By John Oghojafor
A top contender to the chairmanship seat of Okpe Local Government Council in the forthcoming Councils’ election, Chief Julius Scott Jessa, has received the royal blessing of the Okpe monarch, HRM Orhue I, the Orodje of Okpe kingdom.
It would be recalled that Chief Jessa recently visited the Local Government PDP executives to intimate it with his intention to contest for the chairmanship seat of the Council which is expected to be vacant next month when the tenure of the current elected officers expires.
To formally kick-start his consultation, Chief Jessa and his teeming supporters paid a visit to the Okpe monarch on Monday in his palace, Orerokpe, headquarters of the Okpe Local Government Council Area to ask for the blessing of the king.
Disclosing his mission to the monarch, Chief Jessa stated that it was incumbent on him to respectfully seek the blessing of the royal father before he would formally embark on the journey to the chairmanship sit of Okpe Local Government Council, adding that he believed that his prayer would be potent enough to see him through.
“I have come to seek your prayers and blessing today, my father, before I would embark on whatever I’m intending to do. I have come to formally declare my intention to contest the Local Government Council chairmanship seat in the forthcoming election and to respectfully ask for your prayer, my father.
“I believe that your prayer and blessing will see me through the journey to the chairmanship seat of the Council.”
In his response, HRM Orhue I, thanked the aspirant for finding it necessary to first seek his prayer before embarking on a wider consultation. He however, stressed that his palace was open to any aspirant to the Okpe Local Government chairmanship seat, irrespective of political party, adding that he would gladly offer his prayer and blessing to any son or daughter of the kingdom who is qualified and has come to him to seek same.
The royal father however advised that whoever aspires and wins the chairmanship seat of the Council, must agree with him that he (aspirant) must be prepared to live in Orerokpe, the headquarters of the Council, adding that the chairman of the Council is a member of the Okpe Traditional Council of the kingdom whose attention will be required from time to time.
He also used the occasion to advise all aspirants to the chairmanship seat to be peaceful and orderly in their quest for the position, urging them to control their supporters before, during and after the election.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the royal father’s prayer to God to grant the aspirant the desire of his heart, just as he also prayed against any form of danger in the course of his journey to the chairmanship seat of Okpe Local Government Council.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the visit, Chief Jessa, expressed appreciation for the prayer and blessing of the royal father, adding that it also signified the blessing of the ancestors of Okpe kingdom.
Said he: “I feel so great, I’m very happy with the address HRM gave to me and my people. He spoke his mind on what I should do if I become the chairman of the Council. I heard that and I will comply with that. For me, the prayer seems to be an endorsement from our ancestors and I’m very happy with it.”
“He has given an advice that the Council chairman must stay here (Orerokpe). I have a building which, any moment from now, will be completed. Apart from that we have a mansion belonging to the Council here that will occupy me and my people very well. I promise that I will do what the Orodje has said.
Present at the occasion was HRM Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe kingdom and an array of Okpe traditional council chiefs, Chief J.J. Scott and members of his entourage including Chief Chris Ometan, Chief Owin, Chief Lizzy Obukene, Chief Blessing Oborevwori, Hon. Justin, among others.
In a related development, Chief Julius Scott Jessa, a top contender to the chairmanship position of Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State on the platform of the PDP, has paid a condolence visit to the wife of the late Ward PDP chairman, Mrs. Christy Okugbeni, in her Agbarho residence.
It would be recalled that the late PDP Ward 4 chairman, Mr. Felix Okugbeni, was assassinated by unknown gunmen sometime last month at Uwhagba, Okpe Local Government Area.
The chairmanship aspirant who was accompanied with his teeming supporter, expressed his condolences to the deceased wife and her children even as he condemned the killing of the ward chairman.
He described the late ward chairman as a very peaceful, hardworking and humble person, praying to God to grant those he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Chief Scott signed the condolence register before departing.
