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The Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri has presented 2nd class Chieftaincy Staff of Office to the Amananaowei of Ofoni federated Communities, His Royal Highness Deacon Auditor Onakpohor( Ogelle-Owei 1)
This was coming as part of activities lined up to commemorate the 2023 edition of the community’s Iyeri Cultural Festival which began and has since ended last weekend.
Ofoni federated communities which is in the Sagbama Local Government Area of the state is home town of the state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Diri who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy and Community Development, Chief Thompson Amule, while presenting the Staff of Office to the Amananaowei said the position he occupies is for life, advising the people to desist from engaging in any act of contemplating to dethrone the paramount ruler.
He also stated that the Ofoni traditional stool is sacred, urging the community to accord the monarch the respect he deserves as a traditional ruler, just as he tasked the people on support for their paramount ruler so as to enable him succeed in his new nomenclature as second class royal father.
The Governor urged the Amananaowei to uphold the age long tradition bequeathed by the ancestors and maintain peace in the community, while also asking him to be fair and rule with the fear of God.
He congratulated the Paramount Ruler and the good people of the Ofoni Federated Communities for the successful elevation of their Amananaowei and enjoined them to continue to support the Prosperity Administration as the November 11 Governorship Election draws closer.
In his remarks, the State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Iti Orugbani stated that it was a divine arrangement for the presentation of staff of office to the Amananaowei to fall on the celebration of the 2023 ‘Iyeri Cultural Festival’.
He noted that the State Government has classified festivals celebrated in the state to first, second and third classes.
Ewhrudjakpo notes that due to the high cultural value of the ‘Iyeri festival’, the state government has classified it as a ‘first class festival’ and assured the community of Government’s continued support to make it as one of foremost entertaining festivals in the country.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and immediate past Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, Chief( Dr) Perekeme Betola described the Ofoni people as sons and daughters of ‘Tarakiri’, noting that the Ofoni communities royal father has a high respect for culture and the traditional institution.
Betola thanked the people of Ofoni for the choice of Onakpohor as their Amananaowei, stressing that the new King has all the great attributes to lead the community.
Dr. Tony Onakpor read the citation of the new Amananaowei describing him as a thorough bred Ijaw man with requisite educational qualifications, working experience and well versed in the native laws, customs and traditions of the Ijaw Nation to offer responsive, transparent and credible leadership to the community..
In his acceptance speech, the Amananaowei expressed gratitude to God for finding him worthy to lead the people and thanked the Government of state led by Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, the good people of Ofoni for the honour done him.
He also thanked the people for their peaceful conduct and lauded security agents for maintaining law and order at the ceremony, and everyone for finding time to grace the occasion despite their tight schedule, and prayed God to grant them journey mercies to their respective homes.
The ceremony featured cultural displays and presentation of new yams, fishes and other food crops to the Amananaowei.
