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.
