Ralph Michael Iwowari, or Mein VII (19302013), was the Amanyanabo, or

traditional ruler A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

of Nembe-Bassambiri, one of the sections of the

Nembe Kingdom The Nembe Kingdom is a traditional state in Niger Delta. It includes the Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The traditional rulers take the title "Amanyanabo". Today, leadership is split between the Amanyanabos of O ...

Bayelsa State Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. Yenag ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. In July 1973, Ralph Iwowari was aide-de-camp to the military Governor of

Rivers State Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include: Imo to the north, Abia and Akwa Ib ...

, Naval Commander

Alfred Diete-Spiff Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff (born 30 July 1942) was the first Military Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria after it was created from part of the old Eastern Region, Nigeria. He held office from May 1967 until July 1975 during the military administr ...

. it was alleged he became furious with a journalist who published a critical article on the governor's birthday, and ordered him to be given 24 strokes of the cane and to have his head shaved with an old blade. Violence is endemic in the region, in part due to problems caused by oil exploitation and in part due to traditional rivalries. In August 2003 Iwowari, chairman of Bayelsa State's council of traditional rulers, met with the state Governor

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (DSP) (16 November 1952 – 10 October 2015) was a Nigerian politician who was Governor of Bayelsa State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 9 December 2005. Background Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was born on 16 Novem ...

, who noted that it had become necessary for traditional rulers to initiate vigilante groups to combat piracy in the creeks and rivers of the

Niger Delta The Niger Delta is the delta of the Niger River sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. It is located within nine coastal southern Nigerian states, which include: all six states from the South South geopolitical ...

. In 2003 or 2004, Nembe Bassambiri was involved in fighting with a rival community in which many homes were destroyed, people were killed and others fled and went into hiding. The cause was a dispute over revenue from oil extraction in nearby Obioku village by

Shell Nigeria Shell Nigeria is the common name for Shell plc's Nigerian operations carried out through four subsidiaries—primarily Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC). Royal Dutch Shell's joint ventures account for more than 21% of ...

, which was claimed by both Nembe Bassambiri and by the village of

Odioma Odioama is an ancient community located in Brass Local Government Area Bayelsa State,one of major Nembe speaking community in Bayelsa. Nigeria, in an area where oil was found by Shell Nigeria Shell Nigeria is the common name for Shell plc's Ni ...

. In October 2004, Iwowari conducted elaborate ceremonies to mark the end of the crisis. In January 2009, thugs supporting an unpopular political candidate invaded the Bassambiri community. Early reports said over 40 people might have died, the King's palace had been barred with palm fronds signifying danger fortunately he was not hurt. After things had settled down, just one body was found floating in a canal, although there were many injuries. The state governor invited Iwowari and local leaders to a meeting to find a solution to the conflict. In April 2010, the Bayelsa State government attempted once more to resolve the ongoing discord between the Bassambiri and Ogbolomabiri communities, bringing together Ralph Michael Iwowari MEIN VII, Amanyanabo of Nembe-Bassambiri with

Edmund Daukoru Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru (born 13 October 1943) is a former Nigerian Minister of State for Energy and was Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2006. He became the Amayanabo, or traditional ruler, of ...

, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom and other chiefs to find a solution. After the meeting, both kings said they were optimistic that the differences between the two feuding communities could be resolved. He died in 2013 and was buried on 30 November 2014.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iwowari, Ralph 2013 deaths Nigerian traditional rulers People from Bayelsa State 1930 births