Coming from an over 25 year intractable crisis, the Jumbo Major House of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria staged a glorious comeback with its hugely successful family meeting held in Bonny on Saturday, January 18, 2020.
Convened by its Elders’ Council, the meeting had in attendance every strata of the Jumbo Major House comprising communities, family clusters, community leaders, women and youths leaders, various stakeholders, and even observers.
The Wari-Alapu (House Heads) and Wari-Seniapu (House Elders) representing the Burusu/Stools of the Juwo-Owubo (Jumbo) Major House of Grand Bonny Kingdom comprising Agu Okponkata, Aluchaogu, Anidima, Anwoparabietogha, Bagg Jumbo, Dibieobuma, Edward Omoni, Enoch Ude, Fred Berewariipirima, Herbert Fubarawari, Ibinyesiari, Igbiselegha Chapp Jumbo, Igwe, Isaac Ereforiokuma, Jabez Oko-Jumbo, Jonah Nwaichi, Juwosomie, Lazarus Asiparamatogha, Minalanyeofori, Nathaniel Gberenyingi, Nwonimi, Ogologo, Okorie Nwodu, Omiebaradima, Omubo Nwabam, Oribaradiifini, Orudianga, Orumbie, Punch Uwakwe, Robert Enyinna, Samuel Irisomieari Chapp Jumbo, Solomon Inyesiselema, Steamboat Igbinyemieari, Thomas Idafiniokuma, Titus Egege, Tom Yellow Belly, Welsh Dibia, and William Adonye were all present at the well-attended meeting.
The Elders…
Wariopu-Orubo Oyiya Jumbo arriving for the meeting 
Addressing the august gathering, acting Chairman of the Jumbo Major House Elders’ Council, Amaopusenibo Sodienye Jumbo, who described the meeting as “a unique opportunity” and “an avenue for the elders to reach the people and get their feedback”, said the Council acted based on its traditional role as the pillar upon which the house rests to convene the meeting.
“Jumbo Major House is a traditional institution and as a traditional house like every other house in the kingdom, we have the Council of Elders as a traditional institution. It is like the pillar holding the house. Once you remove any of these pillars, the house will become unstable and the house will collapse. Therefore, we deemed it necessary to call this meeting”.
He stressed that it was with a view to restoring sanity in the house and ensuring the house moves forward, pointing out that the Elders’ Council was backed by the tradition of Bonny Kingdom and the constitution of Jumbo Major House in discharging its traditionally entrenched duty of managing the affairs of the House.
The People…
“This meeting is supposed to hold once in a year. It is mandatory. It is there in the constitution for the elders to come around and talk to the public or the masses whichever you want to call it. It will also give them the opportunity to get feedback but for some time now that has not being happening.”
Over 50 families that comprise the Jumbo Major House were represented in the august meeting including Agu Okponkata, Nwaonimi Jumbo, Oribaradiifini, Igbiselegha Chapp Jumbo, Nwaodu, and Samuel Irisomieari Chapp Jumbo of Ayambo Community; and Jabez Oko-Jumbo, Herbert Fubarawari, Karibi Oko-Jumbo, Alex Baba Oko-Jumbo, Welsh Dibia, Titus Egege, Aduobienyeofori, Fred Berewariipirima of Burukiri Community.
From Georgekiri Community came the Tom Yellow Belly, Robert Enyinna, Nathaniel Gberenyingi (Otunne), Thomas Idafiniokuma (Ebereagu), Afi Oko-Jumbo, Solomon Inyesiselema, Orudianga, and Isaac Ereforiokuma families; and Ibinyesiari family of Orupiri Community.
Jonah Nwaichi, Davies Oko-Jumbo, Edward Omoni, Lazarus Asiparamatogha, Aluchaogu, Okorie Nwodu, Punch Uwakwe, and Pugh Tumini Minim families came from Arugbana-Ama Community; Anwoparabietogha (Nwato), Dibia Nwodu, Orumbie, Samuel Ibani Oko-Jumbo, Minalanyeofori, Enoch Ude, Omiebaradima, Omubo Nwabam, Juwosomie, Steamboat Igbinyemieari, and Dibieobuma from Ishile-Ogono Community; and Bagg Jumbo from Bagg Jumbo Community.
Nunabie Community was represented by the Omiebaraibim and Biebara families; Jumbo Abalamabie Community by Ogologo family; Nwonimi-Ama Community by Nwonimi and Fred Berewariopirima families; William Adonye Jumbo by William Adonye Jumbo family; Ayaminima Community by the Igwe family; Oloma Community by Ekelemabo family; Polokiri Community by Ereforiokuma family; Eferewari Burukiri by Enenimiabo family; Perekule Iwoama by Mbiogbu Oko-Jumbo family; Dappa Posie Community by the Opu-Dappa Oko-Jumbo family.
The acting Chairman of the Jumbo Major House Elders Council declared that “the time has come for us as a house, as a traditional institution to show where our loyalty lies. I am advising us to be focused because all of us here are the same Jumbo. The only way we can move this House forward is for all of us to come together as a house, as a unit. Let us not allow anybody to divide us”.
Speaking, a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Benjamin Ibietonye ascribed the success of the meeting to God, praising the elders of the house for convening the meeting and focusing on issues that were centrifugal to the unity of the house, while commending the various stakeholders, communities represented, the women and youths for contributing to the success of the event.
“First of all, I will give God all the glory for the opportunity to come together as one and secondly, I will thank and appreciate the efforts of the Council of Elders of Jumbo House who decided without looking at camps and factions in the house and summoned such meeting. And the meeting as you were present there you could see that it a good representation of the Jumbos.”
“I will also go further to thank the Council of Elders to have gone further to discuss issues that are pertinent to the development of the house instead of discussing issues that will ordinarily tear the house apart such as the chieftaincy matter. Consciously it was not discussed rather issues pertaining to development and understanding from the community basis to the centre”.
On his part, an elder of the George-Kiri Community, Robert Jumbo emphasised the need for unity of purpose and shared vision if the House was to move forward and achieve set objectives.
“In an atmosphere of rancour and disunity very little can be done. In an atmosphere devoid of peace nothing meaningful can be achieved”.
Another elder of the House, Dagogo Mina Jumbo of the Samuel Ibani Burusu of Ishile-Ogono expressed delight that inspite of its protracted crisis, the House was able to pull through with the meeting, expressing optimism that peace has returned to the house.
“Yes, we have been having crisis and so many factions but then it behoves the Almighty God that we were able to bring everyone together inspite of the crisis. I can see that there is peace and openness and from there I know Jumbo House will excel to its former glory”.
In a chat with Kristina Reports shortly after the event, Deputy Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Mrs. Dabota Jumbo described the meeting as a “right step in the right direction”, stressing that given the threshold of economic boom that Bonny Kingdom has found herself it was imperative for Jumbo House to coalesce together to take advantage of the imminent opportunities.
“Everyone will say there is strength in numbers. Jumbo (House) has the numbers. So, the numbers should speak for them in a positive manner. I am happy this is happening when the whole world have their eyes on Bonny. We have no better time to be more united so that we can maximise all of the good opportunities that will be coming our way in terms of social and economic empowerment of our citizens. It is highly recommended, it is highly welcome.”
Speaking, the representative of the Thomas Idafiniokuma (Ebereagu) Burusu of George-Kiri Community, Amasenibo Hamlet Jumbo, who is also the Publicity Secretary of the Council of Elders of Jumbo Major House, praised God for the success of the meeting, noting that it has provided a veritable platform of interface between the elders and the people to discuss salient issues with a view to galvanizing the house into action.
“We have to give glory and thanks to the Lord Almighty who made it possible. I believe that Jumbo House is in the hands of God and you can see that today’s meeting was a success. The entire family strata were adequately represented”.
“We want to reawaken the house system. We want all the components of Jumbo House to be galvanized into action to be active. So, we feel that this is one of the ways we can galvanize back the house system, the Jumbo House especially.”
Also speaking, Women Leader of the House, Amaopu-Orubo Elfrida Jumbo thanked the elders of the House for taking definite steps to return the House to the path of progress, saying that the women were ready and willing to cooperate with the elders to move the house forward.
“To God be the glory everything is going to work out fine because we are going to move forward so long as the Elders Council will be briefing us on what to do. We will be working according to their own directive. We cannot do things alone. They are the ones that will direct us on what to do. The House is being ruled for now by our Elders Council so we will follow their instructions, anything they are telling us that is what we are going to do.”
Some youth leaders who also spoke with Kristina Reports, Burukiri Community Youth Leader, Omoni Sylvanus, Secretary to the Chairman of Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre, Samuel Jumbo, and Austin Jumbo from Georgekiri Community all applaude the elders of the Jumbo Major House for convening the meeting, noting that the youths were happy with the move by the elders and were ready to avail them the needed support to move the house forward.
Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion included a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bonny LGA, Amasenibo Charles Jumbo, Leader and members of the Elders’ Council, Nengi Best, Blessby Jumbo, Adawari Josiah Jumbo, Edmund Jumbo, Mieadonye Jumbo, Jason Tumini Jumbo, Kenneth Jumbo, Michael Orumbie, Secretary of the Elders’ Council, Kalada Jene, Eric Jumbo, James Apiafi Jumbo, Emmanuel Oko-Jumbo, Benedict Ibani Jumbo, Ashley Ibiowugha Jumbo, Gentle Dan-Jumbo, Charles Tonyeibi, Fidelis Jumbo, and Sobere Jumbo.
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