By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Despite the successful burial of High Chief Dr Olunwa Benson Lulu-Briggs on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA of Rivers State, there are fears in some quarters that the crisis that rocked the O.B. Lulu-Briggs family since the death of their patriarch on December 27, 2018, might not be over soon.
These fears are being expressed by concerned Kalabaris as well as Rivers people following three letters written by the wife of High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, Dr Mrs Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs recently over issues pertaining to her husband’s death and burial.
Speaking to Standardobservers at Abonnema shortly after the burial of High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs, a Kalabari man who identified himself as Chief B.O. Whyte, said he was happy that the late High Chief had been laid to rest at last.
He however expressed disappointment that while they thought that the burial would mark the end of the crisis in the bereaved family, the letters published by the deceased widow did not suggest so.
“I am happy that the burial has finally been done and High Chief Lulu-Briggs, our Iniikeiroari V can now rest in peace, because you see, in Africa, we believe that it is only when you bury a man well that he can truly rest well and take his pride of place among his ancestors.
“So, today, O.B. has been given that honour. I was also happy that the crisis that surrounded his death and caused frictions among his family members has ended today with this burial. But that was before I came across this magazine am holding here, Kalabari Times.
“Some boys were sharing it free of charge and they gave me and I was very happy because it has the High Chief’s picture very bold on its cover. But when I later opened it and flipped through, I saw the letter written to High Chief by his wife and another one she wrote to Ananyanabo and they really caught my attention.
“When I read them briefly, I saw that the one she addressed to her husband’s people is a summary of her legal battles with her stepson Dumo. Then the other letters were about what transpired in the meeting she held with the committee set up by Ananyanabo of Abonnema.
“Since then, I have been worried because it means that all is still not well. What if Dumo decides to respond to those issues she raised in the letter to her husband’s people? Won’t the crisis start all over again? What if the Ananyanabo’s committee decides to reply to that letter she wrote to them? Won’t it cause a crisis altogether because it will amount to washing dirty linens in the public?
“Are we not tired of all these crises? So, I’m really worried and I only that other Kalai people who love the Lulu-Briggs family will also be worried,” he said.
On his advice to the Lulu-Briggs family, the Kalabari Chief said: “They should allow peace to reign in their family. They should remember that their father, O.B. was a man of peace who also used his money to pursue peace. He didn’t use his wealth to make trouble neither did he waste it on lawyers and court cases nor to oppress people. Rather he used his wealth to help people, to save lives, to make peace, to spread the gospel. So, it would be a disservice and dishonour to him for his family to use his wealth to make trouble. They should reconcile their differences and work together to sustain his legacy.”
Checks revealed that the open letter written by Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs to her late husband is entitled: A LETTER TO MY BELOVED HUSBAND, HIGH CHIEF (DR) O.B. LULU-BRIGGS OON, DCF, DSSRS, May 22, 1930 – December 27, 2018. The first two paragraphs of the letter read thus: “My Beloved Opuda, Today, over two years since you peacefully translated into glory in Accra, Ghana, a funeral will hopefully be held in your honour.
“However, your children (except Dumo) and I cannot confirm whether the remains that will be committed to mother earth will be the remains of you my beloved husband because I still have your travel documents and the required export documents to bring you to your beloved Abonnema. One wonders how your remains could have been smuggled into Nigeria for burial.
“My dear Opuda, I know it was your wish to be laid to rest in your beloved hometown, alongside Young Briggs Iniikeiroari II – your great grandfather, legendary Kalabari warrior, the Founder and Sole Defender of Abonnema – and Benson Lulu-Briggs, your beloved father.
“These are the two men you credited for shaping your world view and inspiring you to set and achieve audacious goals for the greater good of your community. All glory, praise, honour and thanks to God Almighty for your extraordinary and impactful life…”
Her two letters to the committee set up by the Ananyanabo of Abonnema (the second being a follow-up to the first), dated March 4, 2021, and March 7, 2021, respectively, and addressed to His Majesty, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX, Ananyanabo of Abonnema, have as their titles, RE: BURIAL OF HIGH CHIEF DR O.B. LULU-BRIGGS.
In the two letters, she reminded the Abonnema monarch that her question concerning the whereabouts of her husband’s body has not been answered. She also told the committee, in her second letter, that her late husband, High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, made it clear that she must be involved in the arrangements of his funeral. “…and I have been patiently awaiting the opportunity to engage. Your committee has made it possible for me to come close to doing that.
” However, without urgent feedback, even the brief discussion we had during the meeting about his lying-in-state at our home, Sombreiro House in Port Harcourt cannot be concluded. For this reason, I am appealing to your good offices to reach me while there is still a slim window of opportunity to make the necessary arrangements that will fulfil His Excellency’s mandate, she concluded in her follow-up letter of March 7.
As at the time of sending this report, it could not be ascertained whether the committee or Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs has responded to any of Dr Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs’ letters.
