A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Rivers State, Opuada Alaigoni Willie-Pepple has been installed and capped as the 9th Chief and Head of the Willie-Pepple Chieftaincy House of Grand Bonny Kingdom.

The installation and capping ceremony took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Willie-Pepple House Opuwari in Bonny, Rivers State. He now becomes INYEOKU IX.

The auspicious ceremony was performed by the Elders Council of the Willie-Pepple House in the presence of Se-Alabo Leslie Finecountry, the Head of the Igweyi Group of Houses, also known as the Tere Sikaka Wari Ogbo, comprising Finecountry Major House and Jackmay House.

On hand to observe the installation and capping process was the Bonny Chiefs Council led by its Chairman, Se-Alabo Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, accompanied by his colleagues, Se-Alabo Abel Attoni, Se-Alabo Evans Brown, Se-Alabo Golden Christy-Wilcox, Se-Alabo Reginald Captain Hart, and Se-Alabo Benjamin Ada-Allison.

Also, present were the Chiefs and Heads of Halliday and Pollyn Chieftaincy Houses, Wari-Alabo Adiesigha Halliday, and Wari-Alabo Bill Pollyn.

In its charge to the new Chief delivered through Se-Alabo Abel Attoni, the Bonny Chiefs Council congratulated him on his elevation, urging him to appreciate and respect the stool he now sits on and appropriate its power as he navigates the path of progress for his House and people.

Responding, the newly installed and capped Chief and Head of Willie-Pepple Chieftaincy House; Wari-Alabo Opuada Alaigoni Willie-Pepple thanked the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, Bonny Chiefs Council, the Elders Council of the Willie-Pepple House, and other stakeholders for their various roles in the run-up to his elevation.

He stated that he will ensure that the oath he has sworn to will be adhered to, reiterating that the unity, progress and development of the House will remain his focus during his time as the Head of Willie-Pepple family.

Kristina Reports is reporting that all strata of the Willie-Pepple Chieftaincy House comprising the Wariseniapu, Ogbobiri Asawo, Ere-Apu, Asawo and Ere-Awo were all in attendance at the event.

In attendance were a Justice of the Rivers State High Court; Justice Florence Fiberesima, General Manager of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC); Sampson Fiberesima, a former member of the House of Representatives; Amaopusenibo Randolph Brown, a former Managing Director of the Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RIMA), Amaopusenibo Victor Halliday, Chairman, Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC); Amaopusenibo Amairigha Hart, Secretary of the King Perekule Palace; Amaopusenibo Festus Pepple, Chief Executive Officer of Kristina Reports; Godswill Jumbo, amongst others.

Wari-Alabo Opuada Alaigoni Willie-Pepple will later, in line with Ibani customs and tradition, be presented to the Amanyanabo-in-Council, who will receive and induct him into the Bonny Chiefs Council thus making him a country chief of Bonny Kingdom, and effectively complete the process of chief making.

He alongside his fellow Chiefs will from then onward assisting the Amanyanabo to administer the Kingdom by advising the King, adjudicate over issues brought the Chiefs Council, mediate in crisis situations and provide an interface with external entities.