By Gideon Njoku
His Royal Majesty, King Ebitimi Emmanuel Banigo, has done the unprecedented. He has resigned as the King of his Okpoama Kingdom, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
With effect from July 31st 2024, King Banigo said in a statement, he would cease to be the Okpo XXI Ibenyanaowei of Okpoama Kingdom.
Citing health challenges, he said he was no longer in a position to listen to the everyday problems of his subjects and help in solving them due to his long absence from home. In the letter which he personally signed, and titled: PROCLAMATION OF THE RETIREMENT OF THE IBENYANAOWEI OF OKPOAMA KINGDOM, he said: “We are today faced with the worst economic crisis in recent history. The attendant excruciating poverty, hunger, insecurity and governance issues have made it imperative that I spend time at home. Unfortunately, I have been contending with health challenges which has not made this possible and which increasingly require long absence from the Kingdom for the foreseeable future.”
“Based on that, he said, he has decided to retire as the King of Okpoama Kingdom with effect from July 31st.
The full text of his Proclamation reads:
“Warm greetings to my dear people of Okpoama Kingdom.
“We are today faced with the worst economic crisis in recent history. The attendant excruciating poverty, hunger, insecurity and governance issues have made it imperative that I spend time at home. Unfortunately I have been contending with health challenges which has not made this possible and which increasingly long absence from the Kingdom for the foreseeable future.
“Consequently, I have taken the decision to retire as Ibenyanaowei of Okpoama Kingdom with effect from July 31st 2024. The election of a new Ibenyanaowei from the Ruling Houses is to commence immediately in accordance with our tradition to be crowned as OKPO XXII, Ibenyanaowei of Okpoama Kingdom.
“The Government of Bayelsa State and the relevant authorities will be notified accordingly.
“My dear Okpoama people, I thank you for the honour of being your King. I thank God for this privilege of ruling over our ancient Kingdom of highly endowed beautiful territories, the lands and creeks, and the remarkable people that God has bestowed to us through our ancestors.
“I will continue to contribute to the development of Okpoama Kingdom and the preservation of our culture as I did before I ascended to the throne.
“By the grace of God and working together we can collectively develop Okpoama to the land of our dreams.
“God bless Okpoama people.”
King Ebitimi, a banker before he ascended the throne was the Chief Executive Officer of International Merchant Bank of Nigeria from 1981 to 1986. He was Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology between 1999 and 2000.
In 2012, he became the King of his Okpoama Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
