The day began on a celebrative note with dignitaries and distinguished guests from all walks of life streaming in from different parts of the country to grace and garnish the occasion.
The occasion, by the way, was the installation ceremony of a former Minister of Transport and Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Abiye Sekibo as the Chief and Paramount Head of the Achin War Canoe House of Koniju Town and his admission into the Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs.
The various traditional rites and observances were performed very early that fateful day before Dr Sekibo was unveiled to the waiting public and the motley crowd of distinguished personalities at the event venue at National Field, Okrika.
Among these revered personalities were a former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, a former Executive Director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Amasenibo Larry Pepple, the Senator representing Rivers East in the National Assembly, Senator George Sekibo, former members of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Randolph Brown, and Rt. Hon. Tunde Akogun, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Aye Pepple, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Jerry Gana, and a former Chairman of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDC), Chief Ferdinand Anabraba.
Others were a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adams Dabotorudima, Amanyanabo of Okochiri, His Royal Highness, King Ateke Tom, and several other traditional rulers within and outside Rivers State, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ehie Edison, the member representing Ogu/Bolo, Hon. Evans Bipi, and other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Security Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. David Irimagha, and the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, among other dignitaries.
But one dignitary that changed the general mood of the celebration was the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of the ancient Kingdom of Grand Bonny, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI, who arrived with the classic majestic grace of his bearing. The glory that embodied that royal ingress was stunningly amazing and a beautiful sight to behold.
The Otobo masquerade escorts the Leader of the Ibani race, the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of the ancient Kingdom of Grand Bonny, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI to Okrika
Ensconced in the midst of his revered Chiefs, titled citizens and daintily clad delectable ladies from his kingdom, the King, popularly referred to as the ‘Black Monarch’, was escorted into the sprightly arena by the Otobo (Hippopotamus) masquerade of the Ibaniwari International Owu-Ogbo that danced their way into the arena announcing his ingress.
Upon arrival, the Rivers State Governor went on a spree of banter as he greeted the dignitaries in his line of passage until he got to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom and engaged him in that friendly banter of years of friendship. So much for catching up.
The event went well, the announcement of the new traditional ruler, the counsel of Governor Wike to the Chief Dr Abiye Sekibo to bring his years of political and governance exposure to bear in shaping discourse and development trajectory in Wakrike-Ama, and Rivers State, in general, the masquerade displays by the Otobo masquerade and the Abara dance group, both from Bonny Kingdom, and the dainty food and drinks, amongst other things that made the day memorable.
For His Majesty, King Edward Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI, it was a reunion that was exciting having worked with Dr Sekibo while he was the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers during the hey days of the then Governor, Dr Peter Odili, and the latter was the Secretary to the State Government.
It was an auspicious occasion to embark on a reminiscence of the shared memories, shared thoughts on governance and those intrinsic values and ethos that distinguished the Rivers man from others across the globe.
The event eventually came to a glorious climax and the young, effervescent and cerebral monarch left with as much grace as he came with having shared with an old friend, the biblical injunction, ‘rejoice with them that rejoice’.
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