Photo caption: Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara (right) presenting the Staff of Office to His Majesty King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja Jeki VI (left),the newly crowned Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom at Government House Port Harcourt on Friday.

Governor of Rivers State , His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday formally presented the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the new Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI, urging the new monarch to promote peace, unity and inclusiveness in the kingdom.

The governor while congratulating the new monarch, for successfully scaling the hurdles of selection and coronation, urged the royal father to see contenders who lost out of the selection process, not as victims but as comrades who must be carried along for the kingdom to move forward during his reign.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony in Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara apologized for his absence at the coronation, explaining that it was due to a call to higher national service, but that his spirit and soul were fully with the kingdom throughout the process.

He declared that history will remember his administration for peacefully laying to rest the late King, Douglas Dandeson Jaja, and mid-wifing the emergence of a new monarch without litigation.

The Governor, who said he remains one of the proudest persons on earth for the success of the transition, disclosed that the late king’s stool was enmeshed in a legal battle that lasted over 27 years, and that it took the wisdom and deliberate intervention of his administration to manage the selection process to avoid another round of court cases.

He emphasized that contrary to insinuations by mischief makers who tried to politicise his absence, his government was fully responsible for the entire process from burial of the late king to the coronation and recognition.

“Our presence was not just in that process alone. Every logistics that were required, there is nobody that can say he’s the one that did it. We did it. So, that is also a key issue in the process. So, for those people who like using everything for politics, my absence was not an intentional thing; it was a call to service. So the fact that I was unable to make it doesn’t mean that I do not value, appreciate or support the process,” Governor Fubara said.

He said the true test of kingship is in the management of success, and prayed that the new reign will usher in greater development in education, healthcare and small businesses, which he said remain the only sustainable antidotes to the growing criminality among youths.

The Governor, who described Opobo as one of the most peaceful Local Government Areas in the State, charged the new king to maintain zero tolerance for criminality, to be intentional and decisive in protecting the kingdom, and not to compromise on security on the grounds of kinship.

Governor Fubara assured the monarch of the continuous support of his administration both in and out of office, while also charging the Alapu Council to guide the king and the titled citizens to redirect their purpose from mere ceremonial uniformity to initiating tangible development projects that will be visible in the kingdom within the next one year.

In an acceptance speech, the newly installed Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty King Jaja Jeki VI, pledged to build Opobo on the pillars of service, inclusion and vision, in honour of the legacy of the great King Jaja who founded the kingdom 156 years ago with trade and diplomacy.
Describing the Staff of Office as more than a symbol of authority, the monarch said it represents a sacred trust from the government and people of Rivers State to lead with justice, peace and dignity.

In a statement, Onwuka Nzechi, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fubara, quoted the monarch to have expressed deep gratitude to God, the ancestors, Governor Fubara, the Opobo Council of Alapu, titled citizens, elders, women and youths for the confidence reposed in him to lead Opobo into its Sixth Chapter.
The new king assured the Rivers State Government that under his reign, Opobo Kingdom will remain a dependable partner for peace, development and unity of Rivers State.

Gunmen have abducted 20 corps members serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) along the Owerri–Onitsha Road by Umunoha community in the Mbaitoli, Imo State, South East Nigeria.

Confirming the unfortunate incident, in a telephone conversation, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, said the corps members were reportedly travelling in a commercial bus from Ibadan, Oyo State, to different orientation camps in the South-East and South-South states when they were intercepted by the gunmen.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, while the police and other security agencies have intensified efforts to rescue the victims unhurt and unconditionally.

Okoye added that security operatives were currently combing surrounding bushes, while a Rapid Response Team (RRT) had also been deployed to track down the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the corps members.

The incident came weeks after the police said that 11 people, including an unidentified number of corps members serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), were rescued after gunmen attacked vehicles along the Aloma–Egane Expressway.

A former employee of Air Peace, who simply identified herself as Tade, has made a social media post on her recent encounter with the Chairman/CEO of the airline, Dr. Allen Onyena and praised him for his exceptional goodwill, benevolence and kind word of encouragement.

Tade who said she resined from Air Peace last year to set up a fashion outfit, after receiving blessings from Allen Onyena, quoted the airline’s CEO to have commended her for establishing her own business, said the encounter took place on Wednesday when the Air Peace boss paid a visit to her business premises

The obviously excited lady said- “It was such a beautiful moment having my boss visit my factory. And honestly, I still struggle to call him my former boss. Some people may be former bosses by designation, but the place they occupy in your life does not change simply because you no longer work in the same organisation.

“Two days ago, when he told me he wanted to come see the factory, I honestly wondered if he would be able to make it. I had seen how incredibly busy his schedule was, meetings, guests, engagements, one thing after another, and some of those meetings stretched well into yesterday evening.

“But around 7pm, after what I can only imagine was an incredibly long and stressful day, he still came.

“And he didn’t just come in, take a quick look around and leave. The entire house came alive.

“We received him warmly, and his presence brought such a beautiful energy into the building. He took time to speak with the staff, interacted with my friend, Mr. Jire, and his wife about their business, and then came into my office and sat with me.

“And for a while, it was just my boss being my boss.

“We talked about entrepreneurship, people management, business management, governance, leadership, and the challenges that come with growing a business, including some of the challenges I cannot even see yet. He reminded me, in his own way, that growth does not mean the challenges stop. They simply change.

“And then came that moment:

“You are now an employer of labour yourself, Tadé.”

She continued – “I don’t think he knows what those words meant to me. October will make it a year since I resigned from Air Peace and left with his blessing.

“And here I was yesterday, almost a year later, standing in my own factory, surrounded by people who now work for the fashion company I am building, while the man I once reported to was standing there looking at what has grown from that decision.

“There was something deeply emotional about it. Because when I met this man in 2023, I could not have known all that the years ahead would hold.

“Meeting you, sir, and working with you was never a coincidence. It was a necessary chapter in my life. A needed season. A significant part of the journey that brought me here. And I will always cherish it.

“Thank you, sir, for your leadership. Thank you for the opportunities, the lessons, the corrections, the wisdom, and most especially, for your consistent belief in me.

“Thank you for showing up. And thank you for coming to see what that little girl who once worked with you is building today. It meant more to me than I can properly put into words.

“And on behalf of the entire TADÉ house, thank you for the generous gift. We are deeply grateful.

“Some moments are bigger than the moment itself. Yesterday was one of them.,” she concluded.

All pictures were taken in the moment