As the man referred to as the ‘Great Henderson’ was accorded his last respects by his kith and kin, the glistening blaze of the glory he has brought to the great and ancient house of Okponkata, the Jumbo Major House of Grand Bonny Kingdom came into full perspective.

This was evident in the turn-out of almost all members of the Elders Council, the Ere-Apu (Women), the Ogbobiri Asawo (Able Young Men), the Asawo (Youth), and all other arms of the Jumbo Major House to escort him on his last journey on earth, and this was under the drenching rain that made its abode of that fateful Friday, October 22, 2021.

That he died on a Sunday is not surprising for a man who gave himself and all he had to God Almighty and served him till his last day on earth. Henderson Enyinna Somieari Jumbo arrived this world on Sunday, August 15, 1937, and departed on Sunday, June 13, 2021.

And this reflected in the owning of his last burial rites by his church, the Greater Evangelism World Crusade (GEWC), which members, in their large numbers, followed his remains everywhere it went on that fateful Friday morning.

Eulogizing the demised head of the Irisomieari Burusu of Jumbo Major House of Bonny Kingdom, the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the House, Wari-Alabo Sodienye Jumbo, in a tribute he read out at his lying-in-state in his country home, went down memory lane to outline the extraordinary contributions of the late sage to the progress and development of the House.

“Warisenibo Henderson Jumbo was the past Secretary of Jumbo Major House of Grand Bonny Kingdom. He became Secretary in April 1996 after being sworn in as Warisenibo. He was a Principal Member of the House and served under the leadership of Late Chief A.D. William Jumbo. He was a meticulous man, a teacher, and a man of God in the Greater Evangelism Church.”

The Elders Council Chairman noted that the while serving meritoriously as Secretary, Henderson “ensured that the House was on the right track,” and “stood his ground  and ensured that Jumbo Major House was not shortchanged in the scheme of things,” stressing that “he was a man of peace; and ensured that our youths maintained the peace not minding the provocation”.  

He added that after playing very strategic roles in the emergence of Chief Horace Herbert Oko-Jumbo in 2,000, due to his principled stance, the two fell apart but he still “maintained his cool; and “stood against enemies of progress in the Jumbo Major House. He loved Jumbo Major House. We shall miss him. We thank God for his life and the numerous contributions he made in the House”.

As the remains of the late Warisenibo of the Irisomieari Burusu of Jumbo Major House stopped over at his family house in Ayambo Community for a brief lying-in-state, his younger brother and acting Head of the Burusu, Wari-Alabo Samuel Jumbo used this occasion to extol his striking qualities during his sojourn in life.

“It is the encouragement he gave to every one of us that we are celebrating. He has been the tree that we have been looking up to, borrowing from him, hearing from him and indeed always referring to him in everything we have to do.”

“I know him as a man of courage and one that would move in the strength of courage and will always overcome. We will hold on to the advice he has given us and borrow from him the character of a forgiving father. He forgave everybody and not just for the people around but for himself. He forgave everybody for his own self.

“In his time we were able to give people scholarship. In his time we were able to meet more as a family and whenever we are going somewhere we go as a group. In his time we were able to hold a solemn assembly, an assembly in which we were able to gather together and pray together and presented our matters to God in prayer and also thank God for the House which he gave us. Dee did so many things, I can’t mention them all.” 

Delivering his homily during the Funeral Service in honour of the late Jumbo Major House Secretary, Pastor Chris Eziuka noted that Apostle Paul’s summation of his ministry in 2 Timothy 4:7, wherein he stated that “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”, was akin to the that of the late sage, Elder, Pastor and Warisenibo Henderson Jumbo.

“We have come here to bury a man that God actually called home. I think that is the story of our father. From when he gave his life to Christ in 1981 till the day he died he fought a good fight of faith. I pray that every one of us shall be part of the kind of life our father lived. He did not just live himself or love his family he loved his community.”

The revered cleric noted that the late Henderson expressed his love for his people, the Jumbo Major House, in the ceaseless prayers he offered personally and mobilized other Christian faithful to offer on behalf of the Jumbo Major House.

“He told me that ‘Pastor, continue to pray for my people’. And I asked him ‘who are your people?’ and he said ‘the Jumbo Major House of Bonny Kingdom’. So, we were having prayers together for his community. He loved his people, he loved his community. He dedicated his life and times for his community. He wasn’t selfish, if he thinks it’s good for him he also thinks it is good for another person.”

After the Interment at the Bonny Cemetery, some of his children, who spoke to Kristina Reports extolled his fatherly virtues and relived beautiful memories of their time with him while alive.

The late sage’s first son, who described himself as “a replica of my dad”, Nengi Jumbo, posited that his father was deserving of being celebrated given his invaluable contributions to Bonny Kingdom, Jumbo Major House and the Irisomieari Burusu.

“He is a great man. I will say he is a sage and I thank God he was celebrated. That was why I didn’t shed tears. He gave himself for this kingdom, for Jumbo Major House, Irisomieari Burusu and our immediate family, Chief Davies Jumbo family.”

“My dad was unexplainable, I couldn’t even write a tribute. The tribute is what we saw today and on Wednesday during the service of songs. Whatever he does you can be sure that he has looked at it from all angles and once he decides he doggedly follows it to a logical conclusion.”

On her part one of his daughters, Tari Ahiamadu expressed gratitude for the various leitmotifs she derived from her interactions with her father while he was alive, which she said shaped her life and set her up for success in life, adding that he was interested in every aspect of his children’s lives such as their academics.

“Life experiences that have brought us this far were learnt from Daddy. It just dawned on me that Daddy was 84 years, he was a very vibrant person, an exceptional personality. There were no dull moments with him, he walks into a room and the room is lit up.”

“As a little child, I traveled round the world through books because daddy would make me read. He would sit up late with me to do my homework, especially, my compositions and my comprehensions. And I always came tops because I was always asked to read my comprehension in class. I always had a father that was going to burn the candles with me to get the best out of my debate.”

Another of his daughter, Nimi Ogbeifun lauded his predilection of positivity and unflinching faith in his Maker during his earthly sojourn, relishing the privilege of being brought up in a Christian home, which she posited was the bedrock of her upbringing.

“Dad always found something positive in things. Dad makes the weakest person feel so strong. Dad is just really special. Dad was a gentleman, he loved God; I will liken his faith to that of Abraham. He was a man of faith.”

“I remember growing up in Port Harcourt when there was no water anywhere, the whole taps were off and my elder ones had to go a long way to get water. One day, dad just woke up and called us all and we prayed and after praying he said we should go downstairs and turn on the taps and that was water flowing. And the water just flowed in only our house. He really loved God. Growing up in a Christian home is the bedrock of my childhood.”   

Also speaking, one of his granddaughters, Emmanuella Ahiamadu relived vividly the memories of her and her granddad during his lifetime in very glowing terms, noting how he made every effort to make his grandchildren very comfortable in his presence.

“He was my best grandfather. I really love him and it’s so hard to imagine that Grandpa is gone. While he was alive, any time I come back from school, Grandpa will always be there. Mom sometimes comes back late from work. So, she sends someone to drop me off and Grandpa will be there with me.”

“We will play games and sometimes he will even help me with my homework. And he will give me money sometimes when I don’t want to eat what’s at home to go and get something like snacks to eat. And also when I don’t want to eat the meat that is at home, Grandpa will always send one of my uncles to go and get chicken republic for me.”

“Grandpa is generous, grandpa loves everybody. Like the boys that grandpa doesn’t even know, he will invite them to the house and invite them to church. And some of them who come, grandpa will give them money for offering. Grandpa was so generous, grandpa was so loving and grandpa was so wonderful.”