnomer.

Dr. Ogbuku, spoke in Warri, Delta State, Tuesday December 30, during the stage play of OLU AKENGBUWA, A play directed by Alex Eyengho, starring Nigeria’s A-List Actors such as Ejike Asiegbu, Norbert Young, Soibifaa Dokubo, Eliel Otote, Haji Omonoba Bello, Tom Godwin Efe Mayford -Orhorha, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Anthony Edet Offiong and Ebuka Madikaegbu (Ebubu).

L-R: Hon. Daniel Mayuku, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Chief Ayirimi Emami & Chief Akoma Dimeyin

The NDDC Boss, noted that OLU AKENGBUWA, tells the story of how Itsekiri and their neighbours lived together and would help the younger ones know where they are coming from, their history and some of the damages inflicted on their culture.

He stated: “When our ancestors were at the affairs of things in those days culturally, we didn't have tribal and ethnic wars, we lived well in harmony with everybody. People should know that even the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo and Isoko lived in harmony, because the founders of the kingdoms knew that they met other people, which they shared the same area with.”

L-R: Chief Mike Odeli, Chief Ayirimi Emami, Mrs. Asba Emami, Chief Akoma Dimeyin, Prince Yemi Emiko & others

The Producer and Director of OLU AKENGBUWA, Mr. Alex Eyengho, who spoke to This Soaring International Tabloid in an exclusively interview at venue of the event, disclosed that the A-list Nollywood stars that featured in the play, have been with him for over 10 years.

Eyengho, explained: “We call this project, ‘Warri Monarch Stage Series and Legends of Warri Kingdom’, which we started in 2015, during the reign of Ogiame Atuwatse II, who gave his blessings. Unfortunately, that maiden edition in 2015, was arguably the last public outing of Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri. He was there with his wife, his children and all his chiefs.

“Since then, the project has been a traveling play. After now, we are moving to Lagos, we did it in Lagos in 2019, just before the COVID.

“So far, we've done it in Warri and Asaba, we will go to Port Harcourt, Abuja and go back to Lagos, with the ultimate aim of staging the play in the United Kingdom and United States, hoping that we would get the right collaboration from Niger Delta Development Commission, other cooperate bodies and individuals.”

The veteran Mass Communicator cum Film Producer, recalled how Chief Ayirimi Emami, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and Chief Francis Omatseye, helped to sell the project to the then Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, even as he appreciated Chief Ayirimi Emami, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and other well-known Itsekiris for their continued support towards sustaining the stage play, OLU AKENGBUWA.

A cross section of some members of the audience

Fresh Angle International, can report Chief Ayirimi Emami, flanked by his elegant wife, Asba Emami, Chief Akoma Dimeyin, Chief Mike Odeli, Hon. Daniel Omayone Mayuku, Prince Yemi Emiko, Mr. Canaan Ajagbawa and Sir Matthew Itsekure, were among prominent Itsekiris that graced the command performance of OLU AKENGBUWA, which held at DY Events Place & Lounge, N0.1 C.A.C Street, off Edjeba Road, in-between Delta State Broadcasting Service (DBS) & Government House Annex, Express Road, Warri in Delta State.

×