King Tom was bestowed the honour of Be Se Poku by the apex body of traditional rulers and the people of Okrika.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has elevated the traditional stool of the king of Okochiri, Okirika, King Ateke Tom, from a second-class to a first class status.
Fubara upgraded the monarch’s status on Saturday at a special ceremony organised by the Council of Chiefs and the people of Okrika to honour the king.
The governor also said following his disposition to peace, the people of Rivers felt liberated and ready to support his government.
He said such feeling of liberation propelled the people to organise special thanksgiving celebrations of his legal victory in the 23 local government areas on a weekly basis in their own volition.
The governor insisted that only peace could guarantee development adding that “nobody can ever get the best out of himself or from the society without a measure of peace”.
He said: “If you love your state, you will not be any part of anything that will bring destruction to it. It doesn’t matter who the person is. That is what people should understand.
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“And for those of us who chose peace, it is not because we are weak but because we know and value this state. Whatever achievement that has been recorded by the previous administration, it is important that we sustain it. And that is the reason why we toe the path of peace.
“Look at what is happening in the 23 local government areas in the state. I am not asking anybody to go round to do thanksgiving as some of you might be thinking.
“These are people who wake up in the morning and say, we have been liberated. We want to tell people that we exist.
“And everyday you’re seeing the numbers, this is not artificial, this is organic support and why are we getting it, it is because of the peace that we stand for.”
In his welcome address, former Minister of Transport, Abiye Sekibo, said the Wakirike people were celebrating one of their own, King Tom, who had contributed to the prevailing peace in its various communities and Niger Delta.
Sekibo, who extended the congratulation of the people to Governor Fubara over his electoral victory, commended him for his decision to ensure the reign of peace and assured that Wakirike Be Se would continue to support his administration into his second tenure.
King Tom was bestowed the honour of Be Se Poku by the apex body of traditional rulers and the people of Okrika.