In remembrance of the late Charles Ayemi-Botu, the Ijaw monarch of Seimbiri Kingdom, a three-month mourning period has been officially declared in Delta State’s Burutu Local Government Area.
The departed, affectionately called the Lion of the Niger, held the prestigious titles of the inaugural Executive Chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria and Life Patron of the organization.
The formal announcement of his passing occurred on Saturday during a meeting of the Traditional Council of Chiefs of Seimbiri Kingdom. Chief Alexander Ebisine, the spokesperson, made the announcement at Okpokunou, the kingdom’s traditional headquarters.
According to the spokesperson, the monarch’s demise occurred on October 5, 2023, at the age of 75.
To mourn the monarch, the traditional council stated that there would be no social activities such as weddings and burials, throughout the mourning period beginning from Friday, January 5, 2023.
After the mourning period, the date would be announced for the funeral of the monarch, the council said.
The traditional council described the king as “a great ruler who came, saw, and conquered, leaving behind a trail of unprecedented development in the Seimbiri Kingdom during his 29-year reign on the throne”.
The spokesman stated, “On behalf of the Seimbiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, I wish to officially announce the transition of our most revered monarch, King Charles Ayemi-Botu, Paramount Ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, to the great beyond to join his ancestors.
“King Charles Ayemi-Botu passed away peacefully on October 5, 2023.
“Following the passage of our monarch, three months of mourning has been declared in the Seimbiri Kingdom.
“During this period, there will be no social activities such as marriages and burials, etc., throughout mourning”.
Read also: Rivers DPO Murder Case: ₦45m Bail Granted To Monarch, Others
Ebisine stressed that the mourning mood encompasses all sons and daughters of Seimbiri Kingdom, irrespective of their location, be it within the kingdom or in the diaspora, and this grieving state will persist until the final burial ceremony concludes.
He mentioned the opening of a condolence register at both the palace and his residence in Warri.
In response to the incident, Chief T.M.O. Douglas, the Chairman of the Seimbiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, expressed that the kingdom mourns the loss of a king whose influence on development matters in the Niger Delta was unparalleled.
Amidst the grieving ambiance within the kingdom, he appealed for calmness while advising all to respect the dignity of the Seimbiri monarch’s departure.
Born on January 18, 1948, the individual entered the world in Okpokunou, which belonged to the former Western Ijaw.
His rule, spanning 29 years, began on April 4, 1995, following the presentation of the Staff of Office by the then Military Administrator of Delta State, Group Captain Ibrahim Kefas. The coronation, following Seimbiri Kingdom’s customs, was held on April 2, 1994.