Bonny Island in Rivers State, Nigeria is in sombre mood at the moment as the legendary community prepares to join her leader, the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI to bid farewell to his younger sister, late Princess Kamba William Dappa Pepple.

Princess Kamba, as she was fondly called, passed on to the great beyond on Saturday, October 24, 2020.

Among events lined up to honour her passing is a parade by the women of Bonny Kingdom organized by the Bonny Women Forum (BWF) on Friday, December 4, 2020.

The funeral service is expected to hold at the St. Stephen Cathedral, Bonny on the morning of Saturday, December 5, 2020.

Dignitaries expected at the event include the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, his Deputy, Ipalibo Banigo, and members of the State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Local Governments, Rodaford Longjohn.

The lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Abinye Pepple, would be leading the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, Deputy Speaker, Ehie Edison, and his other colleagues, alongside, the Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator Betty Okagua-Apiafi, member representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo, former members of the House of Representatives, Randolph Brown and Tonye Longjohn, and a former member of the State House of Assembly, Aye Pepple, to the occasion.

As a onetime Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, the bereaved Monarch is expected to be comforted by his colleagues in the council led by its current Chairman and Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, a former Minister of Transport and Achin III of Okrika Kingdom, Alabo Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and Chairman of the Nigeria LNG Board, His Majesty, King Edmund Daukoru.

It is also expected that the Chairman of Bonny LGA, David Irimagha would also be accompanied to the funeral by his colleague Chairmen from other LGAs, including his predecessors, Cyril Hart, Edward Pepple, Charles Jumbo, Simon Hart, Benjamin Ibietonye, Nelson Irimagha, and Isobonye Tobin.

Some captains of industry expected include the Managing Director of the Nigeria LNG, Tony Attah, alongside other senior management staff, same as those of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), among other multinationals operating in Bonny Island.  

Sources close to the royal family hinted Kristina Reports that given the fondness and close bonding between the Bonny Monarch and his now late sibling, her passing was a huge emotional blow to him.

Our sources stressed that this is reinforced by the fact that the late Princess Kamba was a humane, compassionate and endearing personality during her earthly sojourn, ideals the King cherishes and exudes.   

“Her philanthropy is well-known and yes, she was a good woman. She hardly could put up with people suffering around her, she was an epitome of compassion.”

In line with guidelines for the funeral, the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), which the king presides over, has announced restrictions around the township area of Bonny Island, and also that residents, indigenes and non-natives, maintain decent dressing throughout the period of the funeral rites for the late Princess.  

The dress code, as contained in a statement by the chiefs, signed by the Chairman, Chief Dagogo Wilcox, and Secretary, Chief Arthur Willie-Pepple, include Ibani traditional dressing, conservative dressing, excluding wearing of trousers by women, while appealing for the cooperation of all and sundry to accord the deceased her last respects.