Exclusive: How Olotu Binebai Was Given An Olotu Burial By Niger Deltans In Delta
By Ndu Samuel It was indeed a celebration of life well lived at the weekend when the remains of the Patriarch of the Binebai dynasty late Pa Tom Michael Binebai, the Olotu of Iduwini Kingdom, Delta State was laid to rest at his Amba Burutu country home in Burutu Local government area of Delta State. The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide can report. 
The three days burial event which could be best described as a carnival attracted both friends and well wishers and notable men and women across Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large who gathered in their numbers to celebrate an achiever.
From the massive crowd, lavish entertainment and caliber of dignitaries who attended the burial, one need no other evidence to believe that an Icon of immense value and unmatched reputation was been buried.
Activities marking the burial started on Saturday 2nd of April 2022, and as early as 7 am, family members, friends and well wishers had assembled at Miller waterside, Nigeria Port Authority Warri to receive the remains of one of the greatest educationist to have come out of the Izon Oborotu community for onward movement to his final resting place at Burutu.
After a brief aesthetic display by popular funeral undertakers, De Don to the admiration of onlookers, the remains departed Warri by boat and by 11:30 the ambulance had landed in Burutu jetty from where the entourage proceeded to his compound.
It was yet another display of dance and choreographic artistry by the Don’s funeral undertakers as they match through the roads leading to Pa Binebai compound as villagers came out en mass to give a heroic welcome to the man many believed had written his name in the sands of time.
Not too long after he was received in his counpound and a brief lying in state, activities moved to St Anne’s Catholic parish Burutu for a requiem mass where the officiating priest admonished the congregation to live a life that will earn them heavenly reward at death.
The funeral mass was succeeded immediately by interment.
On the political class, Amb. Dr. Comr. Shedrack Agediga, Executive Director, planning, Research and Statistics, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Sir Ignatius Ziakegha, Hon. Ebiakpo Tom Willy, Hon. Franklin Brialade, Hon. Amafini Akemotubo, Comr. Sheriff Mulade, Dr. Apst. Godspower Tomone with others too numerous to mention. 
His Excellency, Barr. (Dcn) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Hon. Julius Pondi, Member Representing Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, Hon. Asupa Peter Forteta, Member Representing Burutu North, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Frank Enekorogha all sent representatives.
Men of the press particularly the online massively attended the burial to show solidarity to the CEO of Liberator Newspapers, a leading online newspaper owned by Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill , grandson to Pa. Binebai. Some of the publishers that registered their presence include Comr. Ezikiel Kagbala of Focal Point Reports, Comr. Charles Oyinbi Onduku of Niger Delta Mirror, Comr. Ozobo Austin of Congress, Comr. Magbei Tare of Daily Report Nigeria, Comr. Anthony Demebide of The Peoples Voice.
The overwhelming presence of the revered Delta Ijaw Comrade Community (DICC) was heavily felt during the burial ceremony as they where fully on ground to console their president, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill. 
Leaders and members of the youth wing of the Apex Ijaw socio cultural group, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) also registered a massive turn out at the burrial. Some of them include Dr. Comr. Doubra Collins Okotete, Chairman Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Western Zone, Rt. Hon. Bob Collins Igetei, Speaker IYC Mobile Parliament Worldwide, Comr. Tina Tobusi, National Woman leader IYC Worldwide, Clan Chairmen, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Western Zone led by Comr. Ebolo Samuel, Chairman of all Chairmen and others.
Burrial activities resumed later in the evening, but even before night, the Ofou primary school venue of the ceremony was already filled with large crowd typical of crowd seen only in a football stadium and a political rally like that of a Governorship declaration.Two popular Ijaw music icons King Allen Alabor and Bestman May gave fantastic musical performances, the duo kept the entire arena charged till the following morning, and kept every one dancing, those who could not dance nodded their heads to the melodious sound of the music.As the burial progress to day two (2) which was Sunday April 3rd 2022, visitors and guests kept pouring in and there was so much to eat and drink. Popular Burutu based musician, Warelade Pepper made the burial day 2 an unforgettable one, Warelade was fantastically at his best, rendering classical Ijaw melodies in an astonishing manner.The ceremony came to a climax on Monday, it was the day the legendary musician Izon-Ebi thrilled the crowd who had gathered to listen and dance to his special kind of Ijaw music.As usual, the venue was filled to it’s brim, Izon-Ebi did not disappoint the crowd, infact it was a real musical jamboree with amazing dance steps and intermittent chatersis from the crowd.Izon Ebi infected everyone with dancing spirit, at the end of his performance, it was obvious no one who attended the event left the venue without showing off dance steps. Midway into his performance, King Allen joined him on stage and the collabo was a total blast.Late Pa. Binebai was a teacher, mentor, asute administrator and headmaster and a former commissioner in DESOPADEC, who contributed so much to the educational development of his community.He was survived by wives, 21 children, 60 grand children and, 7 great grand children.Niger Deltans, Ijaws particularly the Iduwini people will never forget the burial of Chief T M Binebai in a hurry. It would be recalled that professors across different higher institutions in Nigeria came in their numbers to grace the burial ceremony of Late Chief T M Binebai (JP) due to the relationship they share with Prof. Benedict Binebai, second son of the late Olotu of Iduwini, Delta State. The Iduwini Delta Traditional Council of Chiefs were massively on ground to bid their chief farewell.Photo Credit The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide.
The three days burial event which could be best described as a carnival attracted both friends and well wishers and notable men and women across Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large who gathered in their numbers to celebrate an achiever.From the massive crowd, lavish entertainment and caliber of dignitaries who attended the burial, one need no other evidence to believe that an Icon of immense value and unmatched reputation was been buried. Activities marking the burial started on Saturday 2nd of April 2022, and as early as 7 am, family members, friends and well wishers had assembled at Miller waterside, Nigeria Port Authority Warri to receive the remains of one of the greatest educationist to have come out of the Izon Oborotu community for onward movement to his final resting place at Burutu.After a brief aesthetic display by popular funeral undertakers, De Don to the admiration of onlookers, the remains departed Warri by boat and by 11:30 the ambulance had landed in Burutu jetty from where the entourage proceeded to his compound.It was yet another display of dance and choreographic artistry by the Don’s funeral undertakers as they match through the roads leading to Pa Binebai compound as villagers came out en mass to give a heroic welcome to the man many believed had written his name in the sands of time.Not too long after he was received in his counpound and a brief lying in state, activities moved to St Anne’s Catholic parish Burutu for a requiem mass where the officiating priest admonished the congregation to live a life that will earn them heavenly reward at death.The funeral mass was succeeded immediately by interment.On the political class, Amb. Dr. Comr. Shedrack Agediga, Executive Director, planning, Research and Statistics, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Sir Ignatius Ziakegha, Hon. Ebiakpo Tom Willy, Hon. Franklin Brialade, Hon. Amafini Akemotubo, Comr. Sheriff Mulade, Dr. Apst. Godspower Tomone with others too numerous to mention. His Excellency, Barr. (Dcn) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Hon. Julius Pondi, Member Representing Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, Hon. Asupa Peter Forteta, Member Representing Burutu North, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Frank Enekorogha all sent representatives.Men of the press particularly the online massively attended the burial to show solidarity to the CEO of Liberator Newspapers, a leading online newspaper owned by Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill , grandson to Pa. Binebai. Some of the publishers that registered their presence include Comr. Ezikiel Kagbala of Focal Point Reports, Comr. Charles Oyinbi Onduku of Niger Delta Mirror, Comr. Ozobo Austin of Congress, Comr. Magbei Tare of Daily Report Nigeria, Comr. Anthony Demebide of The Peoples Voice.The overwhelming presence of the revered Delta Ijaw Comrade Community (DICC) was heavily felt during the burial ceremony as they where fully on ground to console their president, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill. Leaders and members of the youth wing of the Apex Ijaw socio cultural group, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) also registered a massive turn out at the burrial. Some of them include Dr. Comr. Doubra Collins Okotete, Chairman Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Western Zone, Rt. Hon. Bob Collins Igetei, Speaker IYC Mobile Parliament Worldwide, Comr. Tina Tobusi, National Woman leader IYC Worldwide, Clan Chairmen, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Western Zone led by Comr. Ebolo Samuel, Chairman of all Chairmen and others.Burrial activities resumed later in the evening, but even before night, the Ofou primary school venue of the ceremony was already filled with large crowd typical of crowd seen only in a football stadium and a political rally like that of a Governorship declaration.Two popular Ijaw music icons King Allen Alabor and Bestman May gave fantastic musical performances, the duo kept the entire arena charged till the following morning, and kept every one dancing, those who could not dance nodded their heads to the melodious sound of the music.As the burial progress to day two (2) which was Sunday April 3rd 2022, visitors and guests kept pouring in and there was so much to eat and drink. Popular Burutu based musician, Warelade Pepper made the burial day 2 an unforgettable one, Warelade was fantastically at his best, rendering classical Ijaw melodies in an astonishing manner.The ceremony came to a climax on Monday, it was the day the legendary musician Izon-Ebi thrilled the crowd who had gathered to listen and dance to his special kind of Ijaw music.As usual, the venue was filled to it’s brim, Izon-Ebi did not disappoint the crowd, infact it was a real musical jamboree with amazing dance steps and intermittent chatersis from the crowd.Izon Ebi infected everyone with dancing spirit, at the end of his performance, it was obvious no one who attended the event left the venue without showing off dance steps. Midway into his performance, King Allen joined him on stage and the collabo was a total blast.Late Pa. Binebai was a teacher, mentor, asute administrator and headmaster and a former commissioner in DESOPADEC, who contributed so much to the educational development of his community.He was survived by wives, 21 children, 60 grand children and, 7 great grand children.Niger Deltans, Ijaws particularly the Iduwini people will never forget the burial of Chief T M Binebai in a hurry. It would be recalled that professors across different higher institutions in Nigeria came in their numbers to grace the burial ceremony of Late Chief T M Binebai (JP) due to the relationship they share with Prof. Benedict Binebai, second son of the late Olotu of Iduwini, Delta State. The Iduwini Delta Traditional Council of Chiefs were massively on ground to bid their chief farewell.Photo Credit The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide. 
