How Oni, Emirs, Keyamo, Lokpobiri honor Tompolo at Amaseikumo Festival in Gbaramatu Kingdom
Oyinbi Onduku
Warri ______ Oporoza Community, the traditional headquarters of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State was filled with dignitaries from all works of life across the Northern, Western, Eastern and Southern Nigeria to honour the invitation of the renowned Niger Delta born ljaw great freedom fighter cum philanthropist, High Chief. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo in celebration of the famous Annual Festival of Gbaraun Egbesu, lbolomobo-Ere and Amaseikumo 2024 edition.
The highly respected dignitaries that grace this years Gbaramatu Kingdom popular Amaseikumo Festival include, the Ooni of lfe, His lmperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (CFR), Emirs from Kogi, Taraba, Niger States, traditional rulers from South -South Nigeria, especially the lbenana-owei of Ogulagha kingdom who is the Chairman ljaw Traditional Rulers Council of Delta State, HRM. Capt. (Dr.) Joseph Timiyan JP joined their Gbaramatu counterpart, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun ll JP, Aketekpe Agadagba, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Kingdom's annual festival.
Other traditional rulers are His lmperial Majesty, (Barr) Zaccheus Doubra Egbenunu (JP) Opukutu lll, the Agadagba of Arogbo ljaw-lbe Kingdom, HRM. Egbesuwei Gbanraun X Agadagba, the Pere of Gbanraun Kingdom, HRM. Joel Ekeni lbane (JP), the Ogiobo lX, the Pere of Iduwini Kingdom, Bayelsa State, HRM. Gbebokedi Ajiri-Oba Oguruyeke Diamond Okirimini 1st, the Agadagba of Tubotoru Kingdom, Ondo State, HRM. Beri Apoi Ogudumu, Oki, Kalasuo lll, the Agadagba of Okomu Kingdom, Edo State, HRM. Godwin Ogunyebo Alagbabunafa lll, the Agadagba of Olodiama kingdom, Edo State among many others too numerous to mention.
Meanwhile, some of the political class in attendance include, the honourable Minister for Aviation, Hon. Barr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), distinguished senator Heineken Lokpobiri, honourable Minister for State Petroleum Resources, High Chief. Dennis Otuaro, Special Adviser/ Administrator Presidential Amnesty Programme on Niger Delta, and the honourable Minister for culture and Tourism was ably represented.
And the distinguished members of the National and State Houses of Assembly who graced the occasion include, Sen. Joel Thomas Onowakpo, the senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, the member representing Burutu Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief. Thomas Ereyitomi JP, member representing Warri Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dennis Emomotimi Guwor, the Speaker Delta State House of Assembly who was accompanied by the Speaker Anambra state House of Assembly and that of the Bayelsa State Speaker respectively. Other honourable members are, Hon. Amb. Alapala Anthony Ebitonmo, member Delta State House of Assembly representing Burutu North Constituency, Hon. Chief. Peres Oloye, member Delta State House of Assembly representing Burutu South Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Sinebe, member Delta State House of Assembly representing Patani Constituency, Chief. Favour lzoukumor, ED DESOPADEC, Hon. Spencer Okpoye, Commissioner representing ljaw ethnic nationality in the board of DESOPADEC, Hon. George Ekpemupolo among others.
From the business class, Double Chief. Tunde Smooth, the Bolouwei of Niger Delta, Sir. Matthew Tonlagha, MD FENOG, Comrade Chief. Sheriff Mulade, CEO CEPEJ, the great Joshua McIver, Coordinator Tantita Security Services Bayelsa State, Sir. Godfrey Tare Pondi, GM Tantita Security Services and a popular Lagos base social critique cum rights activist, the Very Dark man was also present at the event.
Speaking to our reporter at the event, the Chairman Organizing Committee of the 2024 Amaseikumo Festival, High Chief.(Engr.) Kestin Pondi said the over all significance of the Amaseikumo Festival is to foster unity, cleaning, healing, charity, purity, sharing of love, peace, protection and restoration for the purpose of getting rid of and preventing evil upon the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom in particular, and ljaw nation at large.
Engr. Kestin further stressed that Amaseikumo Festival is one of the ancient traditional celebrations handed down by their ancestors to be observed annually by the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the founding fathers.
He emphasized that the word Amaseikumo means good living, peace, unity, prosperity and protection to the people of the Communities that make up the kingdom.
Engr. Kestin concluded by saying, the festival has three distinctive spiritual, sociocultural and thanksgiving dimensions at the end of the carnival. The peculiar and trado-spiritual activities that make up the Amaseikumo festival include Gbaraun -Egbesu Ogele, lbolomobo-Ere, the Amaseikumo proper and a befitting thanksgiving ceremony at the end of the seven days long one week programme, he stated.
However, other side attractions featured during the grandfinale of the Amaseikumo festival include, Wrestling competition between Delta/Bayelsa ljaws, cultural dance competition, football competition, comedy session, draft competition, eating competition and live performance of ljaw owigiri highlife music display by various ljaw owigiri highlife musicians.
Other spectacular moment at the carnival like colourful event was when the ljaw Publishers Forum, IPF ably led by its National President, Comrade Austin Ozobo alongside the Vice President, Comrade Oyinbi Onduku, elder Cletus Opukeme, Mike Ugedi, Ekpegha Preye, Francis Abai, Anthony Demebide, Kagbala Ezekiel, Emmanuel Keneware stormed the arena in a grandstyle to the admiration of the different spectators at the historic event massively put together by Gbaramatu Kingdom.
The biggest youth organization in West Africa, the great ljaw Youth Council, lYC Worldwide was fully on ground led by its National President, Sir. Jonathan Lokpobiri alongside the Vice President, Comrade Freedom Atikpi, the capacity Spokesman, Amb. Princewill Binebai, the Financial Secretary, Comrade Tare Victor-Gow and other members of the Executive Council.
The ljaw National Congress, INC was not left out as its National President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba was also present to witness this years historic Amaseikumo Festival in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
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