NEWSROYALE Rivers traditional ruler in ‘witchcraft’ tango
The Abonnema Council of Chiefs in Rivers State is demanding a cleansing of an alleged “witchcraft” from the Amanyanabo but the traditional ruler is unrelenting at undergoing the exercise.
This is not the best of times for the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disreal Gbobo Bobmanuel. Abonnema is an ancient Kalabari Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Having survived a legal battle questioning his ascension to the prestigious throne of Amanyanabo, King Bobmanuel is now fighting another battle to exonerate himself from the allegation of “witchcraft” leveled against him by the traditional heads of Abonemma community.
Trouble started for the royal father when the Abonnema Council of Chiefs in a letter dated November 20, 2017, accused him of refusal to comply with the directives of the Councils of Chiefs and the community’s spiritual cleansing house, “the Ekine Sekiapu Society of Abonnema,” to embark on selfcleansing as to prove his innocence.
The Council in the letter signed by Alagbo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Chief Enoch Granville, Chief E.K.Y. Jack, Chief Anthony Oweredaba, Chief A.B. Ajumogobia, Chief Berembo Pedro and Chief M.T. Membere, expressed anger that the traditional ruler disrespected them by going to court to enforce his fundamental human rights instead of abiding by the directives to embark on self-cleansing.
The letter read in parts: “We the undersigned chiefs, as incumbents/ representatives of the founding War Canoe Chieftaincy Houses of Abonnema have viewed with dismay, discontent and abject disappointment the narratives surrounding the allegation of witchcraft against you, who incidentally is the head of Owukori House of Abonnema and for which reason you presided over the affairs of the Abonnema Council of Chiefs as Amanyanabo of Abonnema.
“Aware of the far-reaching implications and the integrity question the said allegation would pose to the nobility of the Abonnema Council of Chiefs and by extension the Abonnema Community at large, the Ekine Sekiapu Society of Abonnema requested you to embark on self-cleansing exercise to prove that you are innocent of the allegation,” it stated.
However, the Council is also annoyed that Bobmanuel rather than heed the request of the EkineSekiapu Society, instituted a suit to enforce his fundamental human rights and sought a declaration amongst others, that the decision reached by the Ekine Sekiapa society in a suit is ultra vires, null and void.
According to it, “We have been duly informed that your attempt to avert the self-cleansing exercise by the application you filed at the Degema High Court was unsuccessful as the High Court Rivers State, Degema Division delivered judgement in the suit, dismissing your application with cost.”
Besides, the letter to Bobmanuel also noted that consequently upon his suspension, High Chief Dr O.B. Lulu Briggs is appointed Regent/ Chairman, Abonnema Council of Chiefs to oversee the affairs of the Abonnema Council of Chiefs until the issues surrounding the allegations are fully and finally resolved.
The traditional ruler had been at loggerheads with some of his kinsmen over the legitimacy of his kingship. But a Port Harcourt High Court in April, 2017, confirmed his installation as the Amanyanabo of Abonnema.
Justice S.A. Aprioku who presided over the matter said that the nomination, selection and installation of the traditional ruler were in order saying that the aged long traditional history of the community was followed during the installation.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, last year upgraded the stool of the traditional ruler to that of a first class chief. Several efforts made by our report to speak with King Bobmanuel were unsuccessful.