…As Traditional Council Drums Support for Tompolo
By Our Correspondent
The Traditional Council and the people of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West of Delta State were in a festive mood yesterday as they crowned His Majesty Naira Williams Ogoba, Oboro II of Gbaramatu Kingdom as their 26th monarch.
The ceremony which was colourful in nature attracted sons and daughters of the kingdom who lived far and wide to witness the ceremony.
The newly enthroned Gbaramatu monarch, His Majesty Pere Naira Williams Ogoba Oboro II who spoke in Izon language charged his subjects to be united and peaceful stressing that the people of the kingdom can only grow when they are united and peaceful.
Speaking at the occasion, thefFormer Regent of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Patrick .T. Heavens who spoke on behalf of the Kingdom, appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria not to see the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom as enemies of progress but rather as peacemakers in the
country.
Speaking on the significance of the enthronement and crowning of the new Gbaramatu monarch, Chief Heavens said that the reign of the new monarch, will promote and contribute to the existing peace in the kingdom, Niger Delta region and the country as a whole, assuring Nigerians that no problem will henceforth emanate from the kingdom as they are peaceful people.
Commenting on the problem the Federal Government have with the High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Chief Heaven noted Tompolo has contributed to the peace in Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Niger Delta stressing that with the enthronement of the new King the peace process will continue.
He said, “First and foremost, we are peacemakers, and Gbaramatu will be promoting peace . Secondly, they should be expecting that Gbaramatu will be contributing peace. There will be no problem and therefore, one of the key peacemakers in this part of the world particularly from Gbaramatu in the Niger Delta is High Chief Government Ekpemupolo Alias Tompolo . He is part and parcel of the peacemaking process. With the enthronement and crowning of a new king today the peace process will continue. Therefore, Government should not see us as antagonist and enemies of progress nor troublemakers but they should see us as peacemakers.”
Chief Heavens charged the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom to live in harmony and peace with one another as well as give their support to the new King to enable him attract the desired development to their land.
The Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom , Chief Wellington Okirika CON who hailed the installation of the new King said the Nigerian Government should be grateful to Gbaramatu kingdom for having High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo whom he christened as a “peacemaker” who has brought peace and fairness in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
Chief Okirika, a former Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC assured the Federal Government of Nigeria of peace from Gbaramatu Kingdom which according to him will “pervade the whole of the Niger Delta” pointing out that a peacemaker could sometime be misunderstood.
The Mobilizer of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama said the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom cannot wish High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo away to the hands of their enemies because of his contributions to peace in their land.
Chief Gbenekama attributed the selection, election and subsequent enthronement of the new Gbaramatu monarch to the contributions which High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpeupolo alias, Tompolo put in place for the Kingdom.
Chief Gbenekama noted that Tompolo who has attracted peace and development to the area, controls the Kingdom and there is peace in the land.
Chief Gbenekama said the newly enthroned crowned monarch will partner the Federal Government of Nigeria with a view to bringing lasting peace and development to Gbaramatu and the Niger Delta region. Chief Gbenekama said the enthronement of the new King crowns the
efforts of the Gbaramatu people at ensuring lasting peace in their land adding that the new monarch is ever ready to work with the Federal Government on any matter especially concerning peace.
In his words, “I am by far his senior but he is a young man I have known for a very long time . Sometimes, we wonder at the innovations and the struggle to maintain peace in the Niger Delta . We wonder how he comes about those innovations. So, the young man Government
Ekpemupolo is a man that wants peace. That we are having a king in Gbaramatu Kingdom is a result of his contributions to this place. He may not be present here, but his contributions to making sure that there is a king that controls the kingdom and there is peace in the kingdom cannot be over-emphasized. He is useful to us . He is a man of the people and I say he is still very much respected by his people, loved by his people. We shouldn’t be carried away with the fools that make noise all over the place. Wea are in Oproza now, look around
can’t you see the happiness and joy around the area? This young man has contributed a lot to peace and development in our clan. We cannot wish him away, we cannot at any point say we don’t like him. We love him.”
Chairman of Kokodiagbene Community, Comrade Sheriff Mulade hailed the enthronement of the new king called on him to unite the entire Gbaramatu people , be law abiding , obey his people as well as work with Government at all levels to bring the desired development to
Gbaramatu people.
Comrade Mulade also commended the selection, election process for the traditional stool which he also described as the best. “It is an historic event for all of us. If the selection process was
not normal, you won’t see many of us but we are all here to show our
concern.
