The President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah is now a First Class Paramount Ruler in Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria.
Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah who is also the National Chairman, Joint Health Sector Unions of Nigeria JOHESU, is now to be addressed as His Royal Majesty, King Biobelemoye Josiah, Ogbodo VIII, Amayanabo of Opu-Nembe kingdom,
Comrade Josiah emerged Ogbodo VIII, Amayanabo of Opu-Nembe kingdom, a first class stool in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria after defeating two other constestants at the final contest to the throne.
Information from the MHWUN Secretariat said that Comrade Josiah polled 64 votes to defeat Admiral Victor K. Ombu with 5 votes and Chief (Arc). Baratuaipre Edoghotu who polled 2.
Soon after the election, the king-elect was led by the Council of Chiefs to Ogbodo-Square for presentation to the Deputy Chiefs, Elders, Women, Youths and citizens of the Kingdom.
Thereafter, the traditional rites of chalking on the forehead and Knocking on the head were conducted in King Ogbodo masoulium to formalise the election winner and ending all humiliation of the King.
Afterwards, King Biobelemoye Josiah was dressed in the warrior attire and fashion of the ancient King, a dress code he will put on for the next seven days, although with different designs for each day.
The king will remain in the masoulium, where he receives visitors from all works of life for the next seven days, thereafter he will take a familiarisation tour of the whole kingdom after which the initial traditional rites of anointing ends.
Official coronation date is to be decided by the King and his Council of Chiefs.
According to the information from the Secretariat, “His Royal Majesty, King Biobelemoye Josiah remains a unifying voice, not only among health workers across Nigeria and the global community, but has kept replicating the same in his home town, thereby earning him the first class paramount stool”.
His Royal Majesty, Biobelemoye Josiah was born on December 16, 1964 in Nembe-Bassambiri(Opu-Nembe), in what is today Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He attended St. Peters State School Odioma for his primary schooling, finishing there in 1976.
By 1981, he secured his West Africa School Certificate (WASC) and two years later, was admitted by the Rivers State Ministry of Health, to pursue a medical laboratory course at the School of Health Technology where he graduated in 1986.
Bio, as he is fondly called, subsequently bagged a Higher Diploma in Environmental Health and Industrial Safety from the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria in 2013.
This was after securing a Bachelors degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, nine years earlier.
With the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996, he has been in the employment of the Bayelsa State Hospital Management Board till date.
“HRM, King Biobelemoye Josiah is an experienced trade unionist who has served in all levels of the MHWUN organisation.
“Filled with a passion for justice and a fervent commitment to the cause of the working class, he has a sterling track record of stewardship at the local branch and State Councils over the last three decade.
“He was the Bayelsa State Council Chairman from 2005 till he was elected as the 7th National President of MHWUN at the Union’s 9th National Delegates Conference which held on April 28-29, 2015 and has also subsequently emerged as Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
“HRM, King Bio loves reading, music, playing scrabble and football and he is happily married and blessed with children”, the statement concluded.
With this new status, King Biobelemoye Josiah, remains the President of MHWUN and Chairman JOHESU until after his official coronation.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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