History will be made on Thursday, June 26, as Nigeria’s foremost political leaders, traditional rulers, and eminent sons and daughters of the Niger Delta gather in Effurun, Delta State, for the official launch of a landmark biography titled “Mr. 13% Derivation Fund: The Life and Legacy of Chief (Dr) Wellington O. Okirika (CON).”
The grand event will take place at the prestigious KFT Event Center, located along the NNPC Housing Complex Link Road, and is scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m. prompt.
At the heart of this national convergence is the celebration of the life and legacy of Chief (Dr) Wellington Okirika, the Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, a revered leader whose name is forever linked with the fight for resource control and the establishment of the 13% derivation fund for oil-producing states in Nigeria.
Leading the array of distinguished guests expected at the ceremony is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, who will attend as the Grand Special Guest of Honour. President Tinubu’s presence signals a significant endorsement of Chief Okirika’s lifelong advocacy for economic justice, and marks a rare moment of unity between the federal government and the Niger Delta region. His attendance is seen as a powerful tribute to Okirika’s role in shaping policies that directly impacted the development of oil-rich communities.
Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, who will serve as Special Guest of Honour, is also billed to attend. As a fellow Niger Deltan, Jonathan is expected to deliver a heartfelt tribute to Chief Okirika’s steadfast courage, vision, and influence across decades of Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Adding legislative weight to the event, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio GCON, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, will attend in their capacities as guests of honor. Their participation highlights the national relevance of Chief Okirika’s work and how it shaped critical conversations around restructuring, fiscal federalism, and equitable distribution of Nigeria’s resources.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, will serve as Chairman of the occasion. As governor of the host state, Oborevwori’s role reflects the region’s immense pride in Chief Okirika’s contributions and the high regard in which he is held across political divides.
The occasion will also witness the attendance of several sitting governors from across the country, including Senator Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Dr. Alex Otti of Abia, Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Professor Charles Soludo of Anambra, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi, and Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State. Their joint presence reflects Chief Okirika’s national stature and the unifying legacy of his advocacy.
Anchoring the traditional dimension of the event is His Royal Majesty Oboro Gbaraun II, JP, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, who will serve as Chief Host. Chief Okirika, as Bolowei of the kingdom, occupies one of the highest traditional positions in Ijaw land, and his enduring impact will also be honoured by the presence of His Royal Majesty Dr. Joseph Timiyan JP, Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, who will serve as Chief Guest of Honour. The event will be held under the distinguished chairmanship of elder statesman Chief A.K. Horsfall.
The biography, “Mr. 13% Derivation Fund,” will be formally presented to the public by Ambassador Dr. Godknows B. Igali, a respected diplomat and scholar, while the book review will be delivered by Professor Victor Peretomode, former Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka. The book offers a detailed look at Chief Okirika’s public service, his visionary traditional leadership, and his instrumental role in securing constitutional recognition for the 13% derivation principle – a policy that has since become a cornerstone for the economic survival of Nigeria’s oil-bearing communities.
Among the high-profile attendees expected are Matthew Tonlagha, who will serve as Chief Launcher; Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme; Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly; Chief Festus Ochonogor, Managing Director of DESOPADEC; former Deputy Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro; as well as Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, serving as Co-Launchers.
The biography’s title – “Mr. 13% Derivation Fund” – encapsulates the identity Chief Okirika earned over the years through his dogged pursuit of economic justice for oil-producing regions. A founding voice in the resource control movement, he helped to shape reforms that today benefit states across the Niger Delta.
Thursday’s launch is more than a literary occasion – it is a national tribute. It marks a moment of reflection and recommitment to the ideals of justice, federal equity, and visionary leadership.
GbaramatuVoice will stream the event live across its digital platforms to allow widespread participation from viewers around the globe.
