BONNY HAS A LOT TO OFFER THE WORLD, IF WE MAKE THE REQUIRED SACRIFICES, SAYS HIS MAJESTY

Bonny Kingdom is enormously blessed and endowed that it has a lot to offer and be the cynosure of the entire world, only if people are ready to make the necessary sacrifices. This came from no other than His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Edward I, Perekule XI, Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, when he spoke at the flagging off ceremony of the Bonny Kingdom Boat Regatta at Bonny Coal Beach on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. He also described the Executive Governor of Rivers State, who is a bonafide son of Ibani nation as a child of destiny.

The King could not hide his excitement about the presence of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Chisom Kenneth Gbali. He expressed total support of Bonny Kingdom for the Executive Governor, whom he believes, God will use to turn things around in Rivers State:

“I call him my governor with every sense of responsibility, and without any fear of contradiction. Bonny Kingdom will always be with Siminalayi Fubara. By the grace of God Gov. Fubara will turn Rivers State around. The peace we enjoy in Bonny will pervade the entire Rivers State. I believe Siminalayi is a child of destiny. God who has raised him will sustain him. God Almighty does not start a thing and does not finish it. He will finish what He has started” His Majesty said.

The Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom also extolled the immense organizational prowess of the Executive Vice President of Graftons Entertainment, organizers of the event, Amasenibo Tonye Ibiama, for proving that what he has been doing with the Amanyanabo Football Tournament was no fluke:

“Honestly, when Tonye Ibiama came to speak to me about Bonny Kingdom Boat Regatta after the 25th anniversary, I didn’t see Tonye looking in this direction. We can see what Tonye is doing with the Football Tournament, bringing foreign scouts to come to Bonny to hunt for talents. That is what Graftons can bring to the table.

His Majesty also appreciated those who worked behind the scenes with Graftons Entertainment to make the event realistic, but reminded them that the greatest challenge confronting them would be to sustain the success they have attained.

“I want to remind you that it is even more difficult to sustain what you have already done. You cannot give us light and take the light away from us. You know what I stand for. I believe that Bonny should not be what it is. The environment we are in now is not befitting of an event like this. I believe that a lot of works have to be put in to change things. And all that can only happen if we have the cooperation of all and sundry. People will have to make sacrifices to ensure that we have the right infrastructure in place, we need the right environment to sell our community to the world. We have to live the way we are as a people; we have to be receptive to strangers. We have to show the world that we are not only ready, but we are there for everybody to explore” His Majesty concluded.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth Development in Rivers State, Chisom Kenneth Gbali, who represented the Executive Governor of Rivers State, has conveyed the governor’s goodwill message to His Majesty, Chiefs and good people of Bonny Kingdom in appreciation of their support and cooperation, which he vowed not to take for granted.

The Commissioner for Youth Development later flagged off the Bonny Kingdom Boat Regatta on behalf of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.

Meanwhile, Dublin Green Chieftaincy House retained their position by coming first in the competition and took the first prize of 1.5 million naira; Fubara Manilla Pepple Chieftaincy House took the second position with a prize of 1 million naira, while Allison Nwaoju Chieftaincy House came third and took home 500 thousand naira.

Other Chieftaincy Houses that participated in the event are: Longjohn, Christy-Wilcox, John-Jumbo, Allaputa and Benstowe.