As the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward William Dappa Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI, turned 55 years, women from various Pentecostal Churches in Bonny Local Government Area gathered to offer prayers for him and the kingdom.

The meeting, which held at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Willbros Road, Bonny, was under the auspices of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Women, Bonny chapter, was presided over the President of the body, Reverend Caroline Dublin-Green.

According to the Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA, Anengi BArasua, the prayers therein offered were predicated on the fact that Bonny Kingdom, which the revered Monarch superintends over, was currently faced by inexplicable health challenges that have negatively impacted the health of the people thus necessitated the prayers for the King and the kingdom.  

“It was the King’s birthday but coincidentally His birthday fell in the period when most Bonny people are mourning, so the women came together and based on recent events in Bonny where people are falling sick, people are dying the women thought it wise that silver and gold they had none to celebrate the king but all they can offer were their prayers for him and for the kingdom.”

“We prayed that God should give him long life on earth, wisdom and protection and even the wherewithal so he can lead us to greater heights.”  

“And then we prayed for the kingdom for God’s intervention; for God to heal the land of all diseases and of all sicknesses because as of that day and even now that I am speaking with you we cannot fully ascertain what is actually killing Bonny people.”

She extolled the sterling character and accommodating leadership style of King Pepple III, saying that his vision, compassion and forthrightness have endeared him to the hearts of his people, explaining that this was responsible for the huge celebrations that greeted his birthday.    

“The massive celebration that happened has a lot to do with his character because if he has not been good to the people of Bonny Kingdom they will not come out en masse the way they came out.”

“That goes a long way to show that the people are happy with the King even though they are not happy with the events in the kingdom they know that the King has the vision to carry the kingdom and carry Bonny along.

“As per his style of leadership, he reaches out to everybody, so everybody is happy with his style of leadership. People are happy with the king especially the way the king is going about his leadership, he is not a dictator he rules with love and the interest of the kingdom in his heart”.

“So, they (the women) felt it was an opportunity for them to cry out, because we, women, have a way of touching the heart of God; we decided to cry out on behalf of the kingdom.”  

On her part, the Deputy Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom and a former member of the Caretaker Committee of Bonny LGA, Dabota Jumbo expressed appreciation to the PFN Women executives for making such a commendable decision to pray for the King and the Kingdom on such an auspicious occasion.

“I appreciate the PFN Women executives for organizing a prayer session in honour of my cousin, the King on his birthday even at a very short notice.”

She charged them to be consistent in their prayers for the Monarch and for peace and serenity in Bonny Kingdom, stressing that it is the duty of women, who are the mothers of society, to continue to pray for the kingdom and her people.  

“I charge you to be steadfast and consistent in praying for the King and the peace of the kingdom in line with biblical admonition to pray for those that are in rule over us.”

“Let me emphasize that, as women and mothers, our duty is to continually pray without ceasing for the progress of our Kingdom, sons and daughters.”

Secretary of the PFN Women, Bonny Chapter, Pastor Grace Okposin noted that as His Majesty, the King added another year to his age and with the challenges facing the kingdom, it was clear he needed more wisdom, longevity and grace to continue to provide the needed leadership for the kingdom.

“We just thought it wise that since King’s birthday was coming up and so much has been happening this period that we should gather ad pray for him and pray for the kingdom also.”

“So, we just gathered and prayed for him, for long life, for wisdom and all that it will take to lead Bonny properly. Then we prayed for the kingdom also because of course without a kingdom there would be no King. We prayed for the kingdom and asked God to heal the land and that in any way we have erred, let the Lord have mercy.”

The PFN Women, which comprises Christian women drawn from all Pentecostal churches in Bonny LGA and every strata of society, has been involved in diverse interventions since its inception including special prayer sessions, charity and counseling for women in business, relationships, among others.