Popular monarch dies in Delta

By Anita Godfrey

The traditional ruler of Okere- the Urhobo Kingdom in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM, Sir Emmanuel Okumagba II, a former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is reportedly dead.

This came barely three years after HRM Prof. Paul Oghenero Okumagba, Idama II his predecessor joined his ancestors.

This was disclosed by the Otota Of Okere-Urhobo kingdom Warri, Chief Gold Eburu, a retired Brigadier-General, during a press briefing held at the Palace of the Orosuen on Sunday.

Recall, that the monarch was installed on November 16, 2020, and presented with a Staff of Office on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, by the Delta State Government.

It was gathered the monarch had marked his 75th birth anniversary sometime in March 2022.

According to Eburu, the council of Chiefs had directed that by the customs and traditions of Okere -Urhobo Kingdom, no ceremonies such as burials, marriages and others would take place within the kingdom until after the celebrations of the final rites of the deceased monarch.

However, he succeeded his brother, a former Professor of Sociology at the Sociology Department of Delta State University, Abraka, HRM Prof. Paul Oghenero Okumagba, Idama II, who joined his ancestors in July 2019.

Eburu narrated that the final funeral rites of the deceased monarch would be announced later.