Sekibo,Appah,Ubuo,Eze In Owu Upata Praises Otuwarikpo

Sekibo, Appah, Ubuo, Eze in Owu Upata, praises Otuwarikpo,

People from all walks of life, particularly the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Thompson Sekibo; King Moore Maclean Ubuo, Okilomu Ibe III of Engenni; Professor Dulu Appah, President General of Uzugbani Ekpeye; HRH Eze Dr. Friday Eze, Eze Umuakpa; Rt Rev. Clement Ekpeye, Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Ahoada and Hon. Barr. Ben Eke, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area described King Dr. Felix Enene Otuwarikpo as a man of history, expressed delight that he has united the Upata people irrespective of perceived challenges.

They made the commendation during the coronation ceremony of the Nye Udu Owu Upata, HRH Eze Clifford Shika held at Odiabidi town, Upata Kingdom in Ahoada East Local Government Area on Friday, 21 June.

They told King Otuwarikpo that the culture of peace and good governance he has entrenched in Upata Kingdom was unprecedented and will earn him a place in history, urging the people to rally round the monarch for growth.

In his speech, Senator Sekibo who was the Chairman of the occasion, disclosed that the likes of King Otuwarikpo area rare because he is a traditional ruler who can lead his people in “time of peace, in time of crisis and at all times.”

He however enjoined Eze Shika to take charge of his domain in order to maintain peace, noting that Rivers State is going through security challenges and “I believe and Rivers State government believe that traditional rulers should give a helping hand to curb Insecurity.”

Appah said it has “never happened before and I thank the Eze Upata for the peace and tranquillity in Upata Kingdom. There is no bickering or quarrels among the traditional leaders in the Kingdom. I expect Eze Shika to emulate the Eze Upata to sustain the existing peace.”

The Okilomu Ibe, King Ubuo charged Eze Shika to ensure that the confidence reposed on him is not betrayed, stressing that the Upata people have standard that must be maintained.

Describing King Otuwarikpo as a son, Dr. Eze thanked him for upholding the rich virtue that symbolizes Upata and for bringing everybody together. He advised the Nye Udu Owu to be forthright in the discharge of his duties.

Eke equally eulogised King Otuwarikpo’s leadership style and for the “uncommon peace” he is engineering in Ekpeye land, warning that anyone who fails to disarm will have himself to blame.

Addressing the large crowd that gathered to witness the coronation ceremony, King Otuwarikpo expressed happiness that peace is returning to Ekpeye after a peace deal brokered by him, with cultists is yielding good result.

By the success recorded in bringing cultists to take traditional oath of no violence and crime, King Otuwarikpo praised Ekpeye traditional rulers for demonstrating “undiluted love” for Ekpeye and joined others in urging the ex-cultists to remain law abiding.

He appreciated the Owu people for choosing Eze Shika to lead them and called on prominent sons and daughters of the area to join hands for the wellbeing of their people.

He equally urged traditional rulers in Upata Kingdom to live amongst their people because “you can’t restore peace in your community when you are an absentee traditional ruler.”

In his acceptance speech, Eze Shika, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, said he regard his choice as Nye Udu Owu Upata as “a call to serve” because according to him, traditional stool is a “pragmatic instruments for unity and rural development.”

Comrade Oyagiri Monday
Special Assistant on Media to Eze Upata
22/06/2019