Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara (right) presenting the Staff of Office to His Majesty King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Jeki VI (left), the newly crowned Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom at Government House Port Harcourt on Friday.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said his “heart, spirit and soul” were in Opobo Kingdom despite his absence from the coronation of the new Amanyanabo, King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI, in Opobo Town.
Fubara, who spoke on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, while formally presenting the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the monarch, explained that his absence from the September 26 coronation was occasioned by a call to national service in New York.
The governor, while congratulating King Jaja VI on his emergence after the selection and coronation processes, urged him to unite the kingdom and carry along all those who contested the stool but were unsuccessful.
He said the unsuccessful contenders should not be regarded as victims but as “comrades” whose contributions and support would be needed to move Opobo Kingdom forward under the new reign.
Fubara said his administration would be remembered for peacefully bringing to an end the succession crisis surrounding the late Amanyanabo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja, and successfully midwifing the emergence of a new monarch without litigation.
According to him, the stool of the late monarch had been embroiled in a legal battle spanning more than 27 years, making the peaceful transition a particularly significant achievement.
He attributed the outcome to what he described as the wisdom and deliberate intervention of his administration in managing the selection process and ensuring that the kingdom did not return to another cycle of litigation.
The governor also dismissed insinuations that his absence from the coronation was politically motivated, stressing that his administration remained fully involved in the process from the burial of the late king through the selection and coronation of his successor.
“Our presence was not just in that process alone. Every logistics that were required, there is nobody that can say he’s the one that did it. We did it,” Fubara said.
“So, for those people who like using everything for politics, my absence was not an intentional thing; it was a call to service. So the fact that I was unable to make it doesn’t mean that I do not value, appreciate or support the process.”
Fubara said he remained one of the “proudest persons on earth” over the peaceful transition, adding that the success demonstrated what could be achieved when the interests of a community were placed above individual considerations.
He charged the new monarch to ensure that the peace achieved during the selection and coronation processes was sustained, stressing that the true test of kingship was in the management of success.
The governor urged King Jaja VI to prioritise education, healthcare and the development of small businesses, which he identified as critical to addressing youth unemployment and reducing criminality.
Describing Opobo as one of the most peaceful local government areas in Rivers State, Fubara charged the monarch to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to criminality and remain decisive in protecting the kingdom.
He cautioned against compromising security because of family or kinship ties, saying the traditional institution had an important role to play in safeguarding the lives and property of the people.
Fubara assured the monarch of the continued support of his administration, both during and after his tenure, while urging members of the Opobo Council of Alapu and titled citizens to move beyond ceremonial responsibilities and channel their influence towards tangible development.
He challenged them to initiate projects capable of making a visible difference in the kingdom within the next one year.
In his acceptance speech, the newly installed Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI, pledged to build the kingdom on the pillars of service, inclusion and vision.
The monarch said his reign would honour the legacy of the great King Jaja, who founded the kingdom 156 years ago on the strength of trade, diplomacy and strategic engagement.
He described the Staff of Office as more than a symbol of traditional authority, saying it represented a sacred trust bestowed by the government and people of Rivers State.
King Jaja VI pledged to exercise the authority with justice, peace and dignity, while expressing gratitude to God, the ancestors, Governor Fubara, the Opobo Council of Alapu, titled citizens, elders, women and youths for the confidence reposed in him.
He assured the Rivers State Government that Opobo Kingdom under his leadership would remain a dependable partner in promoting peace, development and unity across the state.
The presentation of the Staff of Office formally marks the recognition of King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI, as the new Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom following his coronation on September 26.