The Gbaramatu Traditional Council in Warri South-West Local Government
Area, Delta State today installed the 26th King, HRM. Pere Naira
Williams Ogoba, Oboro II for the Kingdom.
Earlier, the newly enthroned Gbaramatu monarch, HRM. Pere Naira
Williams Ogoba Oboro II who spoke Izon language charged his subjects
to be united and peaceful stressing that, “ it is only with unity and
peace that the people can grow.”
Former Regent of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Patrick .T. Heavens who
spoke of behalf of the Kingdom appealed to the Federal Government of
Nigeria not to see the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom as “antagonists” “
enemies of progress” “ troublemakers” rather as peacemakers in the
country.
While noting the significance of the enthronement and crowning of the
new Gbaramatu King, Chief Heavens said with the reign of of its new
monarch, the kingdom will be promoting and contributing to the
existing peace in Gbaramatu Kingdom , the Niger Delta and Nigeria in
General just as he gave the assurance that there will be no problems
emanating from the area stressing that the people of Gbaramatu are
peacemakers.
He noted that High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a,
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 continues.
According to Chief Heavens, “First and foremost, we are peacemakers,
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
peacemaking . With the enthronement and crowning of a new king today
the peace process continues and therefore Government should not see us
as antagonist and enemies of progress nor troublemakers but 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 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 and we are all here to show our
concern.
From Mathew Omonigho
