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Idumuje-Ugboko palace.

By Fred Akpewe
The Obi of Idumuje-Unor, HRM Charles Anyasi III is also the head of the Idumuje clan. For a long time, especially since the Idumuje-Uboko crises started in 2017, his position in his sister community affairs has been somewhat unclear. Sometimes he would act as someone who is actually in support of an illegal seizure of the kingship authority by Prince Nonso. At other times he would act as someone who is genuinely interested in resolving the Idumuje-Ugboko crises in favour of truth and justice. In this wise all parties in the Idumuje-Ugboko imbroglio saw him as Janus, the Greek god with a double face.

Fortunately, the opportunity to properly situate HRM Anyasi’s true position came with his 15-page treatise carefully worded in impeccable Elizabethan English saw Obi Anyasi presenting Prince Nonso Nwoko as a stubborn, recalcitrant and rebellious prince unfit to be the Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko. HRM Charles Anyasi even admitted that Prince Nonso Nwoko did not secure the approval of elders, Onihe and other stakeholders before he unilaterally declared himself Obi. HRM Charles Anyasi also knew that only two groups can make a man king – the Obi-in-Council and the head of elders of the Nwoko Royal Family and none of the two groups were in support of Prince Nonso Nwoko becoming the obi. As it were, the only support base of Prince Nonso was from traditional retirees in Lagos and America. This group of persons knew next to nothing about Idumuje-Ugboko history and traditions.

In his own narrative, Obi Anyasi stated that – “In July 13th 2017, the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee sat to review an application from some persons from Idumuje-Ugboko seeking for approval for presentation of staff of office (to Prince Nonso Nwoko). However, the committee found some flaws in the application such that some relevant personalities did not sign the request as statutorily required. Also at some point, according to Obi Anyasi, the Idumuje-Ugboko Palace had banished some Chiefs like the Iyase (Traditional Minister) and the Odogwu (Traditional Minister of Defence) thus weakening his support base. In all eight peace settlement committees that sat to resolve the Idumuje-Ugboko crisis, Obi Anyasi noted that Prince Nonso was always stubborn, unreliable and unwilling to give peace a chance. Obi Anyasi also observed that the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers committee several times asked Prince Nonso to grant amnesty to his banished brothers and kinsmen but he refused saying that his banished brothers must pay stipulated fines before they can be re-admitted as citizens of Idumuje-Ugboko kingdom.

In his treatise with the sub-title “Hon. Prince Nwoko’s desperation for peace” Obi Anyasi says “on Thursday, June 8, 2017 Prince Ned Nwoko requested that as the clan head, I should gather some of the fellow monarchs in any palace for a peace talk as he was now ready for a truce.” Obi Anyasi went on to recount how he excitedly called Prince Nonso to take advantage of the call for truce. Prince Nonso stubbornly and with a tinge of malice averred that Prince Ned was not qualified to sit with him as he was “still carrying a fine.” After Obi Anyasi mounted pressure on Prince Nonso he reluctantly agreed to meet with Prince Ned Nwoko. Unfortunately after Obi Anyasi (his own account) had sent text messages to select kings and the then council chairman of Aniocha North L.G.A, Hon. Chuks Oseme, six hours later, Prince Nonso called to announce that he was withdrawing from the peace talks. In his own account, Obi Anyasi stated that by this singular act Prince Nonso had angered Royal Fathers who had been invited to the peace meeting. At this point also, it began to dawn on Prince Ned Nwoko that a recalcitrant Prince Nonso was not the kind of character that Idumuje-Ugboko needed as Obi.

Another instance of stubbornness and unstableness of mind by Prince Nonso was recorded by Obi Anyasi during the second presentation of Nonso to HRM, the Obi of Owa when the latter requested to know why there was delay in presentation of staff of office to Prince Nonso to which Obi Anyasi responded thus “It is the interlocutory injunction served on the committee.” To this Prince Nonso gave a sharp reaction that the interlocutory injunction had been vacated. But when the Obi of Owa requested to see a copy of the interlocutory injunction and its vacation Prince Nonso told them on a roller coaster by instead presenting a documented history of Idumuje-Ugboko. HRM Anyasi further narrated another instance of Prince Nonso’s stubbornness and high handedness in a statement sub-titled “the botched bold attempt by Prince Ned” HRM Anyasi stated “on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 I was alerted by telephone at mid-day by Comrade Nobert Chiazor that Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko, accompanied by a large crowd of Idumuje people was to see his brother for reconciliation but was rebuffed by Prince Nonso.” HRM Anyasi elaborated how Prince Ned Nwoko waited for one hour at the palace and angrily decided to leave. Upon enquiry by Prince Nonso the latter initially said he deliberately refused to see Prince Ned because he did not want to be disturbed. But upon further prodding, Nonso retorted that he had asked some palace women to work out the arrangement of receiving Prince Ned Nwoko. Such inconsistencies and double speak could only have come from a critically infirmed mind.

FRESH ATTEMPT AT RESOLVING THE IDUMUJE-UGBOKO IMPASSE.
The Obi of Idumuje-Unor, Charles Anyasi recounted how in January, 15th 2021 the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee, desirous of finding lasting peace in Idumuje Ugboko requested that a fresh effort be made to hear from the Idumuje people and stakeholders to deliberate on the kingship matter and come forward with their recommendation “since the committee was not in a position to impose a king on them, particularly in view of the avalanche of protests and availability of three contenders to the throne by then” In view of the development, the Iyase, Chief Chris Ogwu and other notable elders and chiefs met and made their choice and recommend him which turned out to be Prince Solomon Eziokwubundu Nwabuokei Nwoko, the great-grandson of Obi Nwoko I. The recommendation was a rehash of July 2018 delegation of Idumuje-Ugboko people which has also
recommended the same Prince Nwabuokei Nwoko as the sole heir apparent to HRM Obi Albert Nwoko III who had died in 2017.

HRM Anyasi in his copious treatise also contended that though the rule of primogeniture persisted in Idumuje-Ugboko and indeed in the whole of Idumuje clan. “it is contingent on Princes to internalize the Aristotelian Canon” Dignity does not consist on possessing honours but in deserving them”.

By this, Obi Anyasi seemed to mean that the conduct of Prince Nonso so far makes him undeserving of being king of Idumuje -Ugboko, especially with the serial murder and terrorism cases hanging on his neck, the abuse and subversion of kingship processes, disrespect to fellow Royal fathers in his local government domain, including the desecration of the traditional ethos by banishing his elder kinsmen, leaving no important person supporting him in the realm.

OBI ANYASI’S SUDDEN SUMMERSAULT AND INCONSISTENT POSITION THEREAFTER
In the preceding papers, it is very clear and unambiguous that Obi Anyasi had presented Prince Nonso Nwoko as a stubborn, recalcitrant and unbending fellow, unfit to be the Obi of Idumuje -Ugboko. He even owned that Prince Nonso was not properly installed as tradition and custom dictated. Obi Anyasi also admitted that Prince Nonso failed to get the required support from elders, chiefs and other shareholders – a condition precedent to becoming an Obi. Herein lay the shocking and sudden summersault by Obi Anyasi in trying to disown the giant historic stride of the Aniocha North traditional rulers committee which endorsed the people’s choice of HRM Solomon Eziokwubundu Nwabuokei Nwoko as the new Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko. A quick look at the composition of the members of the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee, the minutes of meeting/communiqué will among other things reveal Obi Anyasi’s duplicity and double facedness.

In the minutes of meeting date 28th January 2021 the following
Royal Majesties were present:
1.01 HRM OBI FRANCIS .I. IJEI II(KSJ,KSS.JP)…………….CHAIRMAN
Obi of Issele Azagba kingdom
1.02 HRM OBI SAMUEL N. OTIEGEDE III …………………….MEMBER
Obi of Idumu-Ogo kingdom
1.0.3 HRM OBI KINGSLEY U. OFUOKWU III,JP………………MEMBER
Obi of Obior kingdom
1.04 HRM AYO ISINYEMEZE …………………………………… MEMBER
Oloza (Obi) of Ugbodu Kingdom
1.05 HRM OBI VICTOR CHUKWUMALIEZE I.JP……………MEMBER
Obi of Onicha-Ugbo Kingdom
1.06 HRM OBI CHARLES C. ANYASI II: JP……………………MEMBER
Obi of Idumeje-Ugbo Kingdom
1.07 HRM OBI EMMANUEL MOHANYEM I…………………..MEMBER
Obi of Ezi Kingdom
1.08 HRM OBI SUNDAY OLISENWEOKWU…………………MEMBER
Obi of Ogodor Kingdom
1.09 HRM OBI RAPHAEL O. AGBAMUCHE II………………..MEMBER
Obi of Onicha-Uku Kingdom
1.10 HRM OBI CHRISTOPHER DIJI…………………………….MEMBER
Obi of Onicha-Olona Kingdom

While the following sent their apologies
2.00 APOLOGIES
2.01 HRM OBI CHRISTOPHER OGOH I.JP
Obi of Ukwunzu Kingdom
2.02 HRM OBI NDUKA EZEAGWUNA
Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom
2.03 HRM OBI EZEDINBU EMMANUEL NKEBAKWU III
Obi of Ugboba Kingdom
The resolution of the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers
Committee were as follows:
a. That the complete, true, appropriate and extant customary law regulating succession to the throne of the traditional ruler/king/throne of Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko Kingdom is the primogeniture customary system.

b. That according to the true history, native law and custom of Idumuje-Ugboko Kingdom, Obi Solomon Eziokwubundu Nwabuokei Nwoko remains the only person in Idumuje-Ugboko Kingdom which under the proper application of the rule of hereditary/primogeniture system of succession remain exclusively entitled to hold or fill any immediate vacancy in the traditional rulership/Obi title of Idumuje-Ugboko Kingdom.

c. That no other person is qualified to vie for nor ascend the throne of Idumuje-Ugboko Kingdom under the true and proper application of hereditary/primogeniture system of succession to the throne of Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko.
Obi Anyasi in his treatise had written “to wit the reversal letter from the Aniocha North traditional rulers committee to the Deputy Governor should be seen by all as a fait accompli” stating that all matters should revert to the status quo Ante prior to January 28th, 2021. What right does HRM Anyasi have to upturn the decisions/recommendations of Royal Majesties from Aniocha North?

THE CORRECT PICTURE AS DISTINCT FROM OBI ANYASI’S SPONSORED AFTER THOUGHT
The Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee had met, with 12 (twelve) Royal fathers in attendance. HRM NDUKA EZEAGWUNA, Obi of Issele-Uku was absent but gave apologies.
Also, HRM OBI CHRISTOPHER OGOH I.JP, Obi of Ukwunzu Kingdom and HRM OBI EZEDINBU EMMANUEL NKEBAKWU III, Obi of Ugboba Kingdom was absent. The absence of two or three Royal fathers in Aniocha North cannot vitiate the decision of ten Royal fathers in the committee.
Again, based on recommendation of the traditional rulers committee and the transmission of the name of Solomon Eziokwubundu Nwabuokei Nwoko to the Delta State Government, the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi (Professor) Chike Edozien had written to the Delta State Governor His Excellency, Senator (Dr)Ifeanyi Okowa. The summary of the Asagba’s letter read as follows:
“RE – Idumuje Ugboko Kingship Tussle Following the kingship tussle that rocked Idumuje Ugboko for
over 5 years now, I had to intervene to ensure the issues are resolved and lasting peace restored to the community. I have been briefed by the chairman of the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee as to what happened and how the committee did due diligence and arrived at their decision to recommend Crown Prince Solomon Eziokwubundu Nwoko as the Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko. I have studied the minutes of the meeting where the decision was reached and their official communication to the Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs, Deputy Governor’s Office for necessary action by the state Executive Council.

I have also seen a copy of the Report by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in the matter. I have also been briefed by the very senior members of the Nwoko Royal Family on the two (2) ruling houses within the family going forward”.
For Obi Anyasi to ignore the letters of the Asagba of Asaba, one of the foremost Traditional Rulers in Delta State and the report of the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution to the Governor, Chief Edwin Uzor is certainly to set the clock backward and to encourage further anarchy in a kingdom contiguous to his.
It is also equally disingenuous for HRM Anyasi to refer to a letter dated 31st March, 1981 purporting to have “protested the negation of Idumuje-Unor’s right to crown Obi Albert Nwoko”.

What Obi Anyasi aimed to achieve is to infer that any crowning of a king in Idumuje-Ugboko must be cleared with him. Why did HRM Anyasi remember the letter of 31/3/1981 but failed to remember the protest letter of 12/1/1948 from his father and the Idumuje Patriotic Union of Nigeria (IPUN) to government. Again, while erroneously inferring that a demand for a regent in Idumuje-Ugboko was rebuffed, it was actually the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee that requested that Idumuje-Ugboko present a regent in order to contain a kingship vacuum in the community. It is clear from the foregoing that HRM Anyasi was actually circumventing the emergence of a proper Obi while pretending to mend fences in the community crisis. It is very curious that Obi Anyasi would dwell so much on the kingship and staff of office while completely ignoring the senseless orgy of violence that led to the killings and destruction of properties in 2017 for which the culprits are facing terrorism trials at Federal High Court Abuja. Not once did Anyasi mention that some of them culprits were hosted in his palace in 2020 along with six other kings. Over 28 victims of the 2017 mayhem narrated what they went through in the hands of Prince Nonso’s agents of destruction. These are the fundamental issues today in Idumuje-Ugboko and not kingship issues or land.

To also disregard the letter of his local government council that transmitted the name of Solomon Eziokwubundu Nwabuokei to the Delta State Government smacks of duplicity and disregard for constituted authority by HRM Anyasi. It is obvious that HRM Anyasi had found himself a wiling tool in the hands of those who do not want Idumuje-Ugboko to see progress. That alone signals that his efforts will fail in the face of so many distinguished personalities who have stepped in to ensure peace is genuinely restored to Idumuje-Ugboko. Finally, the action of HRM Anyasi is designed to ridicule the revered Aniocha North Royal Fathers and to present them as kings who do not have a mind of their own.

Both plots will fail as it is believed that the Delta State Government is already tired of the crisis in the Idumuje-Ugboko clan and would hasten to put an end to it.

• FRED AKPEWE is a Public Affairs Analyst.