The Katampe chiefdom in the Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the weekend, honoured a philanthropist, Chief James Jephthah with the traditional title of Sardauna Katampe I.
Secretary of the traditional council, Mr. Ismaila Jikoko, who spoke on behalf of the traditional ruler of Katampe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Adamu Diger, said the honour was in recognition of the recipient’s immense contribution to the socio-economic development of Katampe community.
“We as a community and council of chiefs deemed it fit to honour Chief James Jephthah, who has been of a great help to our community, including non indigenes among us with the traditional title of Sardauna Katampe I, which means a peace maker of the community, which he deserves, because he has connected the community single-handedly with light from the national grid, provided water and has created employment for our people, and has promised to construct a link road from Mpape road to our community, and we still expect more from him as far as socio-economic development is concerned,” Jikoko said.
In his response, Jephthah said he was elated with the honour done to him by the traditional ruler and people of Katampe, saying, “I feel very humbled and happy for the honour done to me by the wonderful people of Katampe, and I am happy to be a member of the community as a chief. I am motivated to do more for the people of the community. For me to be a Bayelsan living in Katampe and contributing to its development is a wakeup call to other Nigerians to forget the where you come from attitude and help the less privileged and down-trodden in the society,” Jephthah said.
The people of the community expressed their joy and gratitude to Jephthah as they rolled out drums in a colourful ceremony to honour him.????