Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has formally presented the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the newly installed Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI, urging him to use his reign to promote peace, unity, inclusion and development in the kingdom.
Fubara made the call on Friday during the presentation ceremony held at Government House, Port Harcourt, where he congratulated the monarch on successfully emerging from the selection and coronation processes.
The governor urged King Jaja Jeki VI to extend a hand of fellowship to other contenders who participated in the selection process, stressing that those who lost out should not be regarded as victims but as partners whose experience and contributions would be required to move the kingdom forward.
According to him, the success of the new reign would depend largely on the ability of the monarch to unite all interests within the kingdom and harness them towards common development goals.
Fubara also explained his absence from the monarch’s coronation, saying it was necessitated by what he described as a call to higher national service.
He said his absence should not be interpreted as a lack of support for the process, noting that his administration had remained deeply involved in the transition from the burial of the late Amanyanabo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja, to the selection, coronation and recognition of his successor.
The governor said history would remember his administration for successfully resolving the succession process without allowing it to degenerate into another prolonged legal dispute.
He recalled that the stool of the late monarch had been embroiled in litigation for more than 27 years, stressing that his administration deliberately deployed dialogue, wisdom and careful management of the selection process to prevent a recurrence of such disputes.
Fubara said, “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.”
He added that attempts by some individuals to politicise his absence from the coronation were misplaced, insisting that he could not attend because of an official national assignment.
“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,” he said.
Fubara urged the new monarch to regard the peaceful conclusion of the succession process as the beginning of a new responsibility, rather than an end in itself.
He said the true test of kingship was not merely in attaining the throne but in the manner in which a monarch managed the responsibilities and success that came with it.
The governor expressed hope that the new reign would stimulate greater development in Opobo, particularly in education, healthcare and support for small businesses.
He identified investment in those areas as important measures for addressing youth unemployment and reducing the attraction of criminality among young people.
Fubara, who described Opobo as one of the most peaceful local government areas in Rivers State, charged the new monarch to sustain the kingdom’s reputation for peace while maintaining zero tolerance for criminality.
He urged King Jaja Jeki VI to be deliberate and decisive in protecting the kingdom, stressing that security should not be compromised because of kinship or personal relationships.
The governor also assured the monarch of the continued support of his administration, both during his tenure and beyond, while urging traditional institutions in the kingdom to complement government efforts through concrete development initiatives.
He specifically charged the Alapu Council, titled citizens and other stakeholders to move beyond ceremonial activities and channel their influence towards projects that would have tangible impact on the lives of residents.
Fubara said the traditional leadership should redirect its purpose towards initiating development projects that could be seen and measured within the kingdom, particularly within the first year of the new monarch’s reign.
In his acceptance speech, the newly installed Amanyanabo, King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI, pledged to build Opobo Kingdom around the principles of service, inclusion and vision.
The monarch said his reign would be guided by the desire to preserve the legacy of the founder of Opobo Kingdom, the great King Jaja, while responding to the contemporary needs and aspirations of the people.
He described the Staff of Office presented to him by the Rivers State Government as more than a symbol of traditional authority, saying it represented a sacred trust from the government and people of the state.
According to him, the responsibility requires him to lead with justice, peace, dignity and a strong commitment to the collective interest of the kingdom.
King Jaja Jeki VI expressed 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 said his emergence marked the beginning of the “Sixth Chapter” of Opobo Kingdom and pledged to use the opportunity to strengthen unity and advance the interests of the people.
The monarch further 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.
He said his reign would prioritise service to the people and inclusive leadership, with a commitment to ensuring that different segments of the kingdom have a place in its development.
