An ex-militant leader and head of the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, Eshanekpe Israel, popularly known as Akpodoro has bagged a chieftaincy title.
Akpodoro will be known and addressed as the Mayor of Urhoboland.
The former militant was conferred with the chieftaincy title during an event in the ancient community of Gberegolor in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Akpodoro was honoured by the Gbaregolor Federated Communities led by Chief Edemini Epiagbaga, the Okpako-Orere of the Gbaregolor Federation, at the event on Friday.
Speaking during the ceremony, Epiagbaga said the federation decided to honour the former militant in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development and growth of Urhoboland.
The traditional ruler thanked Akpodoro for his effort during the disarmament of reluctant militants who weren’t willing to disengage from militancy at the dawn of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
The monarch appealed to the former militant leader to take the Urhobo nation to the highest level.
Reacting, Akpodoro appreciated the Gbaregolor Federated Communities for the award and promised to continue to contribute his quota to the development of the Urhobo nation.
He added that he was humbled by the honour done him saying it was a great privilege and higher call to serve Urhobo land and the entire nation.
The ex-militant noted that the struggle for a greater Urhobo people is his life as he called for unity of purpose and peace in Urhoboland, noting that only a peaceful people can be developed.
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