OPOBO: Former President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated His Majesty, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Jeki VI, following his coronation as the Amanyanabo and Treaty King of Opobo Kingdom in Rivers State.
Jonathan was among the prominent dignitaries who joined the people of Opobo Kingdom on Saturday, September 26, 2026, for the historic coronation ceremony of the new monarch.
The former President attended the event with his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, alongside a delegation of traditional rulers from Bayelsa State and other dignitaries who gathered to witness the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the ancient Niger Delta kingdom.
In a goodwill message, Jonathan said he and his wife were delighted to join the Government and people of Rivers State, royal fathers from across Nigeria, friends, well-wishers and the people of Opobo Kingdom in celebrating the coronation of Jeki VI.
Jonathan described Opobo Kingdom as an institution with an important place in Nigeria’s history, noting that its heritage remains closely associated with the remarkable story of King Jaja of Opobo.
According to the former President, the legacy of King Jaja continues to represent values including courage, enterprise, leadership, resilience and commitment to the dignity and identity of his people.
The former President had earlier described Opobo Kingdom as a historic institution that made significant contributions to Nigeria’s history, particularly the development of the Niger Delta. He made the remarks when King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja and members of the Opobo Council of Alapu visited him in Yenagoa ahead of the coronation.
Jonathan had also accepted the invitation to attend the coronation during that meeting.
Congratulating the newly crowned monarch, Jonathan prayed for a reign defined by peace, unity, progress and prosperity.
He urged the new monarch to use his position to strengthen relationships among the people of Opobo, preserve the kingdom’s cultural heritage and contribute to the continued development and wellbeing of his subjects.
Jonathan said: As Your Majesty begins this important chapter of service to the Opobo Kingdom, my prayer is that your reign will be marked by unity, peace, progress and prosperity.”
He further expressed the hope that the new reign would bring people closer together while strengthening the bonds of friendship and understanding within the kingdom and beyond.
The former President also prayed that King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja would be granted the wisdom, courage and patience required to lead the kingdom.
He expressed hope that Jeki VI would build a lasting legacy that would be remembered by generations yet unborn.
Jonathan’s message concluded with prayers for a long, peaceful and prosperous reign for the new Amanyanabo.
The coronation of King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Jeki VI, marks the continuation of one of the Niger Delta’s most historic traditional institutions.
The Opobo Council of Chiefs had earlier announced September 26, 2026, as the date for the grand coronation in Opobo Town, with a wider programme of cultural, traditional and ceremonial activities running around the event.
The council said the ceremony would provide an opportunity to showcase the rich history, culture and traditional institutions of Opobo Kingdom while bringing together indigenes at home and in the diaspora, traditional rulers, political leaders and other distinguished guests.
King Jaja of Opobo, whose legacy is central to the identity of the kingdom, became a major political and commercial figure in the 19th-century Niger Delta. Historical accounts describe his influence in the palm-oil trade and his dealings with British commercial and colonial interests.
With the coronation of Jeki VI, the Opobo monarchy has entered another phase, with expectations that the new reign will build on the kingdom’s heritage while promoting unity, cultural preservation and development.
For Jonathan, the occasion was not only a royal ceremony but also an opportunity to honour the history, people and enduring traditions of Opobo Kingdom.
As the new monarch begins his reign, attention will now turn to how Jeki VI carries forward the institution’s historic legacy while responding to the contemporary aspirations of the people of Opobo.
