Gbanraun Kingdom, the ancestral home of the first Niger Deltan to run for the office of the President of Nigeria (Christopher 'Pere' Ajuwa), held its 6th Coronation Anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Pere (Capt.) Frank Fieke Gabriel Okiakpe, Egbesuwei Gbanraun X, Agadagba of Gbanraun Clan, a celebration that spanned from Monday, August 26, 2024, to Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

The 6th coronation anniversary celebration, which was officiated by the Prime Minister of Gbanraun Kingdom, High Chief Barr. Hon. Macdonald Igbadiwei, climaxed with the award of conferment of chieftaincy titles on worthy sons of the Ijaw clan among whom are High Chief Timothy Jeremiah (the Ibe-Zouwei), Chief Joseph Ogun (the Ibe-Zouwei), Chief Priest Felix Edeku (the Pinakariwei), Chief Timipre Innocent Sara (the Posibenimowei) and Chief Marrow Lucky Olugbo (the Ibe-Telemowei), all of Gbanraun Kingdom.

Once a settlement plagued by criminal activities, Gbanraun Kingdom has seen a resurgence of peace and stability under the leadership of His Royal Majesty, the Egbesuwei Gbanraun X, the Pere and Agadagba. This 6th anniversary celebration was not just a tribute to his successful reign but also a reflection of the kingdom's unity and progress, inspiring hope for a prosperous future.

The Egbesuwei Gbanraun X, who had been destined to be a king as confirmed by prophecies and corroborated by other sources, prior to his ascension to the throne of his fathers was a Captain at the peak of his career as a mariner. Academically, he attended primary school at Egwema Community (1969) and later St. Barnabas State Primary School, Government Secondary School (finished 1973), Government Secondary School, Ukubie (finished 1979), Rivers State School of Basic Studies (finished 1982), Nautical College (now Maritime Academy, Oron, Akwa-Ibom State) where he obtained his Higher National Diploma (HND).

Driven by the quest to acquire more knowledge, he undertook the mandatory Dynamic Positioning Ship Quality certificate course for sailors, known as DP, which took him to various countries outside Nigeria such as Ghana, India, Singapore, France, and Netherlands, to be trained and was promoted to the rank of a Captain.

Before his ascension to the throne of his fathers, the Egbesuwei Gbanraun X, Pere and Agadagba of Gbanraun Clan, worked in the maritime sector, being the head of various ships for the past 25 years. He worked in Tidex Nigeria Limited (as a Cadet Officer), as well as in Zapala Golf Marine Services, O.11 Nigeria Limited, Walvis Nigeria Limited, R.K Offshore Limited, and Bourbone Nigeria Limited. The last ship he piloted as Captain was the M/V AVIANNA.

When the appointed time came, His Majesty, when he received the clarion call to lead his people resigned from his maritime job to obey the call to lead as a 1st Class Traditional Ruler and Monarch of the ancient Gbanraun Clan as he recalled: "The Gbanraun people appreciated the vacuum created by nature and yearned for a leader. The Almighty God and the gods of the land searched the hearts of Gbanraun people and choose me a mariner, a philanthropist and an avid believer of Ijaw cause to captain the ship of leadership of the entire Gbanraun Clan.

"I passed through the sacred and rigorous traditional rites and adjudge the only fit and proper person to adorn the prestigious title of PERE of Gbanraun Clan and was coronated in accordance with the Gbanraun tradition on the 26th of August, 2018, as His Royal Majesty, Pere (Capt.) Frank Fieke Gabriel Okiakpe, Egbesuwei Gbanraun X, Pere and Agadagba of Gbanraun Clan (kingdom). That is why we are all gathered here today to commemorate my sixth year anniversary celebration," the Egbesuwei Gbanraun X added.

The 6th Coronation Anniversary was also a time for reflection to assess how far the Egbesuwei Gbanraun X has come in his reign over the Gbanraun people. However, despite the challenges the Pere and Agadagba of Gbanraun Clan made tremendous progress, which he shared with the audience.

"The enthronement of the Pere has not been without challenges, as most times, enemies usually raise eyebrows whenever good things are in the offing. The first challenge the Pere of Gbanraun faced when he mounted on the saddle of leadership of his ancestors was insecurity within Gbanraun territorial waterways and in the various communities that constitute Gbanraun Kingdom.

"I summon my council of chiefs and we took the position to fight criminality headlong, hence series of raids were made to arrest criminals. We recovered assorted arms and ammunition which was surrendered to the king by the repentant militants, and we consequently handed over them to security apparatus the Joint Task Force (JTF).

"In order to liberate Gbanraun from criminality, we enacted some by-laws to govern our people and these laws are yielding positive results. Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you that we are almost approaching zero tolerance to criminality in this kingdom. The smoking of marijuana A.K.A Igbo, cocaine, ice, kolorado, kosko, etc.; drinking of coskorine nor swallowing of tramadol is highly prohibited in the kingdom.

"As Pere, during my first year in office, I struggled seriously to have network within Gbanraun Kingdom. Thus, I assiduously fought for the citing of MTN network. The MTN mast you see today and network you enjoy now in Gbanraun came during the reign of His Majesty, Egbesuwei Gbanraun X second year on the throne.

"Furthermore, in the third reign year of my reign as the Pere of Gbanraun Clan, I and the council of chiefs fought relentlessly and Shell constructed one kilometer walk-way palace road for the kingdom. Also, as Pere, I and my council of chiefs made relentless effort in contacting those who are in position to approve street light. I single handedly contacted higher authorities in NDDC which yielded positive results in the provision of over 229 solar lights that light up Gbanraun at night, thus bringing development closer to the masses.

"As a philanthropist per excellence, I have used my position as the king of Gbanraun to touch lives of indigents (poor) students with financial support like provision of school fees, books, school uniforms, etc. I also take care of the elderly with my small resources to ensure that they continue to survive during this season of harsh economy.

"Furthermore, in the 5th year of my reign as king, I have engaged my council of chiefs and we have unanimously toured round the Gbanraun territory, hoisting Gbanraun flag within our boundaries thus having positive relationship with our neighbouring communities. We cannot document everything, but these are few we are bringing to limelight.

"One thing will I desire of the Lord that as a king of Gbanraun Clan is for God to grant me wisdom because the Holy Bible says 'Wisdom is a principal thing'. I believe that the Lord granted the Biblical Solomon all he did not ask for just because he desired wisdom.

"I promise to give voice to the voiceless, be a father to the fatherless and husband to the widows. I shall ensure that what rightly belongs to Gbanraun Clan is not taken elsewhere.

"The era of treating Gbanraun Clan as one community clan must be discontinued. China and India have over one billion population, yet in the United Nations they share equal voting rights with Nigeria that is estimated at two hundred million, nor the Vatican City which is the smallest country in the world.

"Gbanraun Clan is made up of over 18 autonomous towns with each having distinct traditional, administrative and social institutions and over five hundred fishing camps. These towns should be accorded equal rights and privileges like bigger communities or clans in our dear state, Bayelsa State and Nigeria," the Egbesuwei Gbanraun X declared.

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