11th Coronation Anniversary: Umiaghwa Abraka Kingdom Holds Thanksgiving Service

…As Monarch Sends Strong Message To Oborevwori

By Daniel Dafe

Umiaghwa Abraka Kingdom in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, on Saturday held a thanksgiving service to appreciate God for the life of their traditional ruler, HRM (AVM) Lucky Ochuko Ararile (Rtd.), Avwaeke 1, who clocked 11 years on the throne.

The event organized by First Baptist Church, Oria-Abraka, took place at the king’s palace in Oria.

Delivering a sermon titled: ‘Thanksgiving that Attracts Divine Attention,’, Minister in charge of the Church, Rev. Felix Erhabor, said testimonies of the king’s impact by community leaders at the occasion made him glad that he is a pastor in the kingdom.

While recalling the thanksgiving of Noah and Solomon and the impact it made on humanity, he said that the kind of thanksgiving that gets God’s attention is one done from a humble and holy heart.

Earlier, Chairman of the Coronation Thanksgiving Committee, Mr. Festus Eghwrudje, in his welcome address, said the kingdom was thankful to God for “His care, guidance, wisdom, protection, physical and spiritual wellbeing” granted the king since he ascended the throne April, 2012.

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He added: “We are very much grateful to the Almighty God, who chose and gave us a worthy, admirable and amiable king that has peacefully piloted the affairs of the kingdom for the past 11 years with enthusiasm and great success. We are glad and proud to have you as our king and look forward to celebrating you continually as one of the oldest kings in the universe.”

He noted that “the Avwaeke 1, Umiaghwa land and its inhabitants have witnessed so much peace, progress and God’s blessings overtime.”

Continuing, he said: “We are therefore gathered to celebrate a king who is a visioneer, a developer and a problem solver.”

In his goodwill message and remarks, the kingdom’s monarch said his dream is to make Umiaghwa a model kingdom in Nigeria.

According to him, the construction of Uruagbesa road remains a priority. HRM Ararile urged the Delta State Government to fulfill their promise to carry out the construction of the said road.

Meanwhile, he tasked the incoming administration of Rt. (Hon) Sheriff Oborevwori on the industrialisation of the state, adding that the number of tertiary institutions in the oil-rich state is too much.

In his words, the issue of poor electricity supply in the state must be addressed, stressing that if there is sufficient power supply, there will be industries and the youths will be gainfully employed and not roam the streets after they graduate from tertiary institutions like it is today.

The traditional ruler also urged the incoming administration to pay attention to agriculture, stressing that if these things are done, Deltans aggrieved with the performance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state would be pacified.

Furthermore, he commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for constructing internal roads in the kingdom.

He thanked indigenes of the kingdom in the Diaspora for being supportive of the community in cash and kind.

Present at the occasion was the Commissioner for Primary Education (who is an indigene of the community), Chief Sunday Onoriode.

A week-long event was held to mark this year’s celebration. On the 5th and 6th were set aside for the four Ruling Houses to pay homage to the king, while on the 7th , Idugu Ogagavwaire and Simon Eduviere were conferred with chieftaincy titles.