Gbaramatu king visits ancestors over issues affecting Niger Delta

TO tackle critical issues affecting the Ijaws and the Niger Delta, the paramount ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II Aketekpe (Agadagba), has returned from a pilgrimage to Agadagba-Bou (Ijaw Holy Land) at Egbedani community in Sabageria town, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The about-three-week pilgrimage, it was gathered, was partly informed by the recent face-off between Ijaws of Edo State and the Benin Kingdom over the installation of the king of Olodiama Kingdom in the state.

The Gbaramatu king was also at Agadagba-Bou (Ijaw Holy Land) in search of divine wisdom and understanding in the administration of his kingdom and the tackling of economic and social crimes in his domain.

Speaking after the monarch’s return from pilgrimage on Saturday morning in Warri, spokesperson of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, disclosed that the Ijaw monarch went to fortify himself in preparation for challenges ahead.

According to him, the pilgrimage was necessary at a time many oppositions are mounting against Niger Deltans, especially the Ijaws, adding it has prepared the monarch to continue with his peace mission.

Meanwhile, the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs has expressed disappointment at the way the Edo State government has been handling the Olodiama/Oba of Benin crisis.

Chief Gbenekama slammed Governor Godwin Obaseki for meddling into the traditional institution of Edo State, warning that if he wished to clear his name over the decade-long misdeeds of his forefathers, he should not do that riding on the shoulders of Ijaw people in the state.

“I pity the governor of Edo State whose ancestral father was among those who sold out 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 ancestral fathers were people not to be trusted, and he should not use Ijaw people to clean up his name and worm himself into o 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,” the Ibe-Benemowei of Gbaramatu kingdom asserted.

While rejoicing with HRM Oboro Gbaraun II Aketekpe on his return from the Ijaw holy land, Gbenekama disclosed that the exercise would also enable the monarch to handle the issues of sea piracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and other social vices predominant in the Niger Delta region.