THIS IS DEEP>> WHY TOMPOLO IS DESPERATE TO HAVE THE GOLDEN SWORD BACK!!!

By Emma Amaize,  Regional Editor, South-South THERE is conspicuous anger in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, over the missing golden sword (ark) of the Egbesu goddess, allegedly looted by soldiers, who invaded Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom, May 28, in search of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and members of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA. Before the most recent infringement, soldiers in May 2009 supposedly made away with the golden crown of the monarch and the people, who cherish the gods of the land and their tradition, notwithstanding the sway of Christian religion and modernity, are exasperated.   Tompolo and Buhari Gbaramatu kingdom, made of 19   Ijaw-speaking autonomous communities, namely Tebujor, Opodobubo, Opuede, Okpelama, Epopo, Sagara, Azama, Ibefan, Inikorohgha, Ugoba, Kunukunama, Okerenkoko and Kurutie , Kokodiagbene, Ebama, Benikrukru, Abiteye, Kenyagbe and Oporoza,   has the Pere   of Gbaramagu   as its supreme ruler and the people venerate the Egbesu goddess. The new monarch of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Majesty, Pere Naira Williams Ogoba, is just few months old on the throne. He is awaiting the handover of his staff of office, a golden sword kept in custody of the chief priest of the Egbesu Shrine, to him by the state government at any moment. Many people mistake Egbesu to be Ijaw deity of war, but it is more than that. Egbesu is a goddess of protection and unity. The people believe it is a very powerful god and that is why there is Egbesu in all the 64 Ijaw-speaking communities and clans in Arogbo- Appoit in Ondo state to the territories and boundaries of the Ijaws in Eastern Ibeno in Akwa-Ibom state and in the core south of Federal Republic of Nigeria. Some said Egbesu is the spiritual foundation for combating evil and the main spiritual tool (weapon) for overcoming evil. “It is used to put into effect the celestial order in the natural sphere so that all things coming into being can take place in their own space and time without violating other structures. It ensures that all things function in one piece in the face of their outward differences,” a devotee disclosed. Tompolo first rang alarm bell However, the chief priest of Egbesu in the kingdom and ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and other leaders alleged that soldiers, who invaded Oporoza, May 28, made away with the symbol of authority. When Tompolo, the Ibe-ebidouwei of Ijaw nation, first raised eyebrows, June 11 that the emblem of office was missing from the Shrine; few persons took him seriously or comprehended his worries. The former militant leader in a statement appealing to the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, to cease bombing of oil facilities, had said: “Presently all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been deserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leave the communities in shambles. Even until now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu Shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion.” …Renewed alarm 17 days after Seventeen days after he pointed accusing fingers at the military, Tompolo, wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, apologizing for his choice of words, but restating that the military had not returned the ensign of authority. His words: “Today is exactly 31 days after the invasion of the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oporoza town by your military, led by Brig. General Faruk Yahaya of the 4th Brigade, Benin City in search of me.   They came on the allegation that I am the one behind the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, and the incident happened in my absence.” “But, I was informed that the army was on the loose and committed so much abomination in the community. Imagine, the traditional ruler of the kingdom was literally placed on house arrest for one week. “As I said in my previous publications, the military made away with the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu Shrine, which I am the Chief Priest. They also made away with other valuables worth several millions of naira from the community,” he disclosed. King’s golden crown earlier stolen in 2009 He recalled that in May 2009 when the military similarly invaded Gbaramatu kingdom: “Traditional worship centres were desecrated, property were looted and above all, the multi-billion naira ultra-modern magnificent palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom was burned down, and his golden crown was stolen by the military.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/missing-egbesu-scepter-tompolo-apprehensive/

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