Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari, Photo: Independent
There is an old African proverb that says, “The man who plants a tree does not wait beneath it for applause.” True leadership is measured not by the volume of criticism it attracts, but by the lives it touches and the communities it transforms.
In recent days, a number of commentaries have surfaced on social media seeking to diminish the person and legacy of Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and public figures inevitably attract criticism. Yet history is seldom written by opinions alone; it is written by deeds.
While some choose to speak from thousands of kilometres away, those who live in Kalabari know the difference between commentary and commitment.
For years, insecurity along the Emohua–Kalabari Road made travel a frightening experience. Kidnappings became commonplace. Lawyers became reluctant to attend court sittings in Degema. Judges stopped sitting. The roads were not safe. Law and justice took a nosedive. Businesses suffered enormous losses. Families avoided taking their loved ones home for burial. Wedding ceremonies were moved to Port Harcourt because guests feared travelling the road. Only those who could afford heavily armed police escorts dared make the journey.
Rather than wait for government intervention, Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari
chose action.
Month after month, he has personally financed the deployment of well over one hundred security personnel from his company Royal Fouche services limited along that corridor, providing round-the-clock protection for travellers, traders, students, workers and families. This enormous undertaking, reportedly costing well in excess of ₦150 million every month, has continued without financial support from the four local government areas that benefit from the improved security.
His commitment has not been limited to the roads.
Across the waterways of the Kalabari Kingdom, his security teams maintain continuous boat patrols, helping to deter piracy and criminal activities that once threatened fishermen, traders and commuters. Communities that once lived in fear have gradually regained confidence to conduct business and social activities on the rivers.
Since assuming the traditional responsibilities of Amanyanabo of The Source, he has also taken a firm stand against illegal crude oil refining and environmental destruction within his domain, insisting that the natural heritage of the Kalabari people must be protected for future generations.
Long before becoming a traditional ruler, Da Amakiri Tubo stood in defence of his people during some of the most turbulent periods in the history of the Niger Delta. During conflicts involving Kalabari communities and neighbouring areas, he was among those who openly defended the interests of his homeland. Many within the kingdom also acknowledge his role in helping to strengthen local security during periods when criminal gangs threatened the peace of Buguma and surrounding communities.
His philosophy has always been simple: leadership demands presence, sacrifice and responsibility.
A Patriot in the Service of Nigeria
To describe Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari merely through the prism of his past is to ignore the remarkable evolution of a man whose life today is dedicated to the security, stability and development of Nigeria. He is, without doubt, one of the country’s national treasures.
Contrary to the misconceptions often propagated by those who know little about his present-day work, Da Amakiri Tubo does not run a militia. Such assertions are not only inaccurate but also betray a profound ignorance of the realities on the ground.
Royal Fouche Services Limited is a Private Military Contractor (PMC), duly licensed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, with an established record of providing specialised security services in support of national security objectives.
The company’s highly trained operatives, popularly known as the Amama (Apapa) Soldiers, are disciplined professionals whose commitment to duty has earned them respect in security circles. Through rigorous training, operational discipline and unwavering professionalism, they have distinguished themselves as a dependable force in support of peace and stability.
Working in collaboration with Nigeria’s security agencies where deployed, Royal Fouche personnel have participated in security operations aimed at combating insurgency, terrorism, violent criminality and other threats to national peace in different parts of the country, including Anambra, Imo, Abia and Zamfara States. Their courage, discipline and sacrifice have contributed to creating safer communities and strengthening national security.
For Da Amakiri Tubo, security is more than a profession—it is a patriotic duty. His philosophy has always been that no nation can achieve meaningful development without peace and security. Through Royal Fouche Services Limited, he has demonstrated that private sector expertise, when properly regulated and professionally managed, can complement the efforts of government in protecting lives, safeguarding critical assets and preserving national stability.
The men and women of Royal Fouche are a source of pride, not only to the company but also to Nigeria. They represent a new generation of disciplined African security professionals whose service reflects courage, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In celebrating the life and legacy of Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, it is important to recognise this often-overlooked dimension of his public service: his unwavering commitment to the security of Nigeria and his belief that true patriotism is measured not by words, but by sacrifice in the service of one’s nation.
Yet perhaps no project better captures his vision than the remarkable rebirth of Elem Kalabari.
For well over a century, the ancient cradle of Kalabari civilisation remained largely abandoned, with little modern infrastructure to reflect its historical significance. Many accepted its decline as irreversible.
Da Amakiri Tubo refused to do so.
Where others saw an abandoned settlement, he saw the birthplace of a civilisation.
Where others saw decay, he saw history waiting to be restored.
Today, roads, modern buildings, public facilities and new investments are gradually changing the landscape of Elem Kalabari. The restoration is not simply about construction; it is about preserving identity, honouring the legacy of King Amakiri and ensuring that future generations inherit a living cultural heritage rather than memories preserved only in books.
His commitment to young people has been equally remarkable.
Through the King Amachree Sports Academy (KASA), talented boys and girls have been given opportunities that many could never have imagined. The Academy has already produced national champions in basketball and football, demonstrating that disciplined investment in youth can compete with the very best in Nigeria. The recently announced five-year partnership with veteran sports administrator Emeka Enyadike and EEXSport is expected to open international pathways for these young athletes, ensuring that their talents receive global exposure.
After over seven years, the KASa Boys, weeks ago won the 2026 Milo national youth basketball competition. Recently the KASA soccer team also won the Sam Okwaraji under 16 soccer contest in Port Harcourt.
Beyond education and sports, countless individuals have benefited from his personal generosity. Many students have received educational support. Families in distress have found assistance. Community projects have received funding. Religious institutions, cultural organisations and social causes have all experienced his philanthropy, often without publicity or fanfare.
Leadership will always invite scrutiny. That is healthy in any society. But criticism should also be balanced with an honest assessment of measurable contributions.
Every citizen has the constitutional right to express an opinion, whether from Nigeria or the diaspora. Equally, those who live daily with the realities on the ground have the right to judge leadership by its impact on their lives.
The Voice That Brought the Niger Delta to the World’s Attention
Long before he ascended the traditional stool of Amanyanabo of The Source, Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari had become one of the most recognisable voices of the Niger Delta struggle.
At a time when the environmental devastation of the oil-producing region received limited global attention, he emerged as one of the leading advocates demanding justice for the people of the Niger Delta. Through speeches, interviews and public engagements, he drew attention to decades of environmental degradation, polluted rivers, devastated farmlands, gas flaring and the socio-economic challenges confronting communities that produced the wealth upon which Nigeria’s economy depended.
Whether one agreed with all his methods or not, few would dispute that Dokubo-Asari became one of the defining figures of the Niger Delta agitation. His activities placed the region firmly on both the national and international agenda, compelling governments, policymakers, the international media and civil society organisations to pay closer attention to issues affecting the people of the oil-producing communities.
The years that followed witnessed greater national engagement with the region through expanded interventions, increased dialogue, development initiatives and broader recognition of the strategic importance of the Niger Delta to Nigeria’s peace and economic stability. While these developments resulted from the collective efforts of many stakeholders, the contributions of leaders such as Dokubo-Asari remain an important part of that history.
Today, his focus has evolved from agitation to institution-building.
The same passion that once drove him to advocate for justice now drives his commitment to peace, security, education, youth empowerment and cultural renaissance. Through sustained private investment, he has committed enormous resources to securing the Kalabari road corridor and waterways, restoring the historic kingdom of Elem Kalabari, promoting sports through the King Amachree Sports Academy, supporting community development and preserving the cultural heritage of his people.
His philosophy reflects a simple belief: the struggle for a people does not end when their voices are heard; it continues until their communities are secure, their children are educated, their heritage is preserved and their future is protected.
For Da Amakiri Tubo, leadership has therefore come to represent not merely resistance, but responsibility—not only speaking for the people, but investing in their future.
In the final analysis, social media posts may shape a day’s conversation, but it is sustained service that shapes history.
When future generations tell the story of this era in the Kalabari Kingdom, they will not ask who wrote the harshest words. They will ask who restored forgotten communities, who invested in young people, who protected lives when fear reigned, who preserved the culture of the ancestors and who left behind institutions that outlived them.
Those questions—and their answers—are where every enduring legacy is ultimately measured.
By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo,
The Storyteller,
Tel: 08109975621
Email; [email protected]
