Captain Mini Obubo - The Ancient Mariner Joins His Ancestors In Style

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.

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

Opokuma's Latest Graduate

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Cleary giving his address

Cross section of the convocation

Graduand and proud Dad

The Graduate

William with UBU Colleagues

William with UBU Colleagues

On Thursday, December 08, 2011, Opokuma had the newest addition to its teeming population of university graduates. William Priye Obubo graduated joint honours Politics and Law from the renowned Department of Peace Studies of the University of Bradford, England.

William hails from Agadawari Compound of Igbainwari Town, Opokuma

William is currently engaged in the University of Bradford Students Union (UBU) in a sabbatical position as Sports and Societies Officer.

King William Ogionwo's Final Home Coming

Today the body will lie in state at the traditional rulers council secretariat Yenagoa and later at the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area Secretariat before a Christian and social wake at his home town, Igbainwari, Opokuma.

Yesterday at the Chief Ebitimi Banigo Hall of the University of Port Harcourt, it was tributes galore as speaker after speaker extolled the sterling’s qualities of the renowned Professor of sociology.

Speaking at a public lecture in his honour, the head of department of Sociology University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Steve Okoroduwa called on State Government and the Ogionwo family to immortalize the late revered Professor of sociology at the University.

Dr. Okoroduwa said in partnership with the bereaved family, the department would accept and house the books of the professor in a library to be named after the Opokuma monarch. He described the deceased as a man of exceptional qualities who related with all as equals.

In his paper titled "Leadership And The Niger Delta Crisis" the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Dr. Atuboyedia Obianemi, blamed the Niger Delta crisis on institutional failure. He said, the political, social-economic and judicial system has failed the citizens, noting that it is a result of planlessness and lack of vision of policy initiators and implementers.

The INC President recommended that for the Niger Delta crisis to be resolved, the Federal Government should create two more states for Ijaws along homogeneity and contiguity, so that the people can define their destiny and develop according to their pace as well as control of their resources.

The INC President said the pan-Ijaw social organization has adopted a new philosophy known as the ‘New Kaiama Declaration’ in its pursuit of the realization of the Ijaw struggle. This is a paradigm shift from violence and confrontation that the organisation was associated with, to the principles of intellectualism and diplomacy.
He stressed that justice and equity as well as a post-amnesty programme that focuses on areas where the people of the Niger Delta have comparative advantage such as marine and Oil/Gas were critical towards achieving lasting peace in the region.

Professor Emeritus Ebiegberi Alagoa chaired the event which had Ambassador Lawrence Ekpebu and Professor Nelson Brambaifa in attendance.

Press Release by the Publicity Committee

President Yar'Adua Consoles Timi Alaibe at Alaere's Funeral

Culled from the Niger Delta Standard

Igoniko Oduma, Yenagoa and Olawale Lamina, PH.

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was among prominent personalities who yesterday honoured late Mrs. Alaere Alaibe, wife of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe at her funeral service. The funeral service was held at the Alaibe's compound in Igbainwari community in Opokuma clan, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa state.

President Yar'Adua, who was represented by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, remarked that Alaere lived an enterprising life of dedication to service and humanity. He noted that Mrs. Alaibe, while on earth touched many was inspiring to her numerous admirers. President Yar'Adua enjoined Timi Alaibe and members of the family to be encouraged by the fact that his late wife had gone to be with God Almighty after her good works on earth. "My heart goes out to you, the entire members of your family and the very many people whose lives were touched by Alaere in the course of her short-lived but inspiring and fulfilled sojourn on earth. "In the midst of death, grief and pain which you must feel, given the magnitude of the loss, you must take solace from the fact that your wife has gone to be with the Almighty Lord after an enterprising life of dedication to service and humanity. "On behalf of the government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and my behalf, I extend heartfelt condolences to you and pray for Almighty God's strength and understanding and wisdom on you and the children at this time. "May her soul find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord, Amen", the President said. Speaking in his capacity as the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan said life was not about how long people lived, but how people impact positively the environment around them. The Vice President added that though Alaere lived a very short life, like a good actor, she left the stage when the ovation was loudest, stressing she played her role very well."The basic truth about life is not really how long you lived, but how you impact positively the environment and those around you. How you change your immediate family, your larger family, your community, the local government area, the state and the Federal Government where you have the opportunity", he noted. Jonathan, who was accompanied by his wife Dame Patience, said Alaere would be missed by her family, the larger family, the Niger Delta region and the entire Nigeria, urging that she should not be mourned as her life was eventful and meaningful. "We join others to console the family but say that they should not mourn. My dear brother, Timi Alaibe, the children and members of the immediate family, we say our sister has left us. We should not mourn", the Vice President said.

Governors Timipre Sylva, Ikedi Ohakim, Theodore Orji, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Liyel Imoke of Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Edo and Cross Rivers States, respectively, showered encomiums on Alaere. The governors, who described death as a necessary end and would come when it would, noted that Alaibe's wife, through her non-governmental organization, Family Re-Orientation, Education and Empowerment (FREE) touched numerous lives. They however, prayed that God would grant Alaibe, the children and the family the fortitude to bear what they described as the "irreparable loss" of Alaere.

Also giving a tribute on behalf of the board and management of the NDDC, the chairman Mr. Dan Abia extolled the virtues of Alaere, saying she had a clear vision that endeared her to all manner of people. Dan noted as a woman of substance, Alaere provided emotional stability to her husband and changed many lives for better through FREE and defended the weak and the poor.

In his response, the husband of the deceased, Chief Timi Alaibe said the death of his wife, Alaere, was a burden too heavy for him. He said Alaere was his friend, wife and mother, adding that she was not only a pillar of support to him and his career but a servant to humanity. Alaibe told the crowd of sympathizers that their presence at the funeral service was enough support to him and his family, saying they were all encouraged. While expressing profound appreciation to all and sundry, Alaibe assured that the legacies of his late wife would continue ceaselessly.

Other dignitaries at the funeral service conducted by Reverend Father Matthew Hassan-Kukah included deputy governor of Bayelsa state, Peremobowei Ebebi, Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Werinipre Seibarugu, Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri, Ambassador Boladei Igali, Secretary to Government of Bayelsa State, Mr. Gideon Ekeuwei.

Igoniko Oduma, Yenagoa and Olawale Lamina, PH.

A well-deserved honour

The body of Mrs Alaere Alaibe arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International on Friday morning aboard a British Airways plane, and was received by a large crowd of mourners. Sympathisers included former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, former Speaker of the House, Austin Opara, former Transportation Minister, Abiye Sekibo among others.

Alaere's body was subsequently airlifted from Abuja to Port Harcourt later on Friday and met by large crowd of grief-stricken sympathizers and well-wishers at the Port Harcourt Airforce Base. Most of the sympathisers could not hold back the tears as it dawned on them that Alaere was really gone. Bayelsa women groups and a large number of Alaere's close friends and associates and dignitaries associated with her husband, the Managing Drector of the NDDC, Mr. Timi Alaibe, lined up the tarmac to pay their respects to their beloved friend who succumbed to cancer in a London hospital. The body was quickly transferred to a waiting ambulance which was driven to a private hospital mortuary in Port Harcourt.

In life she changed the lots of many in the Niger Delta and beyond. She was a true proponent of the Niger Delta component of the President YarAdua's 7-point agenda . In fact she acted way ahead of the pack. Alaere particularly touched the lives of youths and rural women through her projects in the FREE Foundation. Grateful Nigerians burdened by the grief of her premature exit came to pay their respects.

Alaere will be buried at Trofani, her home town in Sagbama local council, after traditional wake keeping at Igbainwari, Opokuma in line with Ijaw culture. Thursday/Friday February 12/13, 2009.