…Tasks new monarch to utilise wealth of experiences good of all
The Installation and Planning Committee Chairman, Professor Francis Minimah, disclosed that the Oko-Sunju traditional stool of the Minimah War Canoe House in Opobo of Opobo/Nkoro in Rivers State is not a hereditary stool.
Describing the traditional stool as a significant one, he said, “The Oko-sunju Minimah War Canoe House traditional stool has in succession climbed to the (VII) height though not hereditary hence the choice of Alabo Kenneth T.J. Minimah (Rtd) to succeed his late father does not in any way contradict nor alter the ancestral traditional stool to hereditary but for the fact that the people found him worthy hence their choice.”
He disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at the installation of Alabo Kenneth T.J. Minmah as the “Oko-sunju (VII)” Minimah War Canoe House of Opobo on Saturday at Minimah Community in Opobo/Nkoro Rivers state.
Minimah opined that the absence of kingship in the community has been responsible for some unforeseen lapses in the traditional leadership structure of the Oko-sunju War Canoe House of Opobo.
He pointed out that, “The vacuum of traditional kingship has lasted 15 years since the late Alabo his late father Tobiah J. Oko-Sunju Minimah Oko-sunju (VI) died.
“The people have had a substantive house chairman whose powers are limited to certain traditional customs and demands.
“The position of a house chairman is not recognised in our traditional cycle, though he oversees to the activities of the people in the absence of the Alabo who remains the traditional head. Senibo Edward Robert Minimah has been on acting capacity as our house chairman.
“He was appointed the Deputy Chief by the late Alabo Tobiah J. Oko-Sunju Minimah and since the demise of the Alabo was appointed our house chairman on acting capacity though not very easy but the people felt it is time to fill up that vacuum and that is exactly what we have done today.”
He described the installation as the best option for the people of Minimah War Canoe House of Opobo at the moment and prayed for better days ahead of the people.
“With the installation of Lt. Gen. Kenneth T.J. Minimah as Oko-sunju minimah (VII) by the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom King Dandeson Douglas Jaja (JP) JEKKI V Chairman Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, the vacuum of traditional kingship which has widened the gap on purposeful leadership and development in Oko-sunju Minimah War Canoe House of Opobo has been filled up.
“The dawn of the new era has closed the long existing presence of an overseer house chairman whose powers are limited to our community as against the entire people in terms of traditional kingship.
“I implore him as a man of capacity to bring out his wealth of experiences for the overall good and sustainability of all.”