This Shame Will Be Too Much For Okpoama People, Says Historian, On Planned Retirement of Sylva’s Monarch

• Sylva Ignores TNN’s Enquiries

Last week’s announcement by the Ibeyanaowei of Okpoama Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Ebitimi Emmanuel Banigo, Okpo XXI, that he would retire and cease to be the king of Okpoama in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is generating so much tension in the land.

Okpoama is the home of the immediate past minister of state, petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva. Since the monarch’s intentions got into the public domain, the people have continued to wonder why such a strange thing would happen in their land.

A historian from the area, Mr I.B. Osborne Robinson, in speaking about the development said it was unheard of, that a king would retire from the throne. He said the Okpoama people that he knew would not allow it to happen because the shame would be too much on the land.

This is how the telephone interview went:

We heard that the king of Okpoama has given a retirement notice. So I am just calling for us to talk about it. I understand you are a historian from that place.

I am a historian but I am not the spokesman of the king.

Yes Sir. I am not saying you should speak on behalf of the king. I am just trying to find out from you whether this kind of a thing has happened in the past.

I don’t even have the authority to speak about it. It has not happened in the whole of the Nembe Nation, Nembe Ethnic Nationality.

So this is novel?

Very new, very new. 

So when things happen like this what happens, especially for people like you who are historians?

I don’t know; things have not happened like this, so how can I know what happens?

For people like you who are historians that is what I mean.

Anthropologically how do you explain it nah, when it has not happened?

History is being written

That is it na.

So what does this mean to the Okpoama Nation from the historical perspective?

Shame, disgrace. They have disgraced their king, the throne is desecrated. Shame. The Okpoama people must work hard not to allow it to happen. If they do, they have become a useless people that will be disgraced or they will be talked against. No, no so many things. I don’t think they will allow it, don’t worry they will handle it. Okpoama is unique in their way of handling things.

. When it is night that they don’t fear the storm, the wind storm, fears wind strom they don’t fear it, that when it is night that is when the battle starts. So when it is the darkest period of life then you see the Ogboma spirit coming out, don’t worry, don’t worry after that we will write stories about it.

So when you say if they allow it who are you referring to?

Okpoama people.

Yeah, but the man, the letter he wrote, the notice of retirement he sent out, he said it is for health reason.

But if it is for health reasons and he is saying that he is retiring, because it is not resignation, that he is retiring and he is writing to a group of people that gave him the  work, is it not?

Yes.

And so his employers will know what to say, they are the ones to say he can retire. He can say he is retiring; what about his people who gave him the work? But even if it’s for health purposes, is there any provision in the tradition that has to take care of an ailing king, one that is sick? Don’t worry yourself…

I think you are the right person to answer that question you are asking, as a historian from Okpoama. The story I have heard about you is that when it comes to the history of Okpoama, it is you that can talk about it.

(Laughs)Who told you that? I am just a researcher. When something is new like this, I have to take my time, I don’t go out talking about stories that may not be verified. So, they are only saying that, I don’t know who gave you my number and my name. I cannot even talk about it, I am not the king’s spokesman, I am not the kingdom’s spokesperson, I am just a historian and what does a historian do, he writes on what has passed, maybe I take records today and write tomorrow but the truth of the matter, apart from the lighter side is that, it’s novel, very new, it’s something that has not happened in the whole of the Nembe speaking area and it is like that and so the kingdom, the people right now must think of how to avert the shame that will come upon the kingdom. You know the person we are talking about is an international figure and for him to say he is sick, for health reasons he is retiring, the kingdom must look for a way to solve it. Is it that we are trying to ask the question right now, we are trying to ask a question; is it more than health? Is there something that we are not seeing that is happening under? We are asking those questions. For me, I have not seen the answers to those questions and if I see them I am going to talk about them. I am going to mention them and I am going to talk about it, if those who know because Okpoama is made up of traditional institutions.

The major question we are now asking is, are these major institutions being infiltrated by political players, national political players? Have they been infiltrated? If they are, then we are in danger because we know of what national politicians do. But if there is no problem and these traditional institutions can stand and say no, this is this and that they will look for a way out of the health situation. You know he is an international personae and he wouldn’t want to be there without functioning. So, he has thrown down his cards and said look, I am sick I will not be able to take care of you much, I will not be at home much again, I will not be visiting you much again and all that and so I am retiring and so you do this and do that. If he had said so and the people said if you are retiring does not mean that you are dead, the response of the people is what will matter in this case it’s not him. In short, it’s not him that will matter, it is the response of the people that will matter. He has a right to say so, he has the right to say I am sick I am not going to rule again, is it not?

Just as the historian is expressing suspicion about the real reasons for the king’s planned retirement, a native of the area has also raised some posers about what the king must have meant, when he said he was retiring on health grounds.

The native said in a social media post: “By Health Challenge, he meant those who conspired to formulate a dream and produced a document about it and made uncomplimentary remarks about him. “King Banigo has turned to be a big burden to the Kingdom. His exit will mean a big relief.” The dreamer wrote.

The king has exited. The relief has come, savour in it.

“By Health Challenge he meant those who went to Ogono Kpokpo to counter his proclamation about everybody voting for candidates of their choice to douse the tension in the community during the last governorship election. Now they are here feigning sadness and expressing concern over his retirement.

“By Health Challenge he meant the people who openly threatened him for asking his people to vote for candidates of their choice.

“By Health Challenge he meant those chiefs and individuals who sponsored and conspired with the a suspended chief to arrest his chiefs and those working for the kingdom.

“By Health Challenge he meant those who have been plotting to dethrone him.

“By Health Challenge he meant let me respect myself and retired before they will embarrass me. It is called self respect, emotional intelligence, wise decision etc.

“Congratulations to them. But remember he is retired and not dead. Don’t invoke the wrath of the ancestors and the gods upon your family just because he said start the process of electing a new King. If ona like make ona go fall for that trap. May God keep us to see the difference between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’.

Last week, the king had written that he was leaving the throne in July because “the attendant excruciating poverty, hunger, insecurity and governance issues have made it imperative that I spend time at home. Unfortunately I have been contending with health challenges which has not made this possible and which increasingly require long absence from the Kingdom for the foreseeable future.

“Consequently, I have taken the decision to retire as lbenyanaowei of Okpoama Kingdom with effect from July 31 2024. The election of a new lbenyanaowei from the ruling houses is to commence immediately in accordance with our tradition to be crowned as Okpo XXII.

 “The government of Bayelsa State and the relevant authorities will be notified accordingly.

“My dear Okpoama people, I thank you for the honour of being your King. I thank God for this privilege of ruling over our ancient Kingdom of highly endowed beautiful territories – the lands and creeks, and the remarkable people that God has bequeathed to us through our ancestors.

“I will continue to contribute to the development of Okpoama Kingdom and the preservation of our culture as I did before I ascended to the throne. By the grace of God and working together we can collectively develop Okpoama Kingdom to the land of our dreams. God bless Okpoama Kingdom.”

TNN made efforts to speak with Sylva, a very prominent son of Okpoama on the issue, but he did not respond to the messages sent to him.