Amayanabo stool tears Bayelsa community apart

The struggle for who becomes the next Amayanabo of Buoama community, Akassa kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is causing tension  in the once peaceful community.  

The stool became vacant in December 2018 after the death of the then Amayanabo, late Rowland Grimu, Moko VII.  His deputy, Reginald Dede-Abadingo, has already laid claim as the immediate successor to the late monarch. 

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Already, the six compounds that make the community, otherwise called “Polos” have allegedly removed the sitting Deputy Amayanabo to prevent him from ascending the stool.  

In a letter notifying Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State about the  removal of Reginald Dede-Abadingo, as Deputy Amayanabo, by Chief Rufus Igbemo-Agabi, Chairman, Buoama Council of Chief and signed by 12 other members of the council, they accused him of some anti-community activities including intimidation and oppression of indigenes. 

“Prior to the death of our paramount ruler, the late King Rowland Grimu, Dede-Abadingo estranged himself with his principal over a land matter with a faction of a compound in the community, a matter that resulted in the late King being locked up at the Twon-Brass police station.  

“The Buoama Council of Chiefs in a reconciliation move wrote to Akassa clan Amayanabo in Council and intimated the council of anti-community activities of His Highness Abadingo in 2019 with the hope that the council would intervene, and advised him accordingly but our efforts ended up with our chairman and secretary being petitioned to the police,” they said.  

However, the Deputy Amayanabo denied all the allegations, describing the people that petitioned against him as ‘drowning people’ 

“In Akassa kingdom, king is not made through election; it is people from royal family that become kings. Our tradition is very clear about that,” he said.  

Also speaking, the regent of Akassa clan, HRH, Consul Oluko, said the tradition of Akassa clan stipulates the way chieftaincy matters are resolved.  

He said: “In the history and tradition of Akassa clan, there is nobody that can go straight to governor to report any matter when we have the Amayanabo in Council; you first of all report your matter to the council and when we are unable to handle the issue, then you can go further.’’