Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Dr. Thomas Bariere, has been coronated Mene-Fiinor I (War Conqueror I) of Khana by the Khana Area Council of Traditional Rulers in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment to peace and development.
Speaking at the ceremony which took place in Bori at the weekend, Chairman of Khana Area Council of Traditional Rulers, King Suanu Baridam, said the title was bestowed in appreciation of Dr. Barriere’s deliberate efforts at restoring peace and stability across Khana.
Baridam, who is the Gbeneme Bangha Kingdom noted that the Bariere is the first serving Local Government Chairman in Khana’s history to place paramount rulers on the council payroll, describing the move as historic and peace-driven.
“The peace Khana enjoys today is a product of the chairman’s dedication. He works round the clock, sometimes moving from community to community at odd hours to ensure security,” King Baridam stated while urging residents to sustain peace and warning that troublemakers and their sponsors would be dealt with according to the law.
Chairman of the occasion and the Oba of Ogba-land (Eze-Ogba), His Eminence, Eze Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi III, encouraged Barriere to remain focused and intensify efforts toward attracting more developmental projects to the area.
In his remarks, King Pere Stanley Luke, First Vice-Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, commended the chairman’s commitment to the people of Khana and reaffirmed his long-standing bond with the area, recalling his association with Kenule Saro-Wiwa and the enduring spirit of service to the people.
Responding, Barriere expressed deep appreciation to the traditional rulers and people of Khana for the honour.
“To serve your people is one thing, but for your people to acknowledge that you have served them well is another. This honour is a call to greater service and I assure you that our commitment to Khana remains unwavering,” he said.
