Tompolo’s Monarch Returns To Domain After Week-long Cleansing, Spiritual Fortification Exercise

The paramount ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II Aketekpe (Agadagba) who left his palace to Agadagba-Bou (Ijaw Holy Land) some weeks ago in search of divine wisdom and understanding to administer his people and handle issues of the Niger Delta region as its concerns his subjects is back.

BigPen Online reports that the monarch left his palace in the wake of reported offensive from the Benin Traditional Council which had accused the Gbaramatu monarch of meddling into the traditional institution of the Benin Kingdom through installation of the King of Olodiama Kingdom, an Ijaw homeland in Edo state.

It was learnt that following the circumstances surrounding the issue, the monarch decided to go for his pilgrimage to the Agadagba-Bou (Ijaw Holy Land) of the Ijaw nation at Egbedani Community in Sabageria Town, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The monarch praying for his subjects on arrival at Warri club waterfront

The exercise undertook by the monarch,  according to spokesman of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama would have a very huge significant effect on the throne and how the monarch would tackle issues of the Niger Delta region as it concerns his domain.

Gbenekama had told newsmen in a telephone conversation while welcoming the monarch who was received on Saturday at the Warri club jetty with his full regalia and paraphernalia of office before departing to his riverside Kingdom, said that the spiritual exercise was to prepare the monarch to continue his peace efforts in the Niger Delta region.

“The significant of the spiritual exercise is to prepare our royal majesty to continue his peace efforts in the Niger Delta region and for him to get divine wisdom and understanding on how to tackle matters arising in his domain and the entire Niger Delta region.

According to him, it was a pilgrimage of Sacrification and fortification that would enable the monarch administer his people rightly and to be able to tackle the issues of the Niger Delta, particularly as they affects Gbaramatu Kingdom.

He said that the monarch on arrival will pray for his subjects at the waterfront of Warri club jetty before departing to his riverine palace where he would be received in same manners.

“We rejoice with His Royal Majesty for the fortification and strengthening that follow the sacred mission, knowing that it will translate to more understanding and wisdom in the rulership of his people”, he said.

The implications of the exercise, according to Gbenekama is that the monarch has gone to fortify himself with wisdom, understanding of the things of both spiritual and physical so that he can be able to handle complicated issues of the Niger Delta region, Gbaramatu Kingdom and Nigeria as a whole with the view to foster ethnic harmony among various ethnic nationalities in the country.

The Ibe Benemowei of Gbaramatu kingdom disclosed that the exercise would also enable the monarch to handle justly the issues of sea piracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and other social vices that are predominent in the Niger Delta region.

Meanwhile, while fielding questions from newsmen on how the monarch would tackle the teething issue arising from the installation of Olodiama Kingdom’s monarch now that he had undergone spiritual fortification, Gbenekama expressed dismay that the Benin people are dropping the Gbaramatu monarch’s name for felicitating with his brother and sister in Olodiama Kingdom, pointing out that it was the decision of Olodiama people to install their King and not that of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

“The Oba of Benin was installed by his own people, same also the Olodiama King was installed by his own people. No King goes to another Kingdom to install King for the people so I just wondered why they are dropping Gbaramatu Kingdom’s monarch name as the one who installed Olodiama King? The other Ijaw Kings at the event went there to fecilitate with their kinsmen, he added.

He however expressed concern why the Benin people were trying to overblow the matter whereas other traditional rulers besides the Oba are also reigning in Benin Kingdom.

“Are there no other traditional rulers in Edo state? Is the Olodiama King the only traditional ruler in Edo state besides the Oba? So why the fuss.Will a Benin man administer an Ijaw community more than an Ijaw man or will an Ijaw man rule over a Benin. The history of both sides are very clear so why should we allow this to divide us.

He also expressed disappointment that the Edo state Governor Godwin Obaseki was meddling into the traditional institution of Edo state just to score cheap political points, saying that if he wished to clean up his name over the decade-long misdeeds of his forefathers he should not do that riding on the shoulders of Ijaw people in Edo state.

“I pity the Governor of Edo state whose ancentral father was among those who sold Oba Ovonranwem of Benin. The governor should look for a way to clean up his name than looking for cheap means of popularity.

“He knows his ancentral fathers were people not to be trusted, and he should not use Ijaw people to clean up his name and warm himself to the heart of Edo people.

“He should use a better means and stop causing divisions. That he meddling into traditional institution of how the people should be ruled by their monarch is a shame”.

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