Solomon LeggJack who witnessed the coronation of the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Charles Douglas MacPepple JaJa, Jeki VI, captures the wealthy tradition of the dominion
Opobo Kingdom in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State was agog not too long ago with dwell and dazzling shows of regal splendor, cultural shows and uncommon unity of function of in a 10-day – coronation actions that noticed King Charles Douglas MacPepple JaJa, Jeki VI formally and publicly topped because the ‘‘Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom’’ on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at King Jaja’s Palace Grounds in Opobo city.
It was the fruits of actions heralding a milestone occasion which attracted a galaxy of dignitaries which included foremost conventional rulers, a former President of Nigeria and lots of political leaders, captains of trade and properly needs from throughout the size and breadth of this nice nation.
The kingdom, recognized for its deep-rooted traditions and cultural practices – like her older brotherly kingdom of Grand Bonny had lined up an eight-day pre-coronation cultural and conventional actions that started on Friday, September 18, 2026 to the D’ day Saturday, September 26, 2026 and a day’s submit coronation exercise which was the King’s Coronation Thanksgiving Service.
It is recalled that the 67-year-old monarch was proclaimed as King-designate December 13, 2025 to succeed his late elder brother, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja; Jeki V, who had handed in April, 2025. However and unexpectedly, a type of dissension and menace of a authorized problem to the method of his emergence arose however was mercifully and expertly put down in an admirable and lawful method two and half months after on March 16, 2026.
The preparations for his public coronation started with the formation of 17 planning and implementation of committees to drive the assorted coronation actions – spanning the ten days interval starting from Friday, September 18, 2026 proper via to Sunday, September 27, 2026 — ending with the coronation thanksgiving service and the king’s banquet for visitors and most of the people.
Each of nowadays’ actions was all the time preceded by pre-drawn volleys of seven cannon pictures besides the 2 Sundays intervening the ten days earmarked for the celebrations – paving the best way for every warfare Canoe home and totally different socio/cultural teams inside the Kingdom to showcase, Parade and exhibit their cultural, masquerade shows, conventional dances and extra as social – efficiency tributes to the brand new king.
It was certainly a showtime of the wealthy Ibani Cultural heritage, rites and aquatic shows of ceremonial gigs of the assorted warfare Canoe homes on the Opobo river together with King JaJa’s warfare canoe itself – personally commanded by the King-designate.
His appearances on the varied cultural show grounds have been vital moments throughout which he acknowledged the joyous and thunderous greetings from the individuals and equally prolonged affectionate gestures to them, the folks and to the drummers who sounded the throne’s drum identify in ceaseless adulations.
The crowning glory got here on the coronation day correct as invited visitors from far and close to arrived Opobo Town and have been ushered into King JaJa’s Palace floor that was lined up with colourfully and tastefully embellished canopies. Top-most VIPs have been shaded within the canopies pitched instantly reverse the coronation dias for apparent causes. The dias itself wearing crimson and velvet colors was a barely elevated platform on which a gold trimmed royal throne for the King was positioned.
In the entrance row of these VIP canopies sat nice personages of energy and affect in our society which included former President Goodluck Jonathan and former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. To their speedy proper sat the ever lovable King Edward Ashimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI and Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, who arrived the venue escorted by a 28-man fully-clad Otobo Masquerades Squad. It is uncommon to see Grand Bonny’s Monarch seem in a public occasion in sensible demonstration of the metaphorical image of his majestic and towering power – historically reserved for the King to honour one other royal because it was on that day. The Otobo masquerade is believed to signify the hippopotamus (that amphibious energy home usually referred to as the river horse – due largely to its monumental power and fearsomeness on land and at sea).
Other notable royals who graced the event have been the Obong of Calabar, the Obi of Onitsha, King Asari Dokubo of Elem Kalabari, King Winston Alamina-Oputebeya of Koniama in Okrika, the normal rulers from Ahoada and different members of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in addition to a number of many different invited political large wigs and captains of trade. The crowd of guests and locals was spectacular and virtually made the venue chaotic, leaving the safety particulars of these VIPs actually cueless relating to the best way to hold their principals secure and much from potential hurt which by no means occurred anyway.
When the time got here for the king – designate to enter the Coronation floor – resplendent it was by an extended procession led by a standard conclave of the Kingdom’s Alapu (Chiefs) and members of the King JaJa Executive Authority with him of their center and amongst whom the place these bearing the 2 swords of authority (of the Crown and of the Kingdom), the crown, the royal workers and different paraphernalia workplace they laid on the Coronation dais earlier than the King whom – two of the chiefs had already escorted to take a seat on the throne. The Coronation rites started and paved the best way for the officiating Priest – the Rt. Reverend Emmanuel Oko-JaJa to supply the prayers by blessing the throne, the Crown and the King earlier than inserting the Crown on his head amidst public applause and cheers.
Then got here the coronation handle which the king learn with a peaceful and dignified voice – acknowledging each essential dignitary current – starting with former President Jonathan and his pricey spouse after which the Amanayabo of Grand Bonny whom he addressed as ‘‘his brother and King of our ancestral home’’. A really noble and pristine appellation supposed to unmistakably strike the wire of consanguinity amongst the Ibani folks of each kingdoms current on the occasion or elsewhere.
The king in his handle – acknowledged the burden of the Crown positioned on his head and the big obligations of his workplace and the throne whose dignity and integrity he vowed to uphold. He additionally pledged to maintain the belief bestowed upon him with a promise to speculate and promote the event of his kingdom and other people.
In his handle, he displayed a uncommon emotional reference to the official expectations of Opobians by together with the event of cultural facilities that might incorporate the Ibani language into on a regular basis home usages – as half of his coronation constitution along with his folks. This is a big and crucial undertaking in an effort to reverse the sad however regular decline in use of Ibani language amongst our folks. He promised to make his reign and Opobo Kingdom a reliable stakeholder in pursuit of peace, growth and unity of Rovers State and by extension Nigeria as a complete. At the top of his speech, got here a deluge of tributes provided as homage by the previous president, Obi of Onitsha and different royals.
King Charles Douglas MacPepple JaJa; Jeki VI is really a monarch in whom his folks rejoices for thus many causes: Born on January 27, 1959 his main training in Opobo Town and his secondary training in Akwa Ibom State earlier than continuing to the University of Port Harcourt the place he earned his bachelor diploma.
His skilled and social lives have been marked by regular development via SPDC to the Nigerian Bulk Oil Company and others. He be part of Mina Ogbo King Cultural Society of Opobo on the age of 12 – which speaks to his avid love for cultural and conventional actions and extra time acquired drumming abilities and mastery within the rhythmical dealing with of native musical devices and speaking – drums to the amazement of native people – incomes him the Sobriquet of ‘‘akwa-alabo’’ (Lord of the drums). A really residence breed royal and man of the folks.
Furthermore, he turned Chairman of Chief MacPepple War Canoe House PH department – between 1989-1998, the Alapalibo (Deputy Chief) of that home in 2006, the Alabo-designate (Chief designate) in 2008 and eventually turned the Alabo (Chief) of that home in 2009 – a place he held till his proclamation and eventual coronation as King a month in the past. His life trajectories and pedigree is wealthy and ennobling sufficient to have endeared him to all Strata of Opobo Society and immensely certifies him as a proverbial ‘‘square peg in a square hole’’.
The closing chapter to the each day deliberate Coronation actions got here in fast succession with the King’s Coronation Thanksgiving Service held at St Mark’s (Anglican Communion) Church in Kalaibiama Town – Opobo on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The King, the royal household, the Alapu, title residents and well-wishers have been in full attendance amidst a heavy down pour which contrasted with the tremendous climate of the previous-day of the Coronation correct – which many believed have been showers of blessing from above upon the Monarch and Opobo Kingdom.
Finally, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Governor Simialaiyi Fubara, who was unavoidable absent from the weekend coronation actions as a result of pressing nationwide task was readily available to current the Certificate of recognition and workers of workplace to the King within the Council Chambers of the Government House in Port-Harcourt within the presence of a cross part of members of the State Executive Council and the King’s entourage.
In all, it will be very apposite to say that the coronation was very profitable and properly organized by the occasion planners and the assorted committees who labored assiduously to supply this commendable end result.
• Solomon LeggJack writes from Port Harcourt
