By Alice Onukwugha
For the people of Opobo, September 26, 2026, is more than a date on the calendar.
It is a day when history, culture and tradition will converge in Opobo Town as the ancient kingdom prepares to welcome a new chapter under its traditional ruler, His Majesty, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Jeki VI, Amanyanabo and Treaty King of Opobo Kingdom.
The drums will sound. Traditional colours and regalia will come alive. Chiefs, sons and daughters of Opobo, dignitaries and visitors from different parts of Nigeria and the diaspora are expected to gather as the new monarch is formally crowned.
But beneath the pageantry lies something deeper—the story of a people determined to preserve the identity and traditions handed down through generations.
The Opobo Council of Chiefs, speaking at a press briefing at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt on Monday, said the forthcoming coronation would go beyond the formal installation of a king.
It would provide an opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage, traditional institutions and history of the Opobo Kingdom.
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Vice Chairman of Alapu Kubiri, Alabo Princewill Dappa, described the coronation as a defining moment in the history of the kingdom.
“We are here to formally announce the forthcoming coronation of His Majesty, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Jeki VI, Amanyanabo and Treaty King of Opobo Kingdom,” he said.
According to him, the activities will culminate in the grand coronation on Saturday, September 26, in Opobo Town.
For many in Opobo, the significance of the ceremony is inseparable from the story of King Jaja of Opobo, whose name has remained firmly woven into the identity of the kingdom.
The throne that Jeki VI is preparing to occupy carries a history shaped by courage, enterprise, diplomacy and leadership.
Alabo Dappa said the institution had remained closely associated with the legacy of King Jaja, whose story continues to influence how Opobo understands itself and its place in the Niger Delta.
“The coronation of Jeki VI marks the continuation of an enduring institution and the opening of a new chapter in the life of the Kingdom,” he said.
Preparing for a historic gathering
The road to the coronation has already taken the Council of Chiefs beyond Opobo.
In preparation for the ceremony, members of the council have embarked on traditional and diplomatic visits to prominent traditional and national leaders.
The visits, the council explained, are not simply about extending invitations. They are also about renewing relationships that have endured across generations and bringing respected leaders into an important moment in Opobo’s history.
Among those visited was former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, as well as other traditional rulers and respected leaders.
For a kingdom whose history has long been connected to trade, diplomacy and interaction beyond its immediate shores, the expected gathering reflects another important part of its identity.
The council said Opobo people living within Nigeria and abroad are expected to return home for the ceremony, creating an opportunity for sons and daughters of the kingdom to reconnect with their roots.
For those who have travelled far from home, the coronation could therefore mean more than witnessing the installation of a monarch.
It could mean coming home.
It could mean seeing familiar traditions once again, meeting relatives and community members, and reminding younger generations of the history behind the name Opobo.
More than a crown
The council believes the ceremony offers an opportunity for the wider public to see Opobo beyond the headlines and understand the history behind its traditional institution.
It described the story of the kingdom as one built around heritage, resilience, leadership, enterprise and continuity.
That story, the council said, is one the media can help preserve by documenting the coronation and telling the broader story of Opobo to audiences within Nigeria and beyond.
It therefore appealed to the media to give the event adequate coverage and help document what it considers an important chapter in the kingdom’s history.
With guests expected from different parts of Nigeria and outside the country, the council also appealed for cooperation with arrangements covering security, traffic management, protocol and general coordination.
The message is simple: the kingdom is preparing for a gathering that it hopes will be remembered long after the ceremonial robes have been put away and the last visitor has returned home.
On September 26, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja will formally assume the throne as Jeki VI.
But for Opobo, the day will also be about remembering where the kingdom came from, celebrating what has survived and looking ahead to what the next generation will inherit.
The crown may rest on one man’s head.
The history it represents belongs to an entire people.
