Encomiums Pour As King Daukoru, Amanyanabo Of Nembe Celebrates 80th Birthday

… Sultan Of Sokoto, Ooni Of Ife, Others Grace Occasion

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

Encomiums poured from distinguished personalities in recognition of excellent and indelible contributions of His Royal Majesty, King Dr. Edmund M. Daukoru, Mingi XII, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa state;  Chairman, South-South Monarch Forum, as he celebrates his 80th birthday, Thursday.

The event held at the Congress hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja was graced by galaxy of royal fathers, top government officials, community leaders, dancing troupes from various communities in Bayelsa state, among others from across the country.

Some, too numerous to mention, sent heart warming goodwill messages in praise of the celebrant for his incredible accomplishments and impact so far made and urged him not to relent as they wished him more years on his throne.

The epic of the ceremony was the cutting of the Celebrant’s birthday cake as well as the unveiling and launching of two books in honour of King Daukoru.

In an opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, His Majesty, King (Dr) Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Treaty King, Natural Ruler, Amanyanabo of Ipobo, congratulated the celebrant for turning 80 years.

He noted that the celebrant is a man one can depend on. According to him, “Our celebrant is friend, a man you can depend on. He is a man you can take to places. He is a man who has achieved within 80 years so much for his Nembe Kingdom, for Nigeria and the World. A man who has became the Secretary general of OPEC and served the world. That’s the man we’re celebrating today.

King Douglas Jaja formally welcomed the celebrant to the class of octogenarians and prayed that God would continue to protect him and empower him to continue to serve his people and Nigeria.

Earlier, the President of the CAN and General Overseer, Christ Holy Church International, Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Okoh, had prayed thanking God for the life of the celebrant just as he asked God to continue to guide him in the years ahead.

On his part, the Royal Father of the day, His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, noted that the celebrant is a good great man and one of the traditional rulers who had came a long way.

The Sultan of Sokoto further explained that traditional rulers are not politicians but fathers of the politicians.

While describing the celebrant as a man of many parts, he said the books being launched are about the biography of the celebrant and urged all to buy the books to know more about the celebrant.

According to the Sultan, “It good we write our own story so that others will not go and write lies about us.”

Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, (Ọjájá II), described the celebrant as “Traditional Ruler with touch of class” and as a “True unifier”.

The Ooni of Ife further observed that all the traditional rulers left their kingdoms to come and celebrate and honour the celebrant because of who he is and what he does.

He further aligned himself with the Sultan of Sokoto, noting that politicians would come and go but traditional institutions which are the custodian of the society remains.

The celebrant, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom and his wife,
Her Majesty, Queen Gladys Daukoru, Queen of Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa state, expressed gratitude for the honour done to them by gracing the occasion.