The Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, has declared that he remains the only recognised traditional ruler bearing the name Asagba of Asaba, even as he insisted that no Anwai community exists in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Obi Edozien made the clarifications following recent media publications ascribing the title of Asagba of Anwai to one Nduka Elunor, whose residence was recently raided by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and was later detained over alleged illegal possession of firearms.

The traditional ruler, speaking to journalists earlier through the Palace Secretary, Chief Patrick Ndili, said the area commonly referred to as Anwai is an integral part of Asaba under his watch and never had or has a traditional ruler of its own.

The palace, while reacting to a story in which the said Elunor was referred to as Asagba of Anwai, as he claimed, explained that though Elunor remained a highly respected and loyal chief in Asaba, no special title was conferred on him, except that he, as a chief, had chosen to live and do business in the said community, where he had used his influence to ensure peace, law and order in the locality.

In a letter to The Guardian, Ndili, on behalf of the palace, stressed: “For the purpose of keeping the records straight and for the avoidance of any iota of doubt, there is only one Asaba Kingdom, whose current traditional ruler/monarch for the past 32 years is HRM, Prof. Joseph Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba.

“Arising from above, there is only one palace called the Asagba’s Palace, located at 1, Agala Street, Umuezei Quarters, Asaba, where our revered royal father, the Asagba of Asaba resides.”