King Amachree's Burial: Chieftaincy Commissioner Commends Central Working Committee

The Rivers State Commissioner for chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Charles Amadi , has commended the central working committee (CWC) on its detailed and satisfactory preparations for the transition of his Serene Majesty, King Prof. TJT Princewill, JP , CON, Amachree Xi, Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom.

Speaking at the inauguration of the budget screening and monitoring committee by the Chairman and co chairman of the central working committee at the Hotel Presidential in Port-Harcourt on Monday, the commissioner who was well pleased with presentations by some members of the sub committees, said he is convinced that all hands are on deck to ensure the peaceful transition of the king.

Hon. Amadi, who represented Gov. Sim Fubara, also promised government’s assistance whenever the need arises.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman, Prince Tonye Princewill who is incidentally the only biological child of the departed king, briefed the CWC on the success made thus far and things to be done. He expressed some disquiet that despite the moratorium given, some committees were yet to make their presentations - insisting that the CWC will no longer wait.

Reiterating the chairman's position, the co chairman of the committee, Chief Dr. David Briggs, among

other things, advised committee members against seeing the committees as gravy trains but rather should be seen as a call to selfless service.

The Meeting Started at about 2pm with the chairman of the media and publicity subcommittee introducing the agenda for the day, while the opening prayer was led by the secretary of the CWC, Prof. Victor  Omuaru.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Prince in the company of Opunabo Inko-Tariah visited the Amanyanabo of Bakana, another direct descendant of the Amachree stool, there the Amanyanabo promised the duo of the full  participation of the Bakana  people in the burial of "our father and king" he thanked Prince Tonye for the visit.

Others at the meeting were a former member of the House of Representatives, Arc. Eniye Braide and a former Local Government Chairman, Hon. Levy Braide.

The highlights of the meeting were the inauguration of the budget screening committee, the review of the draft programme of activities and the monitoring committee.

 

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Draft Programme Of Activities In Honour Of the Late Monarch HSM King Prof. T. J. T. Princewill JP, CFR, Amachree Xl, Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of the Kalabari Kingdom, in Rivers State from November 1st –December 25th 2023.

 

Date/Activity

Action by Committee

 

Wednesday 1st November 2023:

Spiritual/Culture

4:00 am: Seven Canon Shots as Formal Traditional Announcement of The commencement of Burial

Culture

8:00 am: Final (Oku) Emissaries to All Communities In Kalabari Kingdom and compounds of Buguma to announce the Burial Activities

Culture

 

Monday 6th November 2023:

6:00 am – 12:00 pm: Prayers/Fasting at various Kalabari Communities

Prayer

 

Wednesday 8th November 2023:

5:00 am-3:00 pm: Ekine Sekiapu Perform Town Cleansing at Buguma

Culture

 

Thursday 9th November 2023:

5:00 am: Egbele-Ereme sing round Buguma

Culture

Monday 13th November 2023:

4:00 am-8:00 am: Women Native Singing Groups sing round Buguma

Culture

 

Wednesday 15 -18 November 2023:

Ekine Sekiapu Annual night Ngbula display

Culture

 

Monday 20th November 2023:

King Abbi Polo Kick-Starts The Igira Sira activities

Culture

 

Tuesday 21st-25th November 2023:

All communities In Kalabari Kingdom/Compounds In Buguma begin the Igira Sira activities

Culture

 

Saturday 25th November 2023:

7:00 am – 10:00 am: Sanitation at Buguma and along the Emohua- Kalabari road

Sanitation/Council Chairman

4:00 pm Eklne Sekiapu perform the final cleansing rites from Elem-Kalabari to Buguma City

Culture/Security

I1:00 am: Kalabari Kingdom Unity lecture in King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma.

Media/Publicity

4:30 pm: Novelty Football Match in honour of the late Monarch between KNC Old Boys and KGHS Old Girls teams

Special Duties

 

Sunday 26th November 2023:

5:00 pm: All Churches in Kalabari land to centrally hold Interdenominational Carol Service at the King Amachree Square.

Prayer

 

Monday 27th November 2023:

4:00 am: Se-Erena Kurusu To Announce The Burial With Native Women Singing Groups Singing Round Buguma

Culture

All Communities and Compounds of Kalabari  Decorate Their Communities/Compounds With Flags

Venue/Decoration

4:00 pm: Service of Songs and Tributes At Christians Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt

Prayer/Entertainment/ Security

8:00 pm: All Churches Native Choirs Sing In Buguma At The Town Square

Prayer/Security

 

Tuesday November 28th 2023:

6:00 am Final Igira Sira

Culture

4:00 pm: Candle Procession Round Town By Choirs Of The Various Churches In Buguma

Prayer/Security

4:00 pm: Country Classics and Jazz Band Display At Buguma

Entertainment/Security

 

Wednesday 29th November 2023:

4:00 am: The 7 Canon Shots Announce the approach of the Corpse

Culture

5:00 am: All Communities/War Canoe Houses Despatch Their War Boats And lavishly Decorated Alali (Festival) Boats with Masquerades to Port Harcourt to Escort the Corpse

Culture/Security

10:00 am: Body Of The Late Monarch And One Time Chairman Of The Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers Lies-In-State At The Council of Traditional Rulers’ Chambers

Culture/Security

12:00 pm: Igira Groups And Warrior-Like Dressed Groups Display To Escort The Corpse From UTC Junction To Abonnema Wharf Jetty In Diobu Port Harcourt

Culture/SecurityWorks

2:00 pm: Corpse Arrive Elem-Kalabari For Final Rites And move To Buguma City escorted By All War Canoes.

 

Culture/Security

4:00 pm: Body Of The Late Monarch King Prof. T. J. T. Princewill JP, CFR, Amachree Xl, Arrives Kalabari Owusara In Buguma And is Received By The Kings, Kalabari Chiefs, Kalabari Ekine Sekiapu, sons and daughters of Kalabari kingdom with pomp and pageantry

Culture/Security/Prayer

5.00pm: Body is escorted to (Chief Prince Ogo Tom Princewill) Compound and later to King Abbi Memorial Hall in Abbi Polo Buguma for Lying-In-State

Culture/Security

 

Thursday 30th November 2023: 

I: 00am: Body of the late Monarch moves to the King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, For final Lying- In -State for Traditional Wake-Keep

Culture/Security

10:00 am:  Dignitaries from across the globe pay last respects

Protocol/Security

I:00 pm: Kirikiri Mine and interment

Culture/Ekine Seki apu

 

Saturday 2nd December 2023:

8:00 pm: The Country Classics and Jazz Band Display

Entertainment/Security

 

Monday 4th - 23rd December 2023:

Canon Shots and the Okuro Fari as well as various communities, clubs, compounds and the Ekine Sekiapu of Buguma and other communities will take turns to perform cultural and other activities display at designated compounds and centres in Buguma

 

Culture

Sunday 24th December 2023:

 

Thanksgiving Service at First Baptist Church, Buguma

Prayer

 

Monday 25th December 2023:

Farewell HSM Late King Prof. Theophilus Jacob Tom Princewill JP, CFR, Amachree XI

 

Uduaghan is a perfect gentleman and a leader par excellence - Alema of Warri

Former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has been hailed as an extraordinary leader, an epitome of humility, selflessness, patriotism, a perfect gentleman and a leader par excellence.

In a congratulatory message on Uduaghan’s 69th birthday, the Alema of Warri and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Webster Group of Companies, High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, expressed his admiration for the former governor’s wisdom, humility and courage.

For exceptional leaders and patriots like you, every birthday is a milestone not just because it is a birthday but also because in your particular case, it brings to the fore your fondness towards family members, visionary ideas, numerous achievements in the country and your enviable record of continually touching the lives of our people in a positive way.

He stressed on Uduaghan’s many achievements, “as a moral leader of our nation, political model of our time, it brings to the fore your fondness towards family members, visionary ideas, numerous achievements in the country and your enviable record of continually touching the lives of our people in a positive way.”

He stressed on Uduaghan’s role in the development of Nigeria, “as a moral leader of our nation, political model of our time, a prodigious achiever and gifted statesman, you conducted yourself with morality, integrity and consistency in the two terms you led Delta State.”

He also highlighted Uduaghan’s foresight, visionary ideas and contributions to nation-building.

“Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan elevated governance in Delta State’’, the Alema of Warri said.

Speaking on behalf of his family, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Webster Group of Companies extended heartfelt congratulations to Uduaghan on reaching this milestone.

He offered prayers for Uduaghan’s continued service to the country.

“On behalf of myself and my family, I wish to felicitate with a strong, dynamic, charismatic, captivating and respectable leader, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.

 I wish you good health, long life and God’s guidance as you continue in your contributions to the development of our great nation.”
 

Ijaw National Congress Inc Worldwide Pays a Condolence Visit to Prince Tonye Princewill

 ......Seeks inclusion in burial committee

 

The Ijaw National Congress, INC has described the late King and former member of the Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders - CITRE as a RARE GEM and an inspiration to countless many.

 

President of INC Worldwide, Prof. Benjamin Ogale Okaba, who was represented by the Chairman of Eastern Zone of INC, His Royal Majesty, King NLA Iraron, Ede Obolo II, who were the latest in a series of groups to pay condolences, led the five-man delegation on the condolence visit to the residence of Prince Tonye Princewill, lauded him for setting up a high powered PAN Ijaw Central Burial Committee to oversee the burial arrangements of the late Kalabari-Ijaw Monarch.

 

The delegation however frowned at the non-inclusion of INC WORLDWIDE in the burial committee and expressed readiness to participate with the inclusion of some INC members in the burial committee by the Prince.

 

He further informed the Prince that his father, the late King was not just a father but a pioneer pillar of INC and a father to many Ijaw sons and daughters; and that it is the responsibility of Ijaw National

Congress Inc, Worldwide to fully participate in the burial process of the Ijaw Monarch.

 

In his response, the chief mourner and Prince of Kalabari Kingdom and Niger Delta, Prince Tonye Princewill thanked the Ijaw National Congress INC, Worldwide for finding time to pay this epochal condolence visit to him and by extension the entire Kalabari People.

 

He also announced the burial dates as 29th and 30th of November, 2023, and asked that the Ijaw National Congress INC send in three names which will be formally included in the burial committee.

 

Princewill further asked the INC to continue to pursue people centered policies focused on lifting Ijaw people and others up in society. He said this is what the King would have wanted and that their formal participation would bring him joy. The Prince said that the rest of the burial activities will soon be published by the Central Working Committee and encouraged each one to tell one.

 

Other members of the delegation include; the 1st Vice President of INC Worldwide, Mr. Atamuno Atamuno, Engr Onengiye-ofori H. Fenibo. Organizing Secretary, INC Worldwide, Amb. Sowari M. Hart, Vice Chairman, INC Eastern Zone, Somina Wokoma President General, Ijaw Wari Worldwide

 

Late King Prof. T.J.T Princewill Burial committees inaugurated

The central working committee alongside the subcommittee chairman and secretaries for the burial of the longest-serving Monarch in Rivers State, His Serene Majesty King Prof. T.J.T Princewill, JP CFR, Amachree the XI and Amanyanabo of the Kalabari Kingdom has been inaugurated  in the capital Buguma Asari Toru local government signaling commencement of activities for the burial of the late monarch. 

 

Headline members of the inaugurated committee include: Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill Chairman, Chief (Dr.) David T Briggs Co Chairman, Hon Dr. Tammy Danagogo Alternate Chairman I, Hon Dr. Dax George Kerley Alternate Chairman II, Prof. Victor Omuaru Secretary, Chief (Dr.) Emi Membere Otaji Chairman, Finance Committee, Sir. Opunabo Inko –Tariah Chairman Media and Publicity. 

 

Other members are: Sen Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Hon Igo Aguma, Sen Seriake Dickson, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari, Rtd Navy Capt Ibim Princewill, Alhaji Nasiru Danu, Mrs. Betsy Godwin Obaseki and Mr. Segun Owolabi

 

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the inauguration, the regent of the KALABARI kingdom, Dr Charles Numbere Princewill said he is expecting maximum commitment with a view to having a PAN KALABARI Nation burial ceremony.

 

Dr Charles Numbere Princewill further said the burial celebration will foster peace and unity amongst Kalabari people and Ijaws in general 

 

Speaking at the inauguration, the son of the late monarch and the chairman of burial committee, Prince Tonye Princewill said the burial will demonstrate unity, peace and will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the KALABARI kingdom.

 

He said though it was a sad reality, he took heart in the knowledge that the King had lived a good life and left a legacy that will serve as a template for us to live. 

 

He thanked the regent, his kitchen cabinet and Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari amongst others for the commendable roles they all played.

 

The co-Chairman of the burial committee Chief Dr. David Briggs said that he was looking forward to the responsibility and he expected the entire KALABARI Nation to now participate fully with a view to having a befitting burial ceremony for the late Monarch. He commended the work done so far and said it was very clear that the Kingdom was awake. 

 

Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, D B Kaladokubo on his part assured that he would ensure that the Christians in Rivers state turn out to honour a King who was truly deserving. The burial is fixed for the 29th and the 30th of November.