The paramount ruler and Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom in the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Elder Capt. Dr. King Joseph I. Timiyan (JP), has charged Ijaw people to reference God by honouring the Ijaw Day of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving as well as the organisers of the programme to broaden participation across the Ijaw Nation.

The paramount ruler made the overtures at the concluded 27th edition of the Ijaw Day of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving themed 'Divine Turnaround' that held at the Chief Tunde Smooth (Smutuns) Playground along Warri-Sapele Road, Warri, Delta State on Saturday, January 6, 2024.

The 27th edition which featured a sermon by the guest preacher, the Commanding ArchBishop Winning Willy Bunting of the Apostolic Army Worldwide, had in attendance traditional rulers among whom are; HRM Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom and 1st Vice Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, Stanley Perediegha Luke-Kalanama VIII (JP); HRM Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, Shadrack Erebulu Aduo III; HRM Pere of Isaba Kingdom, Ogbobere Isoun VI; HRM Pere Ogbolubiri Mein Kingdom, Johnbull Polokowei, Apiarogu, the Ongolo 1st; HRM Pere of Oporomo Kingdom; HRM Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Monday Whiskey, Udurhie I.

Here are some highlights from the speech delivered by the Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom:

◼️ Today is a special day for the Ijaw people and we need to take it as an important day to acknowledge God Almighty. We are not here because of any other person; we are not here because of the president of this country; we are not here because of the state governor, but we are here because God Almighty is God. And God remains God forever. Nobody can take the position of God Almighty.

◼️ It's just that, Ijaw Day like this is supposed to be a day where you will see different faces, it's supposed to be a day of much mammoth crowd; it's supposed to be an overflow into the Warri Sapele Road. It's such that it's so scanty that it doesn't look like Ijaw Day. And the organisers need to do more, to go about and preach this Gospel, to go about and tell people about a day like this, that Ijaw people are praising God, Ijaw people are thanking God because of the good He has done for us; because this is the beginning of the year.

◼️ If you can see traditional rulers sitting down here in respect of this programme, I believe that all our subjects are supposed to be here because as kings we are the number one citizens of our kingdoms. So, if we are here, all our subjects supposed to be here. And if all our subjects are here then I think this place is supposed to be overfull. And that is what all of us here expected. So organisers you go round to all the kingdoms to tell them the importance of today, that today is thanksgiving.

◼️ And not just Delta State, organisers should move to Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, to even Rivers state because Ijaw Day is Ijaw Day. It does not discriminate wherever you come from. Provided you're speaking Ijaw, you're supposed to be here because God is God... People feel that what we are doing here is for few traditional rulers and for Soroaye. This is about Ijaw Nation and for God Almighty. If you're created by God, you should be here. And who will dispute that? Nobody! So, from January to December, the organisers of this programme should go round. Let next year be better than this.

◼️ So, my advice, the organisers, do your work. Do it in a way that it covers the whole Ijaw Nation. It's one-sided. We are only seeing Deltans here. Go to Edo, Bayelsa. Invite the Bayelsa traditional rulers, invite Rivers state traditional rulers, invite Edo state traditional rulers, there are Ijaw people there. Ondo, there are Ijaw people there. Please do it so we can call it Ijaw... We can even rotate it. It doesn't mean. It's better. Because Ijaw is not in Warri alone. Ijaw is in Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo... And we are also ready to move round because this is for Ijaw people and we are the head of Ijaw. If we don't show example to people how can they emulate us? It is we that people have to emulate.

◼️ It is only this God that can save, the One you do not see. No other god can save. Believe in Him. That is why you can see traditional rulers here in different attires in different way. We are all shining because the glory of God is in us. If God is not important you cannot see us here. We are the presiding officers of our kingdom... And we are here and you know that God Almighty is big. We respect Him. We rely on Him. He's the only One we can bow down to on Earth. Earthly, our grandfathers bow down for us, but the only One we bow down for without hesitating is God Almighty who spared our lives, who crowned and ordained us, that is the God we are talking about. So Ijaw people should respect a day like this, and come around and praise God.

The Ijaw Day of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving is organised by the Izon Christian Fellowship (ICF) Interdenominational, Delta State Chapter, under the leadership of Rev. Anthony Burutu and the National Publicity Secretary, Bishop Dr. Godwyns Soroaye (JP).

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