A good politician must first display a veritable capacity in putting his own house in order; he must naturally be reckoned with local happenings in his country home, he must enjoy homely acceptability and popularity.
The effective grassroots consolidation and prominence achieved by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs within the given space of his progressive journey and adventure through the complex Rivers political terrain has given ultimate resonance to the saying that “it’s not how far but how well”. For Dumo Lulu-Briggs, it has consistently been the story of a heroic welcome on every occasion that required his navigation to the great Kingdom of Kalabari.
Through Degema to the great city of Abonnema, his majestic stroll through the ancient pathways exudes an immeasurable kind of euphoria evident in the jubilant and angelic voices of the Abonnema daughters. The traditional echoes and dreadful slogans chanted in unison by the sons of Degema and Abonnema sends to mind the signal of an emerging victor; indeed, those rhythmic drumbeats and the harmonious voices that follow, subtly tell the story of an illustrious son with a divinely gifted staff of transformation and revival.
In Buguma, it was hard to differentiate between the sounds of the great name ‘DûMò’ from the ancient sound of the great Ekine Society drum which consistently processed through the clusters. The sky was filled with beautiful songs that were garnished with the great name Dumo Lulu-Briggs. We saw beautiful women swing their rich waist to a locally made ‘Dumo One Corner Dance’. Truly, it was a fanfare occasioned by the presence of a loving father, a humanist, a philanthropist and a successful son of the soil; Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.
It was an occasion for the reception of the most respected High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs by the revered Royal Majesty, King of Kalabari Kingdom, King Prof. T. J. T. Princewill, JP. CFR. Amachree XI, the Amanyanabo of the Kalabari Kingdom in the town of Buguma. The epic reception which was graced by the presence of the Paramount Heads and Royal Highnesses of the War Canoe Houses of Abonnema, senior chiefs of Buguma, prominent sons and daughters of Kalabari, friends and well wishers, provided a suitable atmosphere for discussions on salient issues bothering on the unity and the peaceful coexistence of the entire Kalabari people. The regent of Abonnema while recalling the unfortunate incident of November 25th 2017, which resulted in a violent attack on his person, thanked the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom for sending a delegation to commiserate with him. He further praised the Amanyanabo for driving the peace process in the kingdom and prayed God to continually grant him good health, long life and the wisdom required to pilot the affairs of men. Responding, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, His Royal Majesty King Prof. T. J. T. Princewill thanked High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs for responding to the call to unite and discuss.
With emphasis on Abonnema, the Amanyanabo berated the scourge of crisis and disunity in the Kalabari kingdom and expressed dismay over the diminishment of the Kalabari prominence in the polity and in the state affairs owing to some ill conceived actions and inactions of some Kalabari people. He therefore enjoined all to desist from the war of words over the media, refrain from violent dispositions and toe the path of peace.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs who solemnly took the discussion of the day to God in prayer, asked for a Divine intervention in the affairs of Kalabari people. In an interview he exclusively granted, he also called on Kalabari people to avoid crisis and embrace one another in love and unity in order to promote a peaceful environment that is suitable for youth development through capacity building, quality education and provision of jobs. While pledging his utmost support and loyalty to the Kalabari throne, he further demonstrated a firm commitment to the reinvention of the good forces of pleasure and peace to bring about the realization of happiness and joy for the Kalabaris and for the entire people of Rivers state.
God bless the Kalabari Kingdom
God bless Rivers State and
God bless Nigeria.
Uche Woke
SA Media
DLB
