It was a weekend of emotions as the crème-de-la-crème of society from far and near converged on Bonny Island to bid farewell to the erstwhile Secretary of Bonny Chiefs Council, Se-Alabo Arthur Lawrence Sodienye Willie-Pepple, PhD, Inyeoku IV.

The late sage, who was also the Chief and Head of Willie-Pepple Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom, as per Bonny Kingdom tradition and customs, transmigrated to the great beyond on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 leaving behind a mourning Kingdom, chieftaincy house, family and friends.

During his lifetime, aside being the Scribe of the BCC and traditional head of the Willie-Pepple Chieftaincy House, the late Se-Alabo Willie-Pepple was a non-executive director in the board of Arksego, one of Nigeria’s pioneer private security services provider in Nigeria.

The funeral obsequies kicked off with the firing of seven canon shots at the Willie-Pepple Opuwari followed by a Valedictory Session in his honour by the Bonny Chiefs Council presided over by the Amanyanabo-in-Council, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, DSSRS, JP, Perekule XI, at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny.

In his remarks, the revered monarch said that his humility, affability, accessibility and humanity were well beknown to all and sundry who came across him, describing him as a “brother and confidant”, acknowledging that his was an irreplaceable asset to Bonny Kingdom.

On Saturday, November 11, 2023, a funeral service in his honour was held at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church, Bonny where the Sub-Dean of the Cathedral, Ven. Amarvey Abbey-Kalio prayed for the repose of his spirit in the bosom of the Lord, while extolling the sterling virtues he exuded during his lifetime.

In various tributes at the Willie-Pepple Opuwari, the Wariopuseniapu, Wariseniapu and titled citizens of Bonny Kingdom took time to pour plaudits on the late traditional ruler, reminiscing on his character, candour and charisma, not leaving out his notable contributions to the development of the Bonny society.

Uniquely, the late traditional ruler was accorded the final farewell by a family cluster of chieftaincy houses; the King Perekule Royal House, and the Suoyibo Group of Houses, namely Willie-Pepple, Finecountry and Jackmay chieftaincy houses all of ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom.

In attendance in the litany of events comprising the funeral obsequies were the chief mourner and Chairman of the Willie-Pepple Chieftaincy House, Amaopusenibo Opuada Willie-Pepple, Chairman of Bonny LGA, Dame Alabota Anengi Claude-Wilcox, her husband and Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs Council, Se-Alabo Lt Col. Rtd. Dagogo Suola Claude-Wilcox, MON, a former Minister of Housing, Amaopuorubo Amal Pepple, former Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, and a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Aye Pepple, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Amaopusenibo Jonathan Nimi Hart.

Members of the Bonny Chiefs Council present were the Chiefs and Heads of Captain House Group of Houses, Se-Alabo Reginald Fiene Peter Abbey-Hart, Attoni House, Se-Alabo Abel Adafe Attoni, Brown House, Se-Alabo Evans Clement Brown, Adda Allison, Se-Alabo Benjamin Ada-Allison, Longjohn House, Se-Alabo Osobonye Longjohn, Jack-Wilson Pepple House, Se-Alabo Hanniel Jack-Wilson Pepple, Finecountry, Se-Alabo Leslie Finecountry, Christy-Wilcox, Se-Alabo Golden Christy-Wilcox, and Ezekiel-Hart House, Se-Alabo Idasonye Ezekiel-Hart.  

Others were the Chairman of Jumbo Major House, Wari-Alabo Sodienye Jumbo, Chief and Head of Jim-Halliday House, Wari-Alabo Elliot Jim-Halliday, Chancellor, Amaopusenibo Squadron Leader Rtd. Olam Allwell-Brown, and members of the Bonny Gentlemen’s League, President, Amaopusenibo Furosia Wilcox, and members of the Bonny Kingdom Titled Citizens Assembly, and Leader, Amaopuorubo Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, and members of the Bonny Kingdom Women Forum, a former Commissioner for Finance, Amaopusenibo Israel Williams, former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Stephen Hart, President, Decent Court Hotels, Amaopusenibo Dimieari Green, and Chairman, Bonny Kingdom Development Committee and President Bonny Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Amaopusenibo Amairigha Hart, amongst several others.