Grand Bonny: King Perekule XI @ 60

Solomon E. LeggJack

The political hiatus plaguing River State notwithstanding, the various constituent communities and her people have not fallen into any state of despair as to discard the symbols of their cultural identities and heritage.

One of such notable communities is the Kingdom of Grand Bonny-located at the Southernmost-Litoral part of the state and arguably the star of the erstwhile five city states of the old oil Rivers fame, where the ‘‘Perekule dynasty’’ holds sway and her current monarch, King Edward Ashimini William Dappa Pepple III, Edward I, DSSRS, JP, CON. Perekule XI sits as the 23rd Amayanabo (King) and national ruler of the ancient kingdom.

He is also the 11th sovereign of a longline of illustrious monarchs to have occupied the famous Perekule (Pepple) royal stool since 1700 when the legendary King Perekule I (1700-1754) established it as the 2nd dynasty (in Bonny monarchical history) and at a youthful age of 30 years-ruling the kingdom for 54 long years.

King Edward Ashimini William Dappa Pepple III was born on Friday, June 11, 1965 according to records, proclaimed king on Saturday, April 6 and coronated on Saturday  December 21 both in 1996 at an equally youthful age of 31 years and now in the 29th year of his eventful reign-as he attained the proverbial diamond age of 60 years on Wednesday, 11th June 11, 2025 and still counting.

Indeed, most persons who are familiar with his Royal Majesty- King Edward William Dappa Pepple, III would easily attest to his enduring love for a tranquil lifestyle and very moderate celebrative activities- whenever it becomes inevitable. However, Bonny indigenes, friends and well-wishers of this amiable monarch who yearly celebrated his birthday with Pristine Solemnity- have chosen to take it a notch-higher this year for their king- to whom caring for his people is never a burden.

His birthday anniversary activities followed a well-publicised programme of events by the Central Planning Committee beginning from Tuesday, 10th June, at 7pm with the Bonny Women Prayers Match which terminated in front of the royal palace with songs of praise and prayers to God for the king’s well-being. This was followed by fireworks and canon shots at 1am- early Wednesday morning to herald the birthday proper and at daybreak- the usual thanksgiving and benedictory service was held at Stephen’s Cathedral (Anglican Communion) Grand Bonny.

The presiding Bishop, RT Rev. Oko-JaJa, conducted the service attended by a large host of dignitaries which included His Excellency Siminialayi Fubara, GSSRS. The royal celebrant adorned an all-black embroidered royal apparel with a fitting mini crown to match- flanked by his queen to his left and Fubara to his right and gestured joyfully to the congregation during the rendition of ‘‘happy birthday to you’’ by the choir- ending with Fanny Crosby’s timeless hymn of thanksgiving- ‘‘To God be the Glory-Great things he hath done.’’

The royal motor cade stopped briefly at the King’s Square as cultural displays were on to welcome him back from service, where he step out of his vehicle to acknowledge the drummers who relentlessly greeted him in the dynasty’s drum name. Next day, Thursday, June 12 was the King’s visitation to the General Hospital Bonny where he empathized with the sick and infirm amidst cultural and Masquerade displays by various groups. These activities continued till Saturday when a novelty football march between Port Harcourt All Stars and NLNG Teams was played. The all-night party that was to round off the Grand Monde- by the Youth Federation actually began on Wednesday and rounded off on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

However, where such a service is conducted outside Grand Bonny as it was the case in 2023 when the king turned 58 years old- it was the Port-Harcourt Choral Society’s Choir that took the centre stage in a modest celebration within the Palace Ground in Port Harcourt and rendered John Marriott’s captivating hymnal- ‘‘Thou whose Almighty word, chaos and darkness heard and took their flight’’ to the enormous delight of the king, the royals and all the guests present. This was followed by his interactive call amongst the assemblage of guests to appreciates them for their presence. Why, does the king adopt this yearly birthday commemorative regimen- always set in motion by a commemorative thanksgiving service?

A quick search for an answer would be to Speak of the leadership style of the dynasty he represents: – a dynasty that was the first to embrace Christianity and made Grand Bonny the centre of its spread to other oil Rivers City States; a dynasty that humbles itself under the mighty hand of God and bountifully reaps His exaltations. Putting God first over everything else is the indelible Creed bequeathed by his famous Great, Great, Great-Grand Father- ‘‘William Dappa Pepple I; Perekule V (

-1866)- often referred to as ‘‘the Black Monarch’’, who was the first to pay the horrible price of the unjust deportation from his kingdom but still found his way to London where he converted to Christianity after a breakfast meeting with Queen Victoria of Great Britain during his exile, and where he had asked her ‘‘the source of Great Britain’s Power and Influence’’ and in reply the Queen pointed at the ‘‘Holy Bible’’. He returned to regain his throne adopting ‘‘William’’ as his baptismal name and turned his back and his entire Kingdom (Grand Bonny) against idolatry and worship of idols forever.

The royal celebrant is famous for his calm dignity and doubly famous for his quiet diplomacy which he employs to achieve stated objectives- including youth engagements generally. His passion for kingdom-wide development follows a well-known dynastic pedigree of inclusiveness, openness and unfeigned love for his people which led him to encourage the formation of Community-Based Organisation (CBOs) such as Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC) and many others as avenues for community citizens engagements in order to address their expectations in a rational manner.

Furthermore and just like his own father – King Eugene William Dappa Pepple II Perekule IX (1923-1972), used quiet diplomacy to secure the approval of the first Republic Prime Minister of Nigeria for the construction of Bonny-Bomu Road (as it was then known) in the 60s following the establishment of Shell-SPDC oil Terminal in Bonny in 1961- as an introspective but veritable means for the evacuation of his people to safety- in case of an oil blow-out or associated operational and environmental disaster; so also HRM has successfully employed same tool to persuade successive governments since the birth of the Fourth Republic, beginning with former President Obasanjo to resuscitate that road project- (now renamed Bonny-Boddo road) which, baring all unforeseen circumstances maybe commissioned for use by Bonny people and the general public before the end of this year.

The king is a certified lover of the round leather Game of Football which he always use as a platform for active youth engagements. This was the case during his birthday celebration of last year 2024- in Grand Bonny Island where a commemorative football tournament was organised to kick start the social segment of the celebrations involving Port Harcourt All Stars Team and another, at the end of which HRM gave out prizes to winners and others who distinguished themselves. Similarly, he regularly gives out new pairs of football boots to talented upcoming and promising youths whom he discovers at football playing grounds from time to time.

Leadership, we have often heard, is about making others better as a result of one’s presence and beneficial leadership is indeed what this king wears as a badge of honour. These and more are the thrust of the beneficent credentials of this king who is ceasely commended for managing his people’s expectations very well and in appreciation of which they routinely standup to celebrate HRM whenever occasions arise.

Wa mina- Amayanabo, boma fini iyere piri, Tamuno duma paa ipiri- Gbesa, gbesa. To God be the glory. Sixty hearty diamond cheers to King Edward I and long may you reign. Long live Perekule dynasty of Grand Bonny Kingdom.

. LeggJack  writes from Port Harcourt