The Rivers State Government has concluded plans to upgrade the prestigious and the ancient Owukori kingship stool of Abonnema community in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area to a first class traditional chieftaincy stool. If this is done the Kalabaris have gotten two (2) 1st class kingship stools.
The Amayanabo of Kalabari, HM King (Prof.) T.J.T Princewill, Amachree XI is currently occupying a first (1st) class chieftaincy stool in the state. King Amachreee stool is the only first class traditional chieftaincy stool in the Kalabari Kingdom.
The Kalabari elite are asking for more 1st class kingship stools in the kingdom, saying that the Kalabari clan has done much for the development of the state.
Speaking at the thanksgiving ceremony organized in the honour of the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, HRH King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori XVIII at the Community Square, Abonnema, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that we would consult with some prominent indigenes of Kalabari kingdom to seek their opinion whether or not to upgrade the kingship stool of Abonnema to a first (1st) class. The governor disclosed that the said consultation would last for a period of one month.
According to him, at the end of the month of June, he would make known to the public the outcome of the consultation whether to upgrade the traditional stool of Abonnema or not. “We just have only one month to do that,” Governor Amaechi said.
Meanwhile, reactions trailed the planned upgrading of the ancientOwukori kingship stool of Abonnema, in the Kalabari kingdom to 1st class. A prominent chief in Abonnema community who spoke to our Akuku-Toru LGA correspondent said that, “the upgrading of Abonnema kingship stool is over due” and called on the government to hurry with their consultation and give the Owukori royal stool to its rightful position in the classification of chieftaincy stools in Rivers State. ###
