A historic royal encounter marked by songs, dancing and a powerful message of Ijaw unity, shared ancestry and collective destiny, as the Agadagba welcomes his royal brother and pledges to attend the final rites of coronation in Buguma.

The journey was by road and sea, but its significance went far beyond the distance travelled. It was a journey across historic waterways, royal boundaries and generations of shared heritage — a meeting of two Ijaw monarchs united by ancestry, identity and a common vision for the future of the Ijaw nation.

Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, Dabaye Amakiri 1, Amakiri Ekpeke, Sebromabo. The Amanyanabo of The Chiefdom and Principalities of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri, travelled to Gbaramatu Kingdom to pay a royal visit to His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun II (Aketekpe), the Agadagba of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The purpose was both traditional and deeply symbolic: to personally extend an invitation to the Agadagba to attend SE DIYE, the final rites of his coronation and formal celebration of his ascension as Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri, scheduled for Saturday, 19 December 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State.

But what unfolded at the palace was more than an invitation. It was a warm reunion of brothers, a celebration of Ijaw identity and a renewed declaration that the bonds connecting Ijaw kingdoms must remain stronger than the divisions that have sometimes separated them.

A royal welcome filled with colour, songs and dancing

The visiting royal party received a memorable welcome as they arrived at the palace. Gaily dressed women, in a colourful display of hospitality and cultural pride, welcomed the visitors with songs and dancing.

The atmosphere was one of excitement, warmth and unmistakable brotherhood. It was a reception that reflected the place of hospitality in Ijaw tradition and the significance attached to a monarch visiting another royal institution.

The journey by road and sea also carried its own symbolism. For generations, the waterways have connected Ijaw communities, serving as routes of trade, movement, communication and cultural exchange. On this occasion, those same waterways became a pathway of royal friendship and renewed solidarity.

The meeting demonstrated that traditional institutions can serve as bridges between communities, preserving historical relationships while creating opportunities for stronger cooperation.

Dokubo-Asari: The greatest achievement of our generation is the unity of the Ijaw nation

Speaking at the palace, Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari placed the visit within the wider context of the Ijaw struggle for recognition, dignity, unity and collective advancement.

He recalled the Agadagba’s surprise when he first communicated his intention to visit, before stressing that the coming together of the Ijaw people was one of the most important achievements of their generation.

“When I called the Agadagba that I was coming, he was surprised. The greatest thing our generation has achieved is the coming together of the Ijaw nation.”

He urged the Ijaw people not to allow external pressures, historical disagreements or internal divisions to weaken their collective identity.

“They call us many names, but if you don’t bend your back, nobody will ride on your back. Our brothers in Edo State. Nothing will stop us from taking what belongs to us.”

He also made a strong historical assertion about the antiquity of the Ijaw people, saying that history and science had recorded them as among the oldest peoples in this part of the world. His remarks reflected a recurring theme in Ijaw cultural discourse: the importance of knowing one’s history, preserving one’s identity and ensuring that the contributions and rights of the people are recognised.

For Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari, however, unity was not merely a matter of rhetoric or cultural sentiment. It was something that had to be deliberately built and protected.

“We are building the walls, bridges, connections of unity which cannot be pulled down. The Ijaw nation cannot be crushed. Each time you plan to crush us, we will rise stronger. We should not allow anything on this earth to divide the Ijaw nation. The day the Ijaw man is divided, we will all be losers.”

He further emphasised the importance of historical belonging and the need for solidarity among Ijaw communities.

“Nobody can claim that the land that the Ijaws have been living for years does not belong to them. From today, the bond of unity and connection among us will grow stronger. As we go further, when one is weak, the other will lift him up.”

It was a message that went beyond the immediate royal engagement. It spoke to the need for Ijaw communities, kingdoms and leadership institutions to recognise their shared interests and stand together in addressing the challenges confronting their people.

Agadagba: We have waited for this day

Responding, His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun II (Aketekpe), the Agadagba of Gbaramatu Kingdom, expressed delight at the visit and described it as a long-awaited moment.

“We expected this day for long, and today he has come. We welcome you.”

The Agadagba acknowledged the historical experiences of the Ijaw nation, noting that the struggles of the people had shaped their collective identity and their understanding of the journey ahead.

“We the Ijaws, we know our history and we know where we are going to. The struggle of the Ijaw nation was not an easy one. But that struggle has made us who we are today.”

He paid tribute to Dokubo-Asari’s years of involvement in the affairs of the Niger Delta, describing him as a respected and esteemed leader whose journey had spanned decades.

“Asari Dokubo is a respected and esteemed leader and we give you kudos for all you have done from your youth to now when you are of age as your Highness.”

The Agadagba also used the occasion to make a call for reflection, reconciliation and a willingness to correct past mistakes.

“As Ijaws, we have to correct our mistakes of the past. We have to come together to know the areas we have done mistakes.”

His remarks acknowledged an important reality: unity cannot be sustained by declarations alone. It requires honest reflection, mutual respect, the ability to address past disagreements and a willingness to move forward together.

Describing the meeting as a special moment ordained by Almighty God, the Agadagba recognised the contributions of Dokubo-Asari to the Niger Delta and welcomed the opportunity to strengthen their relationship.

“Today is a special day made by Almighty God that we will meet as brothers. We know the struggles of our brother as far as the Niger Delta is involved. We know what he has done for the upliftment of the Niger Delta. You have invited us and by the Grace of God, we shall join you.”

The pledge to attend SE DIYE was a significant outcome of the visit, giving the invitation the character of a personal royal commitment and adding another important traditional institution to the anticipated gathering in Buguma.

From Ijaw-Apoi to Gbaramatu: A journey of royal connections

The visit to Gbaramatu was part of a wider royal outreach in Ondo State during the preceding weekend.

The royal train first visited His Imperial Majesty, Oba Prof. Sunday Adejimola Amuseghan, the Kalasuwei and Paramount Ruler of Ijaw-Apoi, Ondo State.

This was followed by a visit to the palace of His Imperial Majesty, Pere (Barr.) Zaccheaus Doubra Egbunu, Opukutu III, the Agadagba of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The engagements reflected a deliberate effort to strengthen relationships among Ijaw traditional institutions, take the SE DIYE invitation beyond the immediate geographical boundaries of Elem Kalabari and reinforce the historic connections that link Ijaw communities across state lines.

The visits also underscored the significance of traditional rulers as custodians of history, culture, identity and community relationships. Their palaces remain important meeting points where issues of heritage, collective welfare and the future of their people can be discussed.

SE DIYE: A celebration of heritage and a wider Ijaw family

For Elem Kalabari, SE DIYE represents a major moment in the history of its traditional institution. For the visiting monarch, however, the significance of the occasion extends beyond the ceremonial completion of his coronation rites.

It is also an opportunity to bring together royal institutions, communities and distinguished personalities whose histories and relationships intersect with the wider story of the Niger Delta.

The personal invitation to the Agadagba of Gbaramatu therefore carries a message: the future of the Ijaw nation cannot be built by isolated kingdoms or disconnected communities. It must be shaped through relationships, mutual respect, shared purpose and practical cooperation.

The warm reception at the palace, the exchange of historical reflections and the Agadagba’s pledge to attend SE DIYE all gave the visit a significance that transcended protocol.

It was one Ijaw monarch reaching out to another, not merely to invite him to a coronation ceremony, but to reaffirm a shared inheritance and a common responsibility.

As the meeting progressed, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tom Polo walked in to the excitement of the crowd.

As the journey to Buguma continues, the message from Gbaramatu is unmistakable: the waterways may separate communities geographically, but they have always connected the Ijaw people historically and culturally.

One Ijaw nation. Many historic kingdoms. One shared heritage. One future that must be built together.

SE DIYE, the final rites of coronation of Da Amakiri Tubo, will hold on Saturday, 19 December 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State.