CORONATION ANNIVERSARY: Nye Udu Upata Kingdom Woos Investors . . . Guarantees Adequate Security
3 min read
By Oyagiri Chime
RIVERS STATE: This year’s third coronation anniversary ceremony of the Igbu Upata Kingdom may not have come with funfare but significant, people oriented and challengimg to other kingdoms as its monarch reeled out achievements and set goals during the reading of his three years scorecard.
The Upata monarch, His Majesty, Nye Udu Felix Enene Otuwarikpo, JP, Nye Udu lll urged Investors to take advantage of the guaranteed security in his kingdom to invest, as toll free land will be made available, adding that areas of investment could be on oil and gas, food stuff, manufacturing, amongst others.
The Upata monarch declared, “The Upata people have decided that no investor will pay for land. If you are an investor willing to invest in Upata Kingdom , we will give you land . We don’t sell land to investors.
“Upata Kingdom is investment friendly. It is peaceful and ready for investment.”
“My kingdom has the highest deposit of gas in the country and is ready to welcome investors. 24 hours security is guaranteed.
On his achievements on security, the monarch said that within the period he ascended the throne, he was able to convince 343 cultists to renounce cultism, the result was the prevailing peace being experienced in the kingdom.
“When we discovered that militants and cultists were regrouping sometime in 2018, we approached Governor Nyesom Wike to give approval for negotiation. We criss- crossed many forests in Ekpeye Land, Abua/Odual, ONELGA and other places to negotiate.
“The result was, on the 25th of June 2019, 343 cultists surrendered and were made to take the traditional oath. Today, Ekpeye remains the most peaceful ethnic nation in the state and nation” he stated.
To sustain the prevailing security, the Monarch said he has written the Rivers State governor to allow Upata Kingdom to establish Ekpeye Vigilante Service, which when realized would be in charge of the internal security of the kingdom.
Otuwarikpo further listed reduction in cost of marital bride price and burial rites as part of his achievements. He said, the Upata marriage amendment bye-law has reduced marriage expenses of daughters of the kingdom from millions of naira to #177,000.
The Nye Udu Upata, stated, ” I felt it was exploitative and irrational. We are not selling our daughters, so the Upata marriage amendment bye-law was passed into law, which reduces marriage to #177,000.
“The result of the reduction was the many marriages recorded within a short period”, he revealed.
On human capacity development, the King stated that 57 students have been awarded full scholarship under the ‘Upata Goes to School Initiative’, while many others have been trained under the ‘One Youth, One Skill’ policy.
He further mentioned the ongoing building of a befitting palace which is about eighty-five percent completion, resolution of chieftaincy disputes in the land, amongst others.
He warned detractors to desist from fomenting trouble in the land. He warned “Anybody who stands on the way of progress will be taken out, because Ekpeye Land is bigger than an individual.
He blessed some hard working aides through gift of apartments.
Nye Udu Upata lll, Nye Udu Felix Enene Otuwarikpo doubles as the Regent to the throne of Eze Ekpeye Logbo. The event was marked on Wednesday, September 16, the date he was coronated three years ago, after the he won on the election same year August.
