By Presidor Ghmorai, Chris Ekiyor & December Gboru
HIS Royal Majesty, Major Lucky Meshack Erebulu (Rtd.) JP, Pere of Kabowei Kingdom Aduo II, in Delta and Bayelsa States, was born July 21, 1941, in Okruware Community in Patani in the present Patani LGA, of Delta State, to the families of Douglas Erebulu of Okruware Community in Patani town and Madam Okozumonu Erebulu (nee Pighi of Abazi inTrofani Quarters in the present day Sagbama Local Government area of Bayelsa State.)
His Royal Majesty Lucky M. Erebulu, attended St. Mathew’s Primary School Patani, (now Opukabu Primary School, Patani), then Secondary Model School Bomadi and Esenabe College Bomadi in the then Western region of Nigeria, where he obtained Teacher Grade Two Certificate in Education.
After qualifying as a Teacher he taught at Bomadi Central School in 1966 and became the Headmaster of the Secondary Modern School in Patani. He at that time became the youngest Headmaster in the whole Western Ijaw from 1967 to 1969.
He then left the Teaching job and joined the Nigerian Navy in 1970, before proceeding to the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy -NDA for their Short Service Course programme, where he became commissioned upon graduation with the rank of a Second-Lieutenant in 1972 in the Nigeria Army.
While in the Nigeria Army, His Majesty attended various Military courses both in Nigeria and outside the country. From some of these courses, he bagged a Diploma in Criminal Investigation and Physical Security from a Military Police School in Alabama City, in the United States of America. He also had courses on Investigation and Human Psychology. While in the Military, he served in the Command and Staff College Jaji, he was an Instructor at the Nigerian Army School of Military Police in Basawa Zaria, Kaduna State, where he later became the Chief Instructor before he was transferred to, Provost Battalion Nigeria Army, Ibadan before his disengagement from the Military.
On the request of the people of Kabowei Kingdom, which is one of the 98th Clans of Ijaw Ethnic Nationalities, that spreads across Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Ondo States, late Major LM Erebulu (rtd) then got his voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Army in 1988, to take up a traditional assignment back home in his Kabowei Kingdom.
He became the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, as Aduo II, which is a first class traditional ruler in Delta State, after serving the Nigerian Army meritoriously for 16 years. His Royal Majesty ascended the throne as Pere of Kabowei Kingdom Aduo II, on the 11th day of August 1988 and was honoured with Staff of Office by the then Military Administrator of the defunct Bendel State, Brig-General Tunde Ogbeha on the 13th day of March 1990.
His Kingdom (the Kabowei people of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality covers over 17Communities in Delta and Bayelsa States, which are Ekperiware, Elemebiri, Asamabiri, Trofani (Pinnamsei, Abazi, Ayama, Aduku,) New Patani and Adagbabiri in the Bayelsa State axis, with Abare which consist of Preware and Asedeni), Ogienware, Akowari, Ekise No1, Ekise No 2, Osuoware, Afenaware and Okruware with Koloware and Aven in the Delta States axis.
His Royal Majesty Major LM Erebulu (Rtd.) reigned for well over 28years as Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, Aduo II. During his reign, was when the Aduo Primary School, Patani was established along with Pere-Ama Primary School, Aruke and the Boys Model Secondary School, Patani. Also the Patani Rural Electrification Project came into being along with the establishment of Nigeria Customs Base in Patani.
Under the guide and ruler-ship of the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, Aduo II, some obnoxious traditional bye-laws were abrogated in the Kabowei Kingdom. It could also be recalled that during his reign was when Patani Water Front was piled and rugged by Nigerian Dredging Company.
It’s on record His Royal Majesty along with others prominent personalities were instrumental in the actualisation Patani Local Government Council in Delta State of Nigeria in 1996, under the administration of General Sanni Abacha.
The Aduo II, period of reign was relatively peaceful, as he enjoyed maximum support from the government and the people.
His Royal Majesty was actively involved in the settlement of Community\Inter Tribal disputes that reared up particularly then, like Esama and Gbaragolo communities’ fracas; the Oboro and Olota Communities crises; Osusurice and Enekrogha dispute to mention with.
Pere of Kabowei Kingdom Aduo II, style of reign was well appreciated by great number of the people, especially in the area of conflict management with particular reference to Land dispute and its resolution in Kabowei Kingdom. It’s on that note it could be recalled, he played a key role in the settlement of land dispute between Adagbabiri vs Aven and Koloware communities. He also settled the land dispute between Patani Community and Adagbabiri, Abare and Trofani to mention but a few.
His Royal Majesty Aduo II, during his reign earned many Honours and Awards one of which is that of the Justice of Peace Award It’s on record also that Ijaw National Congress -(INC Worldwide), the umbrella organization of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality was initiated and formed in his Palace with him as the host.
His Royal Majesty Major LM Erebulu (Rtd.) JP Pere of Kabowei, Aduo II, lived a quiet, simple and peaceful life and he was very friendly to all his subjects, friends and relations alike. He was the Chairman of Patani Local Government Traditional Council of Chiefs, he was a former Secretary and active member of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, member of the South South Monarchs Forum, member, Traditional Rulers of Oil Producing Community of Nigeria –(TROPCON) South South and was Chairman, Traditional Rulers of Oil Producing Community of Nigeria (TROPCON) Delta State Chapter in which capacity he had ensured that issues of militancy and pipeline vandalization were not experienced in communities under his domain.
Pere of Kabowei, Aduo II, was a reservoir of information and an historian who was a bridge builder and peacemaker, that was greatly endowed with the spirit of wisdom to bridge gaps in Ijaw ethnic Nationality and its neighbours. Until his demise, Aduo II, related well with other traditional rulers across the country.
There is no doubt that the family, the Kabowei Kingdom and the Ijaw nation nay the South-South people, will miss the Pere, Aduo II, greatly.
His contemporaries were, Chief Chamberlain Abeki of blessed memory, Chief (Major) Akpoebi Bernard Oki (Rtd.) Chief Lucky Onsademe, Robinson Ogbomah to mention a few.
He was married with children and grand-children, among whom is the Crown Prince his first son.
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