Rivers
Immortalise Our Late Monarch, Akpor People Tell RSG
Deceased ruler of the ancient Akpor Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRH Eze Badumerum Oriebe (JP) was last Saturday buried with passionate appeal by the people of the kingdom to the government of the state to immortalize him.
Eze Oriebe was murdered in his palace at Ozuoba last year by yet to be identified person (s).
In a funeral oration by the pioneer President of Akpor Youths Organisation (AYO), Engr. Kelvin Wachukwu on their behalf, pleaded with government to name the Rumuokwuta-Choba Road after their cherished Late Monarch.
They also requested for the reclassification of the Nyenwe-Ali Akpor (Akpor paramount ruler) stool from second class to first, creation of more wards, a federal consistuency and also Akpor local government area, which they emphasised the late ruler consistently agitated for until he died.
Engr. Wachukwu recalled the deaths of their kinsmen, Dr. Ikezam Ozuru and Mr. Amadi Wali, University of Port Harcourt’s lecterer and Chief Security Officer respectively in similar circumstances and wondered why the law enforcement agencies were yet to fish out their killers and stressed the need for government to intensity efforts at protecting lives and properties in the area.
Engr. Wachukwu who is the chairman of the burial committee commended the efforts of the late paramount ruler in shielding his domain from political violence and fictionalization along party lines and his unmaterialistic traits.
“ Our late monarch was not materialstic and indeed hated with passion, anybody who anchored his relationship with anybody on crass materialism. Akpor Kingdom is blessed with human and material resources. There are multinational companies and tertiary institutions in his domain. Unlike some other chiefs, Eze Oriebe never canvassed for personal contracts or favours. At all times, his major concern was what the establishments would offer his entire subjects,” Engr. Wachukwu recalled.
In his speech, Governor Chibuike Amaechi who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Nyeson Wike described the late ruler as one who fought for his subjects and stood for justice at all times as well as refused to be brought into partisan politics.
Also speaking, chairman, Rivers State independent Electoral Commission and former Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs said attributes as honesty, high sense of responsibility and gentle disposition attracted him to Eze Oriebe.
Hamilton Amadi