Etche Monarch To Be Buried Soon -Son

Baring any unforeseen circumstances, the body of the late Onyeishi Etche, His Eminence, E.M.B Opurum, may be laid to rest before the end of this year.

According to sources, the late Etche monarch joined his ancestors on the 16th of September, 2026.

It would be recalled that late Opurum was the first first-class and classified traditional ruler in Etche nation and also one of the founding fathers of Rivers State.

The first son of the late monarch, Prince Anufo Opurum, disclosed this during a condolence visit by the Mba Clan Council of Chiefs at the late King’s palace at Ndashi Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state.

Prince Opurum said the body of his father will be laid to rest before the end of the year.

He called on the people of Etche, especially the traditional institution, to guide jealously the achievements of his late father.

Addressing members of the Mba Clan Council of Chiefs, Prince Opurum said the legacy of his father must never be in vain.

He described his late father as “a great king who came, saw and conquered.”

He said, “They should not allow it (his legacies) to go sour. They should not allow it to be a waste, let the importance of his struggle be embedded in us, our lifestyle, especially when it comes to do with chieftaincy institution in Etche.

“Onyeishi Etche has set a standard, Onyeishi Etche has lifted the institution to the level of envy in the eyes of other people.”

The prince claimed that his father made Etche to be what it is today.

“He had good vision and he also sacrificed all he had to make sure his vision came to pass and that is why the Federal Government recognised him with the award of MFR and Rivers State Government also recognised him with the award of GSSRS, the award meant for Governors,” he said.

Also speaking, the Ada Etche of Etche Ethnic Nationality, Professor Love Akaja Akonye, said the late monarch left behind many legacies.

“Everybody should bear it in mind that this man was one of the founding fathers of Rivers State.

“One of his legacies is that he made sure that the traditional institution stood firm in Etche land.

“He ensured that the culture of our land is streamlined to maintain a government structure that will create stability among the people,” she said.

Speaking earlier at Okudu Mba, the traditional headquarters of Mba clan, the Acting Onyeishi Agwuru of Mba Clan, Eze Charles O. Nweke, described late Opurum as a great monarch whose legacies will be difficult to erase.

Nweke said the Mba clan aligned itself with the decision by the entire Etche Ethnic nationality to suspend all festivals and chieftaincy coronations in Etche until the burial of the monarch.

He added that all markets would be shut down in Mba during the burial activities of the late monarch, while the constitution of Etche Ethnic nationality will guide the process.

By: John Bibor