04/12/2023
MY IJAW JOURNEY: HOW CHIEF DUMO LULU-BRIGGS HAS INSPIRED ME AND WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST SIM FUBARA
By Uche Emmanuel Woke.
Lately, a young man from my tribe and community has been persistently expressing his animosity towards me due to my support for the Governor of Rivers State, H. E. Sir Siminalayi FUBARA. He publicly chastises me and cautions against associating with Ijaw people by asserting that they harbor ill-will towards Ikwerre, which is my ethnic group. Specifically, he warned that if I continue to align myself with Sir SIM, I will not be among those who ultimately succeed and instead will suffer regrettable consequences in the end.
The irony lies in the fact that the young man who speaks of Ijaw hatred has not exhibited love within his own domain. This is compounded by the fact that, at some point during our political endeavors, I took him under my wing as a brother and integrated him into my team while working alongside Chief Dumo, an esteemed member of the Ijaw community. Despite this indelible gesture of goodwill, he hurls insults and labels at me for harboring divergent viewpoints yet expressing concerns over potential backlash from my Ijaw associates due to their supposed animosity towards people of Ikwerre descent.
For the records, other than being used as a point of reference, his archaic viewpoint is completely irrelevant and does not reflect the views of the Ikwerre people as a whole. As a human-populated ethnic group, we have our fair share of dimwits and primordial thinkers.
I am not a local champion; my life and experiences are not narrowly tied to my community and people. I am not privileged to have lands to sell and make quick money. My father was not very ambitious, so, he was not a land owner and didn't leave houses and properties behind. So, it's compulsory for me to strive and survive. And to do that, I simply can't limit myself to my community and people. For this reason, I have bosses and friends outside of Rivers State and outside of Ikwerre. And I can attest that during my interactions with Ijaw people, I have accomplished a number of noteworthy personal goals.
I worked with Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, an Ijaw illustrious son for five years, and was very regular in Abonnema Town of Kalabari kingdom. I can attest from my numerous visits that I was always made to feel welcome in Kalabari/Ijaw land. The town comes alive mostly on weekends with a variety of events that draw visitors from both Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, and other locations.
Allow me to share some invigorating insights about my paternal confidant and fraternal ally from across the rivers.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs is a man of great elegance and refinement. He carries himself with dignity and grace, and his impeccable manners are a reflection of his noble character. He is a man of impeccable taste, and his sartorial choices are always perfect. Whether he is at a formal event or a casual gathering, he is always the picture of sophistication. In all aspects of his life, Chief Lulu-Briggs exudes class and style. He is the living replica of Chief Young Briggs, one of the founding fathers of Abonnema who, according to the King of Abonnema, HM Disrael Gbobo Bobmanuel, arrived at the place with the Oruwari stool. He is the Polo Dabo, Paramount Head of the Oruwari War Canoe group of Houses; the Iniikeiroari VI of Kalabari kingdom.
When you see a tall man with ascended body frames, freshly bearded that gently pulls himself out of the back seat of a luxurious SUV with an Italian made bowler hat or a Roman look-alike royal helmet, and you are close enough to hear the smooth voice which switches to deep baritone when he says "Gabriel" then there is no mistaking his identity. Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs has arrived. And in many ways it feels as if a father has come home to meet his long awaiting children. His fatherly aura is always amazing.
As he darts from the car to any destination you will see Dumo with infectious smiles waving, shaking hands, hugging and exchanging pleasantries with all classes of people. It was in Buguma town that he once stopped his thick troupe of genuine, sycophantic, real and fake supporters to hug it out with little kids and spare a few dollars. References of similar gestures at different places abound.
TWENTY FRIENDS FOR TWENTY YEARS IS POSSIBLE
It is truly remarkable that he can cultivate enduring friendships with individuals from diverse socio-cultural and religious backgrounds, spanning various lands. Most of these cherished relationships are rooted in his secondary school and university days, as well as with business partners, neighbors, political associates, and colleagues from a range of languages and regions.
Intriguingly, many of the same individuals have remained a part of his circle of friends throughout the years. Some are steadfast in their loyalty, consistently showing up when needed for important events and specific occasions. I distinctly recall Chief Iyke, a grizzled traditional leader from the Ikwerre ethnic Nationality who has been a lifelong friend to the Boss and remains an unwavering ally to this day. Additionally, there's Ibinabo Benibo (also known as Bozniga), Omubo Princewill (a jolly good fellow), Enyindah Orianwo (a good organizer and fellow Ikwerre man), Mr. Bob (the epitome of coolness), Rt. Hon. Iyk Orji (the anointed one and senior schoolmate to the Boss, also hailing from Ikwerre), Gbene Joy Nunieh (a sleek and stylish lady with undeniable charisma - renowned legal practitioner and rights activist recognized for her legendary contributions towards fighting environmental degradation along with marginalization within the oil-producing region of Niger delta). Lastly, we have the elegant Baba T., Dumo George (the young elder), and Ere Benibo (the plain man).
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs has potentially contradicted the Yoruba adage that asserts "twenty children cannot play or remain friends for two decades". Remarkably, he has maintained friendships with numerous individuals for a period exceeding forty years and continues to do so. The scope of his amity knows no bounds; he openly extends an olive branch to all and disregards any tribal limitations on human interactions as well as the obligation to convey affection.
Naturally, life is not without imperfections; the journey may occasionally encounter obstacles and strife. However, one must resist the urge to sever ties recklessly. It is precisely this unwavering commitment to maintaining relationships that has solidified my admiration for him as both a superior, confidant, and paternal figure - despite our formal separation as political partners.
I noticed how he disregarded political differences but insisted on respecting his relationship with old-time friends like Sody Peterside the seasoned banker and a Port Harcourt socialite, Eugene Abels the media enthusiast and a gregarious fellow too, Kingsley Wali the Godfather of PH, the George Kerleys, and many others. He also maintains good relationships with traditional rulers and countless statesmen and stateswomen who have served the country at various levels. Sadly, some of his friends have passed on and some of those still very fresh in memories include Ogunka Lumati and Mr. Morgan.
Mike Wali, also known as Arawe, his long-standing amigo, had narrated how Chief Dumo refused to go to his own house because his associates who were at his place chased him (Arawe) his friend out of his place for political differences. Dumo analyzed the action and concluded that it wasn't politics that brought them together as friends and so politics can't separate them. He therefore warned that they must look for his friend wherever he might be and beg him to return to that house or he will not go to the house himself.
Sadly Arawe also passed on, and that was a few weeks after I had a close discussion with him about Chief Dumo. He battled with a health situation for quite a long time. Although his determination to survive was very vivid as it successfully veiled the pains he was going through. His bright smiles and laughter never dimmed before he shut his eyes to this side of reality. "Dumo is the type of man that enjoys seeing his friends happy," Arawe said.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs was not born with a golden spoon, he too has experienced dire straits in his life. He is a man who has encountered numerous obstacles and captivating adventures but discovered his true self early on and now demonstrates it wholeheartedly. He devoted himself to personal growth and underwent essential stages of training to become fully resourceful and influential. As a willing instrument of God Almighty, he has long embraced a charitable lifestyle that aligns with his name Dumo - which represents bringing life to the dying and hope to the hopeless.
The 21st-century Dumo Lulu-Briggs epitomizes humanitarianism while also carrying out the mission of leading and restoring. He is not only a business magnate but also an exceptional politician, highly respected intellectual, friendly compatriot, and genuine believer in friendship as well as brotherhood. And he is my friend and father from the Ijaw nation. He still responds positively to my calls breaking ethnic boundaries and demonstrating that love sees no ethnicity or language.
Like Chief Dumo, H. E. Sim Fubara is another Ijaw man who has transcended the narrow bounds of ethnicism to spread love and compassion to all people. He is a shining example of the power of humility and openness. He has shown that it is possible to rise above the divisions that plague our world and to unite people through kindness and understanding. He is a beacon of hope in a world that too often seems filled with darkness. Contrary to the erroneous belief that he is tribalistic, the Ijaw community holds him in high esteem, just as he is cherished by other tribes residing within Rivers State. The reason is that he astounded the people of Rivers State with his candor and swiftly garnered their admiration and affection.
May the example of these two great Ijaw sons that I have personally encountered, continue to inspire us all to be better people and to create a world of peace and harmony.
God bless Rivers State!
