The Gbaramatu National Club, a sociocultural organisation in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, has written a powerful eulogy in honour of the late High Chief J.G.B. Ari (JP) whose burial holds on Friday, November 17, 2023 in Kokodiagbene community.

The eulogy, written by its National President, Chief J.G. Orubu, on behalf of the Club, and made available to PENGlobal, begins by scornfully mocking death for having no respect for the High Chief.

The Club noted that the late High Chief Ari, who they described as "a fallen friend, a compatriot, a comrade, a companion, a member of the pioneer Gbaramatu Club for the emancipation of the Gbaramatu kingdom" lived a fulfilled life and made enormous sacrifices from as far back as in the 60's because he believed in the greatness of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The full eulogy titled "A Tribute Presented In Memory Of Late Chief J.G.B. Ari On The Occasion Of His Burial At Kokodiagbene On This 17th Day Of November, 2023, By Chief J.G. Orubu, On Behalf Of Gbaramatu National Club" reads as follows:

"The sad news of the death of Chief J. G. B Ari shocked me to the marrow. I did not believe it. I scampered to his house in Warri expecting to see him, but I was wrong. Only death was present with a number of sorrowful mourners, including family members and other well-wishers.

"Death is an arch enemy of man. It comes without invitation and no mortal can stop it when it wants to come. So it came that fateful day without any permission and rudely snatched our revered Puwei, Chief J.G.B. Ari from the hands of the powerful Gbaramatu Kingdom, from the hands of the members of the Gbaramatu National Club, and above all, from the hands of his dear wife, children and family members.

"O death! Wicked death!, it shall be your turn one day and it shall be the turn of the grave one day, according to the prophet of God, Hosea, in Hosea 13: 14. In this place, God was talking through the prophet, saying: “I will ransomed them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death, I will be the plague, O grave, I will be thy destruction….” Good people of Gbaramatu kingdom, this is our consolation.

"Today, in this momentous and colorful occasion of sorrow and joy, we all gather here to give a befitting burial to a fallen friend, a compatriot, a comrade, a companion, a member of the pioneer Gbaramatu Club for the emancipation of the Gbaramatu kingdom. I, as the National President of the club, I can recall vividly the enormous sacrifice of Chief Ari from the late 1960s. The exit is sorrowful because I shall not see him again.

"However, it is a joy, because he lived a fulfilled life. His name shall be there in Gold whenever the emancipation struggle of Gbaramatu shall be written. He was one of us, including, but not limited to the following: Mr. Philip Tonfawei, Captain Moneri Aruwei, Chief Clark Gbenewei, and Barr. B. B. Ebikeme, who did not only foresee the greatness of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the late 1960s, but believed in it and labored for it. Hence, in our club, the slogan was Opu-Ibe-Gbaramatu. Am happy, that he saw the greatness of our dream, the freedom, before he took his exit.

"Chief Jonathan Gere B. Ari, was gentle, hardworking. Koriko, as he was fondly hailed by his admirers, as one that was flying his family kite very high. J. G. B. Ari, Koriko, was an iconic and quintessential personality in services. May God give us the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. J.G.B Adieu! Adieu! Adieu!"

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