Dr. Dennis Otuaro’s Thanksgiving: Harmonizing Faith and Strengthening Traditional Institutions 

By Asiayei Enaibo

The world is an open space dominated by men and women who are committed to making a difference through their faith and belief systems to achieve the greatest in history. Those who discreetly follow their convictions are those who know where they are coming from; those who religiously know their identity and root will not experience the turbulent lake of the prodigal son and this is the religious story of Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, a great disciple of the teachings of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo the perfect spiritual master of Ijaw Spirituality in the doctrine of Egbesu in African traditional institutions. The teachings, as stated in the great creeds of Egbesu. His unusual thanksgiving at Gbaraun Egbesu Temple is the chronicle of my tales.

Yes, “Human spirit is the ability to face the uncertainty of the future with curiosity and optimism. It is the belief that problems can be solved and differences resolved. It is a type of confidence. And it is fragile. It can be blackened by fear and superstition,” so it’s said.

Egbesu has not failed the Ijaw people in their turbulence waves of the emancipation struggle, the white clothes tied around the forehead is bold enough to see the power of Egbesu, WOYIN has not failed Tompolo and his faithful disciples in the Dark days of the transformation agitation in the Niger Delta region, so Dr. Otuaro kneeled before Egbesu in thanksgiving, in truth, faithfulness, belief, honesty of heart to the Supreme Egbesu Deity. Oweikeme is bold on what he believes as his faith, not those who come in the night and go to church in the day for thanksgiving.

On Monday, November 4, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was honoured in prayers during a momentous thanksgiving ceremony at the instance of High Chief Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs. The event took place at the sacred Egbesu Temple in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, marking a significant celebration of the blessings of Woyin, God for preservation of life and opportunity to serve humanity.

The thanksgiving at the Egbesu Temple reflected Chief Otuaro’s deep commitment to the ancient faith, worship and values of Egbesu that have guided the Ijaw people from antiquity and also emphasised the ongoing journey towards peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta. His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, presided over the event, offering prayers for Dr. Otuaro’s dedication to his job, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the nation, expressing his trust in Dr. Otuaro’s ability to contribute positively to the region’s economic sustainability and security.

The gathering brought together prominent traditional rulers from across the Niger Delta, including the Pere of Arogbo-Ibe Kingdom and Pere of Tubutoru Kingdom, Ondo State respectively, Pere of Olodiama Kingdom (Edo State), Pere of Gbaraun Kingdom, Egbesuwei X (Bayelsa), Pere of Iduwini Kingdom (Bayelsa), Pere of Oporomo Kingdom (Delta/Bayelsa), Pere of Furupagha Kingdom (Edo), and Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom (Delta State). High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, a chief priest of Egbesu and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, played a crucial role in supervising the thanksgiving process, which commenced from the Ibolomoboere Ziba-Opuoru Temple to the Egbesu Temple.

This Thanksgiving is part of Dr. Otuaro’s commitment to the principles of Woyin’s faith, which celebrates the mother creator who blesses those who trust in the divine power of God as the ultimate provider of opportunities to serve humanity. The event aimed to unite traditional rulers and the people in support of President Tinubu’s administration while fostering collaboration towards consolidating peace and developmental goals in the Niger Delta and Nigeria

The ceremony was attended by women, youth, and community leaders, shared in the joy of the occasion. To honour the ancestral institutions and the Niger Delta, Dr. Otuaro takes Thanksgiving to the sacred Egbesu temple to harmonise faith with the traditional space of worship within the context of Africa.

The first among men in the Gbaramatu kingdom who after being appointed as the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and also the special adviser to President Ahmed Tinubu on Niger Delta Affairs, religiously moved to the sacred Ziba-Opuoru temple, the mother creator, to appreciate the powers that be for allowing him to serve and contribute peacefully to the development within the Nigerian space on the affairs of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Otuaro has created a new history that believes in the consistent powers of the traditional institution.

High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, even in the time of the turbulent seasons in the Niger Delta agitation, Egbesu has not failed the believers, Egbesu has not failed the Ijaw nation, Egbesu has protected them, Egbesu has brought honour to the people. It is in that regard, as a disciple of High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, the day Otuaro triumphantly stepped from Abuja to the creeks of the Niger Delta, his root, his identity, where he came from, what has guided him, what has protected him, what has brought unto them, kneel before the sacred Egbesu temple, to say, “Agberigidi Agonogolokirigbolo, thank you for what you have done.”

This is a sign of a man who knows his roots; unlike others whom the traditional institutions had elevated to high political positions but returned to the churches and did their thanksgivings by commonizing their faith and belief. In Otuaro’s case, he redefined and reassured the belief and faith and the power of Egbesu. It’s in that regard that Otuaro becomes the new man who reassures the people of where he is coming from; he will forever hold firmly to the gods of the land because those who respect the traditional activities, the gods of the land, the deity, Ziba-Opuoru will watch over him. Gbaraun Egbesu will watch over him. Biagbenebou, Nanabodiseimugha, and Ekarikatekabou Oyain, these deities will continue to watch over him. For he has redefined the spiritual consciousness and the faith practised among the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta region–the occupants of the coastal part of the region. Just like the words of Professor Wole Soyinka, harmonizing the faith, the traditional institution as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, usher in freedom of worship.

Without any shame, without any fear or favour, without any blackmail of his belief system, Otuaro understands the spiritual mechanisms of the deities of Ijaw land. He has prayed and is the manifestation of the spiritual pathways to riches, opportunities, and divine connection to continually walk in line with his roots and identity. He has redeemed the promise made before the sacred Egbesu and by this, he has won the hearts of many believers and practitioners, that there are so many channels to communicate to the Divine Creator Woyin, the maker of the heavens and the earth. Woyin, who founded the earth, wants us to worship Him. That is why, in the religious pathways, those who believe in what they believe will continually make exploits. Those who hold firmly to their convictions will continually make exploits within their place of work. And that faith and convictions Otuaro has demonstrated in contributing to President Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will continue to change the negative narratives of the African traditional worshipers.

Tompolo has consistently prayed day and night – prayed to the Ijaw nation, to the Niger Delta region, to Nigeria and Africa for peace and development, and has made a new milestone for those who believe in it. In times like this, we understand that Otuaro is a true faithful practitioner of what has made him to be.

Those deities that have watched over his forefathers will continue to watch over him. It is in this regard that GbaramatuVoice media preserving these cultural institutions and observing activities, keenly will continue to archive these sacred aspects of activities in the Gbaraun Egbesu Temple

What distinctively makes this thanksgiving history is that there are men who have been in the institution hiding from the traditional worship institutions. They hardly appear, but at night, they appeal to the gods, but in public, they are with the churches. The attitude Dr. Otuaro demonstrated in public has distinguished him as one of the core believers of what the Buddhas believe in their faith. The Muslims believe in their faith, and the Christians believe in their faith. So Otuaro believes in Egbesu and honours the sacred Egbesu and kneels before the great temple of Gbaraun Egbesu where the Custodian, Agadagba, the king, receives the thanksgiving and prays for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for having their son to occupy that great position. It is through that story that Asiayei Enaibo becomes interested keenly in preserving those who fear and hide from what they believe will one day be like the prodigal sons that have emptied extravagantly of what the gods gave to them. Whatever grace you get from what you believe, return the glory to them so that the gods of the land and God Almighty will continue to enlarge your coast, and these are my prayers from Aziza

Madinorbobou Okun, Bin-ebi Madinorbo, Oweiseimor Ekarikatekabou Oyain, Agbinibor Biagbenebou, Ogoni, Okonoweibou-Esinghan all the gods will continue to guide and create a pathway for Otuaro for making this milestone, making the traditional institutions to be happy. In this regard, let the harmonizing space and the faith continue to be in our consciousness and guiding principles as we perceive the infinite in different dimensions.

So be it to Otuaro for honouring his roots– fulfilling his vows, and accepting the thanksgiving. May the gods protect and watch over you!

Agadagba prays, Tompolo prays. So be it!

Gbabrapa!!

Asiayei Enaibo

Writes from GbaramatuVoice TV

SA to Dr Tompolo on Osobor matters

#Thanksgiving

#Egbesu