Expectations sparked for the soon emergence of a Chief and Head of the Tolofari Chieftaincy House of Kalaibiama Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State as it reconstituted its Council Wariseniapu recently.

A former Commissioner for Special Duties in the State, Frederick Tolofari told Kristina Reports in Port Harcourt, Rivers State that the last Chief and Head of the House was the late Se-Alabo Benjamin Richard Dick Tolofari, Oru-Asawo VIII.

Se-Alabo Dick Tolofari ruled the House from 1956 to 1992 and was buried in November 1993 in Kalaibiama Community after his transmigration to the great beyond.

Warisenibo Tolofari, who was a former Commissioner in the Rivers State Housee of Assembly Service Commission, expressed delight that peace and unity has now returned to the House with the resolution of diverse litigations 31 years later.

He informed that the various Burusu (federating family units) now have their elected Burusu Heads inducted into the Council of Wariseniapu by the Bonny Chiefs Council, which invoked the doctrine of necessity to act in the absence of a Chief and Head of the House.  

According to him, the Wariseniapu were elected at different times between year 2000 and 2001 and installed at the Burusu level by their respective families but could not function as members of the House Elders Council having not been inducted due to the absence of a Chief.

He further informed that the Bonny Chiefs Council inducted them into the Elders Council after confirming that there were duly elected by their respective families.

The inducted elders include Warisenibo Martins Tolofari, Ngereboaminanyefigha Burusu, Warisenibo Frederick Tolofari, Waduari Burusu, Warisenibo Clinton Tolofari, Fila Burusu, and Warisenibo Abinye Tolofari for Sughu Burusu.

These four added to the only surviving elder, Warisenibo Joel Tolofari of the Iganipuma Burusu now comprises the Tolofari Housee Council of Wariseniapu that will now, in line with Ibani custom and tradition, administer the House in the absence of a Chief.

The reconstitution of the Elders Council of the House effectively kick-starts the search for a suitable candidate to install as its Chief and Head.

Tolofari Chieftaincy House is one of the 14 major houses in ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom and one of House without a Chief and Head for several years now.