Chiefs Council Disowns New Babbe Monarch

Two weeks after the reported installation of a new Gbenemene of Babbe kingdom, King Lenu T. Saro Igbara, controversies have continued to trail the legality or otherwise of the emergence of Igbara as the new Babbe monarch.

In a press statement made available to the Weekend Tide in Port Harcourt, the Gal Bari in Luawii in Babbe Kingdom in Khana Local Government Area, described the purported  installation as an attempt to rubbish the reputation of the Gah Bari dynasty.

The release which was reacting to radio announcements and text messages, explained that the choice of nominees and candidates  for the Babbe throne rests with the Babbe Council of chiefs and elders along with the Gah Bari in Luawii community.

Signed by Chief Larry Tua Saro Gbogbo (Snr), secretary, Luawii Council of Chiefs,  it stated that after the selection of whoever that emerges, the sole responsibility of the community was to install the king-elect.

He urged the public to disregard the purported installation as the Gah Bari community, Babbe council of chiefs as well as the Supreme Council if Ogoni traditional rulers are not aware of the coronation.

The release also said that Chief Kenule Gbogbo has no right to carry out the installation or coronation as he is not the first son of Gbogbo, pointing out that the responsibility of that  cannot be shouldered upon him.

“The first son of Gbogbo is called Gbarabe Tsaro Gbogbo while the second son was called Kwenemue Gbogbo, the father of Kenule Gbogbo, contending that since Chief Larry Tua Saro who is the first son of Gbogbo is still alive, the responsibility of the family still continues to rest on him.