…Hosts National Network Editorial Board At Palatial Palace
The Amayanabo of Kirike Kingdom, Okrika Local Government Area, Retired Air Commodore T. E. O. Ogube says his reign has ushered in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere in Okrika Local Government Area, because he is building bridges across lines.
Speaking when the Editorial Board of National Network newspaper paid him a courtesy visit and presentation of award letter as Outstanding Royal Father of the Year in commemoration of the 18th Anniversary of the newspaper at his palace in Okrika on Saturday, King Ogube said he succeeded in building a bridges across ethnic and religious lines, a situation that now marked his kingdom as the safest LGA in the state.
Noting that Okrika was one of the most insecure local government areas in the state before his emergence as King of Kirike, the monarch said he could beat his chest and say that the trend has been drastically reversed.
“Before I came on board, incidents of cultism, kidnapping, oil theft and pipeline vandalism, were rampant in Okrika but after I hit the ground running following the charge by His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, such ugly characters tried to rear up their ugly heads to make sure I don’t succeed, but by the grace of God, what we have today is a success story”, the monarch declared.
On his background as a retired Airforce officer, the king said the military was a profession where, according to him, he managed and practiced violence, adding that since he became a traditional ruler, he had been managing peace and practicing same to the benefit of society, as he noted that “without peace, there would be no development, progress and unity”.
“So, that’s my strategy, building bridges across ethno-religious lines. Most Ikwerre kings are my friends. Same goes to my Eleme and Ogoni colleagues. We interface with each other. As the king of Kirike, I have had to visit monarchs and opinion leaders in the Niger Delta”, he said.
The Kirike monarch while thanking the visiting team for the award, added that only recently, he led a delegation of Niger Delta traditional rulers from Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State to ex-Niger Delta militant, Tompolo who was given a pipeline surveillance contract.
“He invited us and I led the delegation to make sure that his activities towards all pipelines surveillance is encouraged to bring the peace and spread the contract around. He promised us that he would ensure that we the traditional rulers of Niger Delta would be involved.
“I equally met the Olu of Warri on pipelines surveillance to intimate him that whatever that is due to other Niger Delta monarchs, personalities and youths are given accelerated hearing.
“Last year also, I led a delegation of Niger Delta traditional rulers, chiefs and opinion leaders to visit the Minister of Justice and Attorney General on Niger Delta issues. So, in my brief period, I have done these to bring peace and development in our region”, he said.
The Ogube 1 and Perekune Kingoli 1 of Kirike Kingdom further disclosed that incidents of oil bunkering has been put in check, assuring that he would ensure that the it would be reduced to the barest minimum.
Earlier in his speech, the General Manager/Editor-in-Chief of National Network newspaper, Mr. Chris Konkwo congratulated the monarch for winning the trust and confidence of online voters who nominated him for the prestigious award.
He congratulated the King for a successful military service and for translating his wealth of experience to quality service delivery to his people as natural ruler.
