Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said the
people of Opobo in the state are an integral part of the history of the Ijaw
struggle, which makes him a true Ijaw son.
Fubara stated this when he met with the Regent and other
representatives of Kalabari Se Kobiri at Government House, Port Harcourt, on
Friday,
Fubara dismissed insinuations in some quarters that labeled
him as a non-Ijaw, saying such persons were not conversant with the history of
the struggle that made Ijaw a reputable class of people.
This was contained in a statement issued by the media aide
to the governor, Boniface Onyedi.
The statement quoted the governor as saying, “So, whoever is
feeding you with that information should go back to their history classes. You
cannot talk about the Ijaw struggle without the Opobo, the Bonny, and the
Kalabari.
“We had our trade lines at that time and for you to occupy a
trade line, it means you are a true Ijaw man. So, for the records, I am a full
blooded, up to my bones, an Ijaw man.”
Fubara said Ijaw people are bold, courageous, and forthright
people who, despite being subjected to inhuman treatment, did not succumb to
being traded as slaves during the slave trade.
He emphasised that he has one cardinal belief, which is that
it is only the will of God that prevails in every circumstance, whether good or
bad, winning or failing.
Condoling the Kalabari people over the demise of their
monarch, late King Theophilus J.T. Princewill, the governor assured them that
the state government will participate in the burial activities while urging the
people to put their differences aside and work together to give the late king a
befitting burial.
In his speech, the regent of Kalabari kingdom, Dr.
Charles Princewill, said they were in
Government House to notify the governor that Theophilus J.T. Princewill,
Amachree XI, the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of the Kalabari Kingdom has died
and formally invite him to attend the funeral.
He thanked Fubara for the support already given to them and
solicited for more.
On his part, Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr.
Tammy Danagogo, said
Fubara has shown so much love towards the Kalabari people
and committed to giving befitting burial to their late Amanyanabo.
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