The Etche Area Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs has suspended all festivals and chieftaincy installations across Etche land during the mourning period for the late Ochie of Etche Land, His Eminence, Ochie E.N.B. Opurum.
The Igbo media team said the council announced the decision following a meeting held in conjunction with Ogbako Etche and the Elder Statesmen of Etche to deliberate on the death of the revered monarch.
In a statement signed by its chairman, HRM King Dr. Samuel Ndiwe Amaechi, the council described the monarch’s death as a profound loss to the Etche ethnic nationality, Rivers State and Nigeria.
It said the late Ochie was one of the founding fathers of Rivers State, whose contributions to the state’s creation, growth, peace, unity and development would remain indelible in history.
The statement added that the monarch provided exemplary traditional leadership and dedicated his life to promoting peace, unity, cultural preservation and the advancement of the Etche people.
The council called on sons and daughters of Etche, traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, women and other stakeholders to respect the resolution and observe the mourning period with dignity, unity and solemnity.
It also urged the people to uphold the values of peace, respect and communal harmony for which the late monarch was known.
The council prayed for the eternal rest of the deceased and asked God to grant his family, the traditional institution and the entire Etche people the strength to bear the loss.
