Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri have hailed the qualities of Pa Jonathan Alagba, the Amananaowei of Ikibiri Town in the Ekpetiama kingdom of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Ambassador Boladei Igali and the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo were also among other prominent persons that paid tributes to the monarch, who marked his 90th birthday.

Speaking at the birthday event that was held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital at the weekend, Governor Diri said his administration would continue to celebrate respected fathers and elders who have positively impacted society.

He extolled the nonagenarian for his services to the state as a teacher, community leader and family man, saying he brought up disciplined children who were making great contributions to the development of the state and the country.

Diri urged Bayelsans to emulate the celebrant for training his children on godly values, saying, “Pa Alagba does not look 90 years old. It is like he is just five years my elder brother.

“As a state, we should celebrate our fathers and elders who brought up their children in the way that they should go and will not depart from it when they grow up.

“For instance, you brought up your son, Tonye, very well as a teacher and that is why he and his siblings are where they are today.

“I use this opportunity to call on all Bayelsans, particularly our mothers and fathers, to emulate this family.

When you give birth to children, please do not abandon them. Train them up and give birth to the number of children you can train.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Lokpobiri, described Pa Alagba’s celebration as important to him, saying it was wise to honour and celebrate those who have advanced in life and age.

Lokpobiri appreciated God for blessing the celebrant with good health and sound mind and particularly acknowledged that the record of the monarch’s son in the oil industry was a testament to his father’s great attributes.

He emphasized that he could judge the success of the celebrant by what he knew about his son, Dr. Tonye Alagba, the Managing Director of NNPC Engineering and Technical Company Limited, whom he described as the best gift to the country’s oil industry, particularly the NNPCL.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the event, Dr. Boladei Igali eulogized Pa Alagba, noting that to live up to 90 years translated to being a perfect gift from God.

Igali, who is the National Chairman of PANDEF wished the monarch a long reign on the throne and described his children as a pride to the state.

In separate goodwill messages, the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama kingdom and Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, and his predecessor and Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, congratulated the celebrant on attaining the milestone age, which according them was no mean feat.

Responding, the celebrant, Pa Alagba thanked Governor Diri, his entourage and everyone who attended the event for sacrificing their time to honour and celebrate him and prayed to God to honour all of them with long life and good health.


https://punchng.com/diri-lokpobiri-pandef-celebrate-bayelsa-monarch-at-90/