AMASIEKUMOR festival is a fiesta that the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State and their kinsmen from other parts of the Niger Delta region hold fire for at Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom, annually. Amasiekumor is a female deity whose origin dates back to over 400 years. Its devoted worshipers believe that the goddess protects and blesses the faithful, irrespective of circumstances and even in times of battle.

In fact, some of them, perhaps blasphemously, describe the deity as Jesus Christ. Ex-militant leader and top-ranking figure in the kingdom, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, said, “Amasiekumor is just like Jesus Christ to us.” This year’s celebration of the deity was not different.

It was a five-day event that kicked off March 10 and ended March 15 with cleansing and purification exercise for all sons and daughters, who were involved in blood covenant and other related sins.
The goddess, who is housed at a bravura temple in a small forest adjacent the Oporoza Guest house of Tompolo is reverently treated. Soldiers of the Joint Task Force on Niger-Delta were amazed at the people’s uncommon belief in the goddess when they bombarded the community in 2009 and did everything to destroy the shrine.

Arrival/commencement

It started with making of various sacrifices ranging from sin to purification offerings, as Amasiekumor forbids uncleanliness. Everywhere on the Oporoza canal, last Thursday, was littered with assorted foods and live chickens for the deity. Every participant or visitor was subjected to a compulsory sanctification ritual; a mixture in a native pot is compulsorily splashed on your head, as you dismounted the speedboat with the aid of leaves.
It is said that any man or woman who had sexual intercourse (probably on the day of the festival) will not be allowed entry into the arena and there is no ransom to redeem it.

Not even journalists, irrespective of their religious belief, were spared of the purification exercise. The zealots said it was to avoid polluting the ceremony. Last Thursday was the grand finale and merrily dressed men and women from all walks of life trooped to the arena. Aged women were dressed in branded white T-shirts with white head gears, while some youths in similar fashion, also had white pieces of cloth tied round their head.

Tompolo’s patented appearance

Tompolo, who is rarely seen, could not hide on that day. Decked in a branded Amasiekumor T-shirt atop a branded PDP wrapper with a white cloth piece tied around his neck and head, he was the cynosure of all eyes. A special song was rendered in his honour and visitors, who barely saw him, had the opportunity of snapping him with their phones and cameras, as he walked to and fro from the adrenaline-charged rhythms of the drummers. Women, led by Chief Vero Tangbowei swayed their bodies and wriggled their waists in a fashionable manner likened to Owigiri dance steps in a high spirit.

Enter the deity

Ear-plitting canon shots burst out, following an announcement that the arena be cleared for the materialization of Amasiekumor. A broom-wielding black masquerade, led Amasiekumor and its chief priest flanked by Tompolo and other high ranking officials of Amasiekumor into the arena. The black masquerade swept the ground as it swaggered with the parrot feather capped deity in a special cavalcade. Shouts of joy rent the air as people struggled to behold Amasiekumor.

Distinct songs in its praise were sung until it sublimely took its seat in front of a covered white tent with the chief priest. The black masquerade swept round the arena followed with great dancing by aged women in a single file with youths in the middle of the circle dancing.

Mint Naira notes for the goddess

Food and drinks were in surplus supply, scores of goat skulls obviously offered for sacrifices plagued the place. Meanwhile, twirling continued as Tompolo and other wealthy Ijaw sons and daughters threw mint Naira notes in the air in front of the deity. This year’s festival culminated in the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan and special prayers for the success of the March 28 and April 11 elections.

For Jonathan

Clutching a photograph of President Goodluck Jonathan, the female spiritual head of Gbaramatu kingdom, Mama Ebolomorbo-Ere, joined by all white dressed aged women, stood in front of the Ijaw deity to pray for his victory. The chief priest thereafter sanctified the prayers with a native chalk. It was declared shortly after that Jonathan’s electoral victory was secured and rumbles of celebration and dances followed, as Amasiekumor, the chief priest, Tompolo and others entered into the white tent for a special session. Canon shots were later released and the departure of Amasiekumor was announced.

Tompolo speaks

Speaking shortly, Tompolo said, “Amasiekumor is celebrated to protect the unity and integrity of the Ijaw nation. Amasiekumor means, no matter what happens a mother will protect her child, we want Jonathan to return again and by the grace of God, he is victorious already.” Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, said, “Amasiekumor is one of the greatest festivals we have, it shows who we are and how united we are. Everyone requires prayers, which is why we have come to pray for the president, he needs all over prayers and support.”

Beginning of good things —Pudie

Public Relations Officer, PRO, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Matthew Pudie, asserted, “It started very long time ago, it means there will be no more evil, calamity, defeat and failure and it marks the beginning of good things, blessings and promotion. “It is cleansing the land for prosperity to come; it is done for the good we are expecting in the coming election. The celebration will climax with the declaration of everybody for Jonathan’s re-election,” he declared.

Amasiekumor protected us during the struggle— Bounanawei

Ex-militant leader, “General” Godday Smith, aka Bounanawei (Owner of the forest) of Niger Delta said: “Amasiekumor is very important and unique to us, we succeeded in the struggle because of the special protection we enjoyed. It is a deity of prosperity; our struggle was for prosperity of our land. “We are here today to renew and revive our spiritual standings, the land has been cleansed and victory and prosperity are here. It has nothing to do with religion; it is the way of our life.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/polls-ijaws-table-jonathans-re-election-before-amasiekumor-deity/#sthash.3RtgD8Z1.dpuf

This is getting more interesting. Jonathan seeking all powers to win 2015 election. What he never did in 2011.
cc: Seun, lalasticlala

It's his people they want him

Gej till 2019 jor

Ride On....

Some people will soon come here insulting others for following their traditions. Bunch of hypocrites

It is absolutely important that we open our hearts and be sensitive towards pursuing our set goals in life to become great individuals during our time. This is not say that we should not actively perform our civic responsibilities as citizens of our country, but we should be wise and diplomatic in carrying out those roles. I love Otunba Lekan Balogun's contributory post about children of top politicians having Twitter handles and Facebook pages but rarely seen using these social medium to champion the respective ambitions of their parents, despite being the first beneficiaries of their parent's success at the polls. Instead its me and you that begin to get heathen on each other on social media over party A and party B. I feel its time we start telling ourselves healthy truths that will help a lot of us shaping our lives. May God continue to bless the articulate youths of our country. Amen!

Jonathan go fear-fear. Opposition sef don already table him matter before Obatala, Shango, Ogun Lakaye Oshimale & Eshu Laalu Ogirioko.

Gej all d way, everywhere you go, we also welc Atiku groups to winning party, long life PDP, God bless Edoji Uruagu Nnewi, God bless Anambra as we celebrate willy one year in office, God bless Nigeria, STILL GEJ TILL 2019

Watch APC blame AMASIEKUMOR for Buhari's inability to win elections.

Was it also AMASIEKUMOR that made Buhari not to help his people in Katsina?

Check GEJ's achievement's in Katsina state.

Jonathan must win!!

Evans Bipi - Patience Jonathan is our Jesus christ
Doyin Okupe - Jonathan is like Jesus christ
Tompolo - Amasiekumor is just like Jesus christ.

Funny people everywhere in PDP, if they like they should take GEJ's picture to the devil himself, he will still lose the election.

Amasiekumor is not a Nigerian, it wasn't consulted before we voted for GEJ in 2011 and most importantly, it is not passing through the sufferings that Nigerians are passing through, so, how will it dictate to us who we will vote for?

Give strong drink to Mallam Buhari that is perishing and wine to blind APC supporters that are heavy of hearts.
Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
Proverbs 31 Vs 6:7.
In GEJ we trust.

.

Jonathan became President without lifting a finger, now he has been kneeling everywhere like a slave and desperately seeking endorsements from Churches, Mosque, Ogboni, Egbesu etc
I feel so sorry for him.

“Amasiekumor is just like
Jesus Christ "..,.......C'est fini

Hmnnn... Imagine incubent Governmment so desperate.


















Shows how much they failed.

Gen M. Buhari till 2023.

[size=18pt] THE FEAR OF BUHARI IS THE BEGINNING OF RUNNING FROM PILLAR(S) TO POLE(S); SENDING THEM FROM SATAN TO DEMONS.

ANYWAY THAT CANT DELAY CHANGE TALK-LESS OF STOPPING CHANGE; FOR IN ALMIGHTY GOD WE TRUST.

DONT BE DECEIVED VOTE AND PROTECT YOUR VOTE

SAI BUHARI [/size]

G

GEEZ!!!

WHY.? why now?? why all these?? Y is the president moving from place to place?? Jonathan has visited more churches this year alone than I have in my entire life. Today he is seen in X church, tomorrow its Y shrine, next week is Z shrine. pls this is embarrassing to us sensible Nigerians. Let the elections hold 'jejely' and stop running from pillar to post.

One word:

Africans!!

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.

.

Ok nah

A clueless people before a clueless god with A clueless proposal about a clueless man

Dem don come again?

This will go down the HISTORY LANE as OUR BEST ELECTION..

The THING I LOVE about this election is that DESPITE ALL these things I WILL NOT LEAVE MY COMFORT ZONE to VOTE for either or any of these parties.

I will SUGGEST they put GEJ inside a COOKING POT and possibly cook him against all these oppositions.

Tradition is tradition,nothing new !

APC be like : it's Gej's fault that people worship idols , he shouldn't have contested for election

Ok

By the time all these deities, witches and wizard start asking for something in return, he will know that election is not a do or die affair