King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja formally installed as sixth Amanyanabo and Treaty King of Opobo Kingdom
The historic name Jaja has returned to the throne of Opobo with the coronation of King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja as the sixth Amanyanabo and Treaty King of Opobo Kingdom.
The monarch, who assumed the traditional title Jeki VI, was formally crowned on Saturday, September 26, at King Jaja Square, Opobo Town, bringing months of preparations and traditional ceremonies to a defining climax.
The coronation drew traditional rulers, political leaders, former public officials, business figures and dignitaries from across Nigeria, transforming the historic kingdom into a major gathering point of royalty, culture and heritage.
Among those present were former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, represented by his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; the Obong of Calabar; and the Amanyanabo of Bonny, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III.
THE CROWNING OF JEKI VI
The defining moment came when King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja was anointed and crowned by the Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Oko-Jaja.
With the ceremony, the Amanyanabo-elect formally became Jeki VI, succeeding the late King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, who died in December 2025 and was buried in April 2026.
The adoption of the name Jeki VI gives the new reign a particularly powerful historical dimension.
The name recalls King Jaja of Opobo, the 19th-century merchant prince and founder of the kingdom, whose leadership, commercial influence and resistance to colonial economic interests remain central to Opobo’s historical identity.
For many in the kingdom, the return of the Jaja name to the throne represents a symbolic connection between Opobo’s founding generation and its contemporary future.
FROM JAJA’S EXODUS TO A NEW JOURNEY
In his inaugural speech, the new monarch framed his reign around a forward-looking interpretation of Opobo’s history.
Reflecting on the historic 1870 exodus associated with King Jaja and the founding of Opobo, Jeki VI described it as a journey to freedom.
For the new generation, he said, the journey must now become one towards development, unity and global relevance.
That message has placed development alongside heritage at the centre of expectations surrounding the new reign.
The challenge before the new administration of the traditional institution will therefore extend beyond preserving history to finding contemporary ways of using Opobo’s heritage, identity and strategic location to advance the interests of its people.
OPOBO PUTS ITS CULTURE ON DISPLAY
The coronation was preceded by days of elaborate cultural activities that showcased the kingdom’s traditional institutions and rich Ibani heritage.
Masquerades including Owu Mbilla, Owu Otobo, Owu Ijuruma, Owu Ngi, Owu Aru and Owu Egebelegbe featured during the celebrations, alongside traditional dances, war-canoe activities and other ceremonies.
The King’s and Queen’s Masquerades, Owu Egebelegbe, were among the major cultural displays on September 25.
Beyond entertainment, the performances provided a public demonstration of Opobo’s cultural inheritance at a time when the kingdom was receiving visitors from across Nigeria.
A CORONATION BUILT ON ROYAL DIPLOMACY
The September 26 ceremony was also the culmination of extensive traditional diplomacy.
Before the coronation, King Charles and members of the Opobo Council of Alapu visited prominent traditional and national figures.
The monarch visited the Obong of Calabar, while a royal delegation visited the Obi of Onitsha.
King Charles also travelled to Yenagoa to personally invite former President Goodluck Jonathan, who subsequently attended the coronation.
The engagements reflected the broad network of traditional relationships surrounding the Opobo throne.
ROYALTY FROM ACROSS THE SOUTH
The presence of major traditional rulers gave the coronation a wider significance.
The attendance of the Obi of Onitsha, Olu of Warri, Obong of Calabar, Amanyanabo of Bonny and other traditional rulers created a remarkable gathering of historic institutions.
For Opobo, whose history is deeply connected to migration, waterways, commerce and interaction across the Niger Delta and southeastern Nigeria, the gathering also offered a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of the region’s traditional institutions.
JONATHAN: USE THE THRONE FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT
Former President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Jeki VI and the people of Opobo Kingdom, recalling the historical importance of King Jaja, urging the new monarch to promote peace, unity and development.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented by his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, similarly described the coronation as a celebration of the history, culture and identity of Rivers State.
She also emphasised the continuing role of traditional institutions in preserving cultural heritage.
MORE THAN A CORONATION
The event also generated considerable movement into Opobo as sons and daughters of the kingdom and visitors arrived for the festivities.
The combination of the royal ceremony, cultural displays, homecoming activities and visitor traffic created opportunities for local businesses and service providers.
It also demonstrated the potential of major traditional events to serve as platforms for cultural tourism and heritage promotion.
WHAT JEKI VI INHERITS
Jeki VI inherits a throne carrying centuries of Ibani history, but he also inherits expectations from a new generation.
He has pledged to protect the freedom and rights of the people of Opobo and uphold the dignity and integrity of the throne.
His emphasis on development, unity and global relevance has consequently become one of the defining messages of the new reign.
The possibilities are considerable: heritage and cultural tourism, historical research, youth development, education, maritime enterprise, creative industries, investment promotion and cultural diplomacy could all form part of a broader effort to translate Opobo’s history into contemporary opportunities.
THE NEW CHAPTER
The significance of September 26 therefore extends beyond the placing of a crown. It marked the formal renewal of an ancient institution and the beginning of a new chapter under a monarch bearing the name of the kingdom’s most celebrated founder.
The masquerades provided the colour. The royal guests provided the grandeur. The coronation provided the defining moment. But the greater story begins after the celebrations.
What will Opobo do with the history it has inherited? For Jeki VI, the answer will unfold through the years of his reign.
As the drums gradually fall silent and visitors return home, Opobo enters a new phase — carrying its history forward, while confronting the challenge of turning that inheritance into unity, development and enduring relevance.
The crown has been placed. Jeki VI has risen. And a new chapter of Opobo’s long history has begun.
