Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has formally presented the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the new Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI. The presentation ceremony took place in Government House, Port Harcourt, on October 5, 2026. Fubara congratulated the new monarch for successfully scaling the hurdles of selection and coronation.
During the ceremony, Fubara urged the new monarch to promote peace, unity, and inclusiveness in the kingdom. He encouraged King Jaja Jeki VI to see contenders who lost out of the selection process as comrades who must be carried along for the kingdom to move forward during his reign. Fubara emphasized that his administration was fully responsible for the entire process, from the burial of the late king to the coronation and recognition of the new monarch.
Fubara apologized for his absence at the coronation, explaining that it was due to a call to higher national service. He recalled that the late king's stool was enmeshed in a legal battle that lasted over 27 years and that it took the wisdom and deliberate intervention of his administration to manage the selection process to avoid another round of court cases. The governor emphasized that his government was fully responsible for the entire process.
The governor described Opobo as one of the most peaceful local government areas in the State and charged the new king to maintain zero tolerance for criminality. He urged King Jaja Jeki VI to be intentional and decisive in protecting the kingdom and not to compromise on security on the grounds of kinship. Fubara assured the monarch of the continuous support of his administration both in and out of office.
In an acceptance speech, King Jaja Jeki VI pledged to build Opobo on the pillars of service, inclusion, and vision, in honour of the legacy of the great King Jaja who founded the kingdom 156 years ago with trade and diplomacy. The new king described the Staff of Office as more than a symbol of authority, representing a sacred trust from the government and people of Rivers State to lead with justice, peace, and dignity.
King Jaja Jeki VI expressed deep gratitude to God, the ancestors, Governor Fubara, the Opobo Council of Alapu, titled citizens, elders, women, and youths for the confidence reposed in him to lead Opobo into its sixth chapter. The new king assured the Rivers State Government that under his reign, Opobo Kingdom will remain a dependable partner for peace, development, and unity of Rivers State.
Fubara's administration has been credited with peacefully laying to rest the late King Douglas Dandeson Jaja and mid-wifing the emergence of a new monarch without litigation. The governor's initiative aims to bring development to the kingdom, focusing on education, healthcare, and small businesses as sustainable antidotes to growing criminality among youths.
Key points
- Governor Fubara presents Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to King Charles Douglas Mac-Pepple Jaja, Jeki VI.
- Fubara urges the new monarch to promote peace, unity, and inclusiveness in the kingdom.
- King Jaja Jeki VI pledges to build Opobo on the pillars of service, inclusion, and vision.
