Apprehension As Okpoama People Reject Banigo’s Retirement Notice
- Sylva Still Silent
There is renewed apprehension in Okpoama Town, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where the people have resolved to stay with their king, His Majesty Ebitimi Banigo XX1. They arose from a meeting on Sunday with a resolution to reject the king’s strange retirement notice.
Some weeks ago, the king had given a notice to his subjects, that he would be retiring from the throne in July. He cited health reasons for his decision to step down from the throne, a decision that has been since as unheard of in the history of the entire Nembe Kingdom.
The speculation had been that some political forces may have compelled the king to take the decision, as no king in the entire area leaves the throne except by reason of death.
Elders and youths have been deliberating on the issue since the notice was made public. Chairman of the Okpoama Kingdom Council, Chief Paul Briggs Omubo-Soubagha said the decision to reject the king’s retirement notice was taken at a town hall meeting held on Sunday at Okpoama Square, Okpoama in Brass Council Area of Bayelsa State.
A letter which was signed by various sectional heads of the kingdom including Chief Paul Briggs Omubo-Suobagha and the Youths President, Seiyefa Felix Ben-Basuo was read at the meeting by Chief Tomogha Ere-walson. In it, they noted that retirement was not an option in the kingship, adding that the King can take as long as he desires to take care of his health, which the king had cited for the reason for his retirement.
The letter which was sent to the king reads in part: “The entire kingdom have(sic) come to the conclusion that we remain your subjects irrespective of the number of years you will leave us for your health treatment and checks.”
The letter also noted that the king has transformed and impacted the lives of the people of Okpoama and beyond, adding that no new King will be enthroned as long as he is alive in line with the customs and traditions of the Okpoama Kingdom and all the Nembe speaking kingdoms. The king is yet to respond to this, just as Chief Timipre Sylva, the most prominent political figure from the community is yet to make any comments on the development.
