Fanfare as Orodje of Okpe marks 10th coronation anniversary

It was fanfare and conviviality as Orhue 1, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, celebrated his 10 years on the throne of his forefathers.

The colourful ceremony attracted dignitaries from all walks of life across the country.

They included traditional rulers, the deputy governor of the state, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, members of the Delta State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Mr Monday Igbuya, former Military Administrator, Walter Feghabor, top government officials and religious leaders as well as other top stakeholders of the kingdom.

Elated Orodje of Okpe Kingdom thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who also graced the occasion, for his show of solidarity.

He stated that the governor had demonstrated high morale standard and respect for the traditional institutions in the state.

The traditional ruler further commended Okowa for his youth empowerment programmes which, he said, had turned youths in his kingdom into entrepreneurs and wealth creators.

Meanwhile, while speaking at the grand finale at Orerokpe at the weekend, Senator Okowa urged community stakeholders, particularly traditional institutions, to engage in peace building in their areas for development to engender growth and development.

Okowa noted that only a peaceful environment could bring development and investment to communities in the state.

He reiterated that the traditional institutions should partner with government to ensure peace and security in their domains and the state at large so that investment and development would thrive.

“I want to urge all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring peace and security in our various communities. I particularly thank His Royal Majesty, the Orodje of Okpe for his commitment not only in ensuring peace in Okpe Kingdom, but in extending same to the state by his fatherly advice.

Today, the Okpe Kingdom has been relatively peaceful in the last one and half years and this has secured oil activities in this axis”, he averred.

The governor appealed to the youths in the various communities to desist from pipeline vandalism, stressing that it had impacted negatively on communities and the state and had hampered meaningful development in the various oil bearing areas.

“Deltans have suffered enough of pipeline vandalism, we should give peace a chance, it has impacted on us negatively and I think we must desist from it, governor Okowa said,  adding, “I must thank the Okpe people because they have supported  their royal father to maintain peace and secure the oil facilities in this area”.

He congratulated the Orodje of Okpe on his anniversary celebration and assured the Okpe people of more infrastructural projects.

Highlights were performances of the rich cultural heritage by various troupes in Okpe kingdom.