The Obubo Family and indeed the larger Gboluzigha Family of Igbainwari, Opokuma was at their creative best as they saw off one of their elders, Capt. Mini Jackson Kurabai Obubo fondly called "Uncle Mini" in artistic style. It is not often that you see people being buried in caskets that depict their professions but such was the case in Igbainwari as Marine Captain Mini Obubo was laid to rest in a beautiful marine vessel - a replica of the boats that had become his second home as he crisscrossed the waterways of the Niger Delta in his work as River Master. True to his witty and intelligent personality, he had expressly requested that his final voyage to meet his ancestors be undertaken in a familiar setting.
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| Capt Obubo's Special Casket during the Open Air funeral service before the interment |
Captain Mini Jackson Kurabai Obubo was born on the 20th of July 1938 into the family of Chief Kuraibai Obubo of Agadawari Quarters in Igbainwari Town of Opokuma Clan in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He followed a family tradition of marine occupation begun by his uncle Captain William Kimitonmoghaye Obubo who excelled in the colonial Marine Department and was even decorated for his meritorious services in troop transport during the second World War and became one of the earliest Nigerians to be made captain of a marine vessel. In fact The baby boy, Mini, was named after a marine vessel MINI which served as pilot boat that guided ships into the harbour at Calabar.
True to his name, Uncle Mini picked the marine services profession and joined the marine service of West Minster Dredging Company in the 70s and worked his way up the professional ladder eventually becoming a River Master and earned the title Captain. In this role, he travelled through all the nooks and crannies of the Niger Delta waterways. With this wealth of experience he moved over to SeaTruck, when this oil service company needed the services of a seasoned mariner who knew the creeks of the Niger Delta like the palm of his hand. He served meritoriously until his retirement in the late 80s.
Uncle Mini was married to Mrs. Janet Obubo for over four decades until she met an untimely death in a road traffic accident in 2011. This marriage was blessed with five children - "The Mini Jackson Five". At his time of departure, he was also blessed with fifteen grand children.
Captain Obubo had a challenging childhood as he was the last of child of his father and was born posthumously. His mother, Madam Eretibinana Obubo was undaunted by this calamity and single-handedly brought up Mini and his older siblings.
In his old age, his wit and humour went into full bloom and he was a readily available wise counsellor to the young, always seeing the lighter side of life and spicing good advice with humour. He was popularly known by his numerous traditional titles - Owei Igbo, Tun-Abadi, Abadikubili among others. The family will forever miss his quick wit, his amiable disposition that endeared him to young and old, his depth of analysis of issues and the numerous captivating mariner's tales.
Izonebi Rodger Obubo
Today, Sunday 29th November 2015 would have marked the 95th birthday of Senator Amatari Zuofa, but he left us a few weeks earlier after having played a pioneering iconic role as a agent of development of the Niger Delta and a beacon for the Izon people.
