21/07/2026
A COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED BY THE BUA BORI COUNCIL OF CHIEFS AND ELDERS, THIS 20TH DAY OF JULY, 2026, IN THE PALACE OF HRM KING SOLOMON NDIGBARA (JP) AMB.P, THE GBENEMENE BUA BORI, THE TRADITIONAL HEADQUARTER OF OGONI PEOPLE
SUBJECT - Rebuttal of the communiqué issued at the end of the Khana stake holders meeting held on the 19th day of July, 2026 at the Suanu Finimale Nwika hall, Bori declaring void their traditional stool.
We write on behalf of the good people of Bua Bori and His Royal Majesty King Solomon Ndigbara (JP), The Gbene Mene Bua -Bori, The Traditional Headquarters of the Ogoni People; to express our profound concern and unequivocal rejection of the communiqué recently issued under the authority of Dr Thomas Bariere, the Chairman, Khana Local Government Area, as presented by Hon. Leyii Kwanee of Taabaa which seeks amongst others to deprive our people of their ancestral land and purporting to derecognize the throne of our traditional ruler, HRM. King Solomon Ndigbara JP, Amb.P., The Gbenemene Bua-Bori. The traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people.
The contents of the communiqué are not only deeply disturbing but also inconsistent with existing facts and history. Our community has occupied and exercised customary ownership rights over the land and place called Bori from time immemorial. These rights are rooted in history, culture, tradition and were evidenced even during the colonial era. They cannot be extinguished by a mere unilateral administrative communiqué issued without proven facts and history.
Furthermore, the purported de-recognition of our traditional stool and ruler falls outside the powers of the Local Government
Any attempt to remove or undermine the legitimate authority of our monarch without following due process is null and void, and of no effect.
A situation where a communiqué will be issued without meaningful consultation with the affected communities, without giving them any opportunity to be heard, and without recourse to existing fact, and history is contrary to the principles of fair hearing and peaceful co-existence.
OUR RESOLUTION AS COUNCIL
1. The said communiqué issued on the 19th day of July, 2026 under the authority of Dr. (Chief) Thomas Bariere be withdrawn in the next 24 hours in the interest of peace.
2. The traditional status and authority of HRM King Solomon Ndigbara (JP), Amb.P be respected.
3. The ancestral land right of our people is not in dispute, and we shall preserve and protect it from any unlawful encroachment.
4. Our community remains committed to peace, co-existence and respect for constituted authority. However, we shall also employ every lawful measure available to protect our ancestral heritage, preserve the dignity of our traditional institutions and safeguard the rights of our people.
5. Before Bariere Thomas came in as Chairman of Khana L.G.A. council, the traditional stool of Bua Bori was in existence and will continue to be in existence after Bariere Thomas.
6. We understand he is calling for war, but for the sake of the innocent citizens carrying on their lawful pursuits within the Bori Metropolis, we will forgive him because, he is a little boy and does not know what he is calling for; Christ on the cross said, we should forgive them for they know not what they are doing.
7. The communiqué issued by Dr. Bariere Thomas and his collaborators is a mere exercise in futility; it goes nowhere and can never stand.
8. We are calling on all relevant authorities including the Nigeria Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, and all prominent sons and daughters of Ogoni Land from Eleme to Kono, from Kaa to Oyigbo who know him (Bariere Thomas) to call him to order, and caution him to desist from actions capable of causing the breach of peace in Bua Bori.
9. Each tenure of Dr. Bariere Thomas in council has always been problems to the people of Bua Bori and Yeghe in general. He has been conspiring with our neighbouring communities and cultists to kill our people. And until this day nobody sees what he is doing to be wrong. Can this thing happen to anybody in the capacity of King Solomon Ndigbara in the Niger Delta?
10. A word they say is enough for the wise, any ear that will hear will not be the size of a bowler hat. We expect the security agencies by now to step up their game to curb the problem that Dr. Bariere Thomas is agitating. For he who has an ear, let him hear.
We trust that, your office (Bariere Thomas) will reconsider his unfortunate communiqué in the interest of oneness and harmonious peaceful co-existence.
We are:
CHIEF BARILE YEREBA MMABU
King-Maker Bua Bori
CHIEF JOHN DIDI
Paramount Ruler Ka-Bori, Bori
CHIEF LEZUA P. MBIINAH
Paramount Ruler – Barabe Nukpor, Bori
CHIEF PETER GBUEBA
Paramount Ruler Norme, Bori
CHIEF YOROGBARA DAVID
Member Looyoo Council of Chiefs
CHIEF MICHAEL MBAA
Paramount Ruler Ke-Mzoo, Bori
CHIEF JONATHAN DOODE
Paramount Ruler Looyoo, Bori
CHIEF KPOA NGBUBEE
Paramount Ruler Ngbubee Community, Bori
HON. BARIKPOA BIGGY DOODE
Former Councilor, Ward 1, Bori
ELDER BIEGBARA YIGABARI
Member in Council
HON. NUBARI B. POMTERA
Secretary, Bua Bori Council of Chiefs and Elders
CHIEF KWASU MOSES LEBARI
Member in Council
CHIEF LEBURA DIKIRI
Member in Council
CHIEF ANTHONY NNAH
Member in Council
CHIEF SUNDAY TERESU
Member in Council
CHIEF BAGA AMAKIRI NKAH
Member in Council
CHIEF LEUE NGO-MAN
Member in Council
SIR E.D. GBUEBA
Member in Council
