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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The people of Opobo Kingdom have declared their decision to work closely with their son and Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
They have also resolved to work with the Opobo Local Government Council and the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.
The Amanyanabo-elect of Opobo, Alabo Prince Charles Jaja, stated this at his presentation by the King Jaja Group of Houses at Opuwariku, Opobo Kingdom, at the weekend.
He said support for the governor, local, and federal governments would ensure alignment and coordination of their development initiatives.
The monarch declared: “We will work closely with our Local Government, Rivers State Government which fortunately Amaopusenibo Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, GSSRS, manilla Tree awardee of Opobo Kingdom is our Governor and our noble son in whom we are well pleased, the Federal Government to ensure alignment and coordination of our development initiatives.”
Jaja added that Opobo people will also engage with multinational corporations to leverage their expertise, resources, and global connections to drive growth and development of their kingdom.
Speaking on his crown, the Amanyanabo-elect pledged to uphold the trust that has been bestowed upon him to achieve the desired development in the entire kingdom.
Alabo Jaja said: “Our kingdom is blessed with a rich cultural heritage, a vibrant tapestry of traditions, and a resilient people. As we look to the future, we must ensure that our development is guided by a commitment to preserving our unique identity and way of life.
“We will strive to promote sustainable growth to harness our resources in a way that benefits all our people and to protect our environment for future generations. We will celebrate our cultural inheritance, preserve our traditions and pass them unpolluted to our children and grandchildren.
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“A key pillar of our development will be investing in potential of our people, particularly our youths. We will prioritise education, skills development and empowerment programmes that equip our young people with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”
He, however, urged for genuine support from their indigenes, “wisdom of unending tolerance, heart of understanding and loyalty to the constituted authority and institution as we embark on this journey together.
“To preserve our cultural heritage, we will continue to document and promote our traditions, establish cultural centres and vigorously incorporate Ibani language into our domestic usages and local systems and facilitate cultural exchange programmes with our ancient kingdom Bonny to promote cross-cultural understandings.
“We will embark on institutional reforms to make our administration transparent and accountable. We will decentralise decision-making of the council of Alapu as to assign roles within the council.”
Also, immediate past chairman of King Jaja Royal War Canoe House, Senibo Enyinna Jaja, said the selection and emergence of the king went peacefully and seamlessly.
He said: “If you do not have a king, you and the entire community will be in disarray. But, now that we have a king, I know that the king will build on whatever the predecessor did and move this kingdom to another level.”
Also, Vice Chairman of Opobo Kingdom Council of Alapu, Alabo Princewill Dappa, described the event as epoch-making in Opobo Kingdom.
“It is something you can only witness, maybe once in your lifetime. So, that is why all of us are happy to receive our new king-elect, because formally, there will be coronation to become His Royal Majesty, King Prince Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, that would be his new title after coronation. Now, he is the Amanyanabo-elect of this great Kingdom.”
