Prominent Nigerians, including traditional rulers, politicians, religious leaders and businessmen on Saturday gathered at Opobo Town in Rivers State, to bid farewell to the late Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Danderson Douglas-Jaja.
The funeral service for the late king, which was held at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town, was part of an ongoing 16-day traditional and cultural programme line up in honour of the departed monarch.
Delivering a sermon during the funeral service, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta, Rt. Reverend Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, described the late traditional ruler as a good churchman and man of peace.
Oko-Jaja stated that under the reign of the late Douglas-Jaja, Opobo Kingdom witnessed a lot of improvements, including producing a state deputy governor, a state governor and an Anglican bishop, among others.
“Our late reverred royal father, King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja, was a good churchman, a man of peace, a man of many parts that served his people, the nation, state, local government and several diverse interests.
“He was the pro-chancellor of the University of Dutse-ma, Katsina State. He was an elegant man yet calm in nature; a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) that was conferred on him.
“During his tenure, we had Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area and later what we have now as Opobo/Nkoro LGA. The kingdom under his watch, as a legacy, produced a deputy governor, produced a governor, produced an Anglican bishop, produced other professionals and a good number of them are titled citizens of Opobo kingdom.
“The kingdom under his legacy and time gained international recognitions. He was a former chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers’ Council for eight years; the longest serving chairman of the traditional rulers’ council in the state.
“He was a member of the Rivers State Boundary Commission and Vice Chairman, South-South Traditional Rulers’ Council. Under his tenure, we received some multinational scholarships for our people.
“People of God, the demise of our late king, even though to many, he was over 80 years and once you are over 80, they see it as normal. But it came to us as a rude shock; he took ill and we thought he could actually survive it but, God in his own wisdom decided to call him home,” he said.
Speaking during the funeral service, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, described the late monarch as a man of class and dignity who had a peaceful and successful reign.
According to him, the monarch who joined his ancestors at the age of 83, led Opobo Kingdom to great heights.
He noted that outside the legendary King Jaja and the other chiefs that founded Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja is the only one that made very significant achievements that has brought the kingdom to limelight.
He recalled that during his reign, the Kingdom produced a Deputy Governor and a Governor, adding that his transition has to be celebrated.
“Today, is not a day of mourning. By the special grace of God, our late King attained the most important biological age, according to the Bible, which is 70. And because of his deeds, his gentleness and peacefulness, God added another thirteen years to make it 83.
“So you can understand that for a lot of reasons, he was a successful man. He has done his work. He lived a very peaceful life. Even when we were battling with who becomes the king, who doesn’t become the king, he kept his cool. He was peaceful. I describe him as a man of class and dignity.
“Today, we should celebrate him with peace. We should celebrate him with a sense of fulfilment. We should celebrate him as somebody who has finished his own race and it is now left for us to continue his story.,” he said.
In an interview with journalists, and indigene of Opobo and former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, described the late monarch as a true churchman.
Semenitari stated the late Douglas-Jaja was known for trying his best to establish the Opobo international boat regatta, which became something in Nigeria’s cultural calendar.
“He has translated; that is what we believe. The king was a true churchman and we know he has joined the saints triumphant. But in our cultural parlance, we say he has moved to the other side where he continues to stay to watch over the kingdom.
“So, for us, he has just changed from this body to another body. In terms of his legacy, King Danderson Douglas-Jaja was known for trying his best to establish the Opobo international boat regatta and it became something on Nigeria’s cultural calendar. He tried to ensure that the culture of Opobo kingdom was sustained,” she said.
