The people of Ele Kingdom have been charged to shun self-interest and cultivate the culture of developing and promoting the collective interest of the community by defending rather than preventing companies operating and carrying out projects in the area.
The Amanyanabo of ancient Ele Kingdom, King Felix Tamunoseipiriala Okuru made the charge on Sunday at the 2019 Harvest and Ele Community Thanksgiving Service which took place at the Missionary Anglican Church, Ele, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
King Tamunoseipiriala Okuru who is also the Apina VII and who used the Thanksgiving Church Service to mark his second anniversary on the throne expressed dissatisfaction with the action of certain persons from the community whom he alleged were demarketing the community by preventing projects which according to him will forestall rapid development of the kingdom. The royal father reassured that the issues in court would soon be over to enable the community move forward.
The Ele Monarch enjoined the people to remain peaceful and united in order to attract more development, adding that all hands must be on deck despite the differences, because they have no other home than Ele Kingdom.
He thanked God for His faithfulness, mercy and protection that inspite of the trials and temptation, the entire people of the Kingdom came out in their good numbers to celebrate his second anniversary, and also appealed to them to maintain that spirit, prayed for the community and thanked them for their unalloyed support and co-operation.
In his remarks, the Secretary of Ele Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Tamunosiki Tiene-Peritiene who described the occasion as very colourful and well attended, enjoined the people to remain peaceful and appealed to those who do not want the progress of the community to have a rethink for the rapid development of the Ele Kingdom.
Chief Tiene-Peritiene advised the warring factions to put their agitation behind and work for the progress and development of the area as well as desist from litigations and self-interest at the expense of the community, and thanked all for their continued support since after his coronation, urging them to keep it up.
He also, on behalf of the King and the entire Ele Divisional Council of Chiefs promised to assist the Church in building a befitting edifice in the area while also calling for prayers.
In their separate remarks on the sidelines, the spokesman of the community, Chief Sample Amatarime Amakiri and Elder Sample Iyawo Iyalla thanked God for the peaceful celebration that has established that King Felix Tamunoseipiriala Okuru, Apina VII is the Amanyanabo of Ele Kingdom and charged all to maintain the peace for the area to move forward.
Earlier in his sermon, the Curate of St. Martins Anglican Church, Ogu, Rev. Alaibi Williams enjoined the people to unite and build their city and the church at its new location and forget their differences that are distracting development in the area.
