Rivers: Kalabari kingdom pleads for release of remains of an Icon

Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt

About one year after the death of a prominent Kalabari son and philanthropist, High Chief O. B. Lulu Briggs, the Chiefs, elders, women and youths of the ethnic nationality in Rivers State are pleading for the release of his remains for burial.

The chiefs mostly from Oruwari Briggs War Cannon House in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state, on Thursday in Port Harcourt, pleaded that the late philanthropist wife, Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu Briggs should return back their son’s (Chief Lulu Briggs) remain from Accra, Ghana where he purportedly died.

The Kalabari people, including the chiefs and the second son of the deceased, Dumo Lulu Briggs were in their black mourning attires when they had a briefing with the press, calling Mrs. Seinye Lulu Briggs to return the corpse of the prominent merchant back to his hometown in Abonnema for proper burial.

It would be recalled that the Rivers State Government had recently offered to bury the late Rivers’ son.

The State Governor, Nyesom Wike had during a meeting with leaders and People of Kalabari Ethnic Nationality at the Government House Port Harcourt, said that the State Government is interested in according the late Philanthropist the respect he deserves.

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He said: “I even told them to let the Rivers State Government be responsible for the burial. Let the State Government take the corpse. Government will hold the corpse and give him a befitting burial. All I want is peace.”

He berated the people for leaving the corpse of the deceased in foreign mortuary for one year over disagreement amongst the wife and children.

“How can such a man not be buried for one year. Not that they are looking for money to bury the man.

“How can a prominent son of Kalabari Land stay in the mortuary for one year and we are all here. Nobody can speak the truth.

“They have divided themselves. I have intervened more than three to four times. Having meetings, but was disappointed by the wife. I have to say clearly to all of you, I have never received insult like that in my life.

“Let the man be buried. Anyone who is dragging property can go and drag for the property. How can such a man not be buried for one year?”

Meanwhile, at the meeting led by the Acting Head of Oruwari Briggs War Cannon, High Chief Ajumogobia Briggs, the deceased’s son, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs, pleaded to his father’s wife to release the remains of his father for proper traditional burial.

Chief Dumo who was a governorship aspirant in the 2019 general election in Rivers State, lamented that not releasing the remains of his father for burial amounts to injustice against the deceased who he said has shown so much love to his wife and everyone around him during his lifetime.

He recalled that Mrs. Seinye had filed a court injunction restring the corpse to be taken by the deceased family and his Kinsmen.

He said “By December 27, this year, it will be exactly one year my father passed on. His wife had refused to bring his remains back home for burial. The Amayanabo of Kalabari kingdom, TJT Princewill, has also spoken that remains of the late Chief be handed over to his family. 

“It is not in Kalabari tradition that a woman should cease the corpse of her husband. We cannot plan a funeral burial that we do not have the corpse at hand. Nobody will dispute that she was not his wife, but should please release his remains for burial.”

Dumo Lulu Briggs who thanked the state Governor, for the part he has played so far in the propose burial of the late philanthropist, said if the corpse released this December, he would be buried on January 25, 2020.

“We thank the Governor of Rivers State for his interest in the peaceful burial of my father. We apologise for the insult melted on him by Mrs. Seinye

“The government, Kalabari kingdom should prevail in Mrs. Seinye Lulu Briggs to release the remains of her husband so that he can be given a befitting burial a month later. If released this month, by January 25, he shall be given a befitting burial in his hometown.

“She instituted a court injunction restraining the family from having custody of the late Chief. But today, we are asking the public to appeal to her to stop conflicting the issue. The body should be released unconditionally”, Chief Dumo pleaded