Tradition and contradiction in Ubulu-Uku’s new king 

The recent presentation of staff of office to the teenage king of Ubulu-Uku by the Delta State Government may have come as the fulfillment of a statutory function by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration. From the government’s standpoint, it was indeed a milestone that has finally put to rest the issue of illegitimacy or otherwise of the young man who found himself stepping into the same controversial shoe his late father, Akaeze Ofulue wore for nine years.

However, to those with deep insight into the contradiction and confusion that had reigned in the past nine years with regard to the kingship, the recent presentation of staff of office could best be described as an invitation to more contradiction, confusion and outright erosion of the age-long Ubulu-Uku traditional procedure for enthroning a new king.

Though the likes of one Mr. Tony Eluemunor writing in the Saturday Vanguard of September 24, 2016 could do anything to tell the world that there was “boundless joy as the new king receives staff of office” yet the same Eluemunor with all his background in journalism and citizenship of Ubulu-Uku could not tell his readers the missing link in the tradition which the new king is presumably crowned to uphold even though he comes with a Bible in his hand. Certain rites were jettisoned contrary to the many centuries long tradition.

How-else can anyone boldly assume that there was “boundless joy” during the presentation of staff of office when majority of the citizenry at home and in the Diaspora were in pains that their tradition was being placed on its head by people who are bent on manipulating the process in collaboration with certain elements in Okowa’s administration and the Aniocha South Traditional Rulers’ Council.

For any one that cares to know, the Ubulu-Uku monarchical institution has some semblance with the Bini’s and other neighbouring towns like Issele-Uku, Ubulu-Unor where certain strict procedures are followed in the emergence of a new king.  These procedures do not thrive on the political expediency of whoever sits as the governor but rather on time tested approach and observance of rituals that have linkages to institutions and personalities whose roles are sine-qua non requirements for the entire coronation process.

In the case of the new king, there are evidences of aberration from the norm which invariably raises the question of “whose king is he?”  Is he the king of a select few or the whole town? Let it be known that politics can come and go but tradition of the people remains sacrosanct and even when a tradition begs for modification; it is certainly not the right of political office holders to carry out the process singlehandedly without wide consultation with individuals who have various roles to play with regards to coronation of a new king.

This is where Governor Okowa’s administration got it wrong. The governor in all sincerity could not claim to be ignorant of the controversy surrounding the kingship of Ubulu-Uku which is being disputed in court. The fact that there was a court case instituted by another member of the family to the effect that the late Akaeze was not the rightful heir to the throne was enough reason for the governor and his cabinet to act with caution. Why were the organisers of the coronation ceremony in haste to give staff of office to the young man to succeed his late father?  Two wrongs can never make a right.

Even though the governor could lay claim to the fact that Aniocha South Traditional Rulers Council had given clearance for the new king to emerge, it is certainly not out of place for the governor (if he meant well for all Ubulu-Uku indigenes and not a section) to widely consult among the indigenes particularly those deeply knowledgeable in tradition and the kingship institution irrespective of political or religious affiliation.

Presenting a staff of office has only helped to deepen the suspicion, apathy, division and disagreement surrounding the kingship institution, otherwise how do we explain the recent reported rejection by descendants of Anugwe of cow meat presented to them by members of the royal family as part of the coronation process? Anugwe historically founded Ubulu-Uku kingdom along with Ezemu and Ekei. Rejection of the cow meat was reportedly on the ground that the so-called coronation and presentation of staff of office to the ‘new king’ did not follow known procedure.  Certain personalities who naturally have stake in the exercise were sidelined coupled with the fact that the controversial emergence of the late Akaeze as king had not been resolved before his son emerged as new king.

Irrespective of whatever embellishment or repackaging those who persuaded the governor to do their bidding may want to achieve, the truth remains that the processes leading to the emergence of the new king were the same that led to the emergence of his late father on the throne before his unfortunate demise.  Many Ubulu-Uku indigenes would have wished that the mistake was corrected in the most peaceful manner so that we can continue to have a united kingdom.

Ubulu-Uku tradition as it relates to the monarchy, historically speaking; is not built on quick fixes that would yield to the whims and caprice of the highest bidder when it comes to the issue of who succeeds a late king.  For centuries, succession to the throne had seamlessly been on primogeniture until controversy set in 2006 when Obi Edward Ofulue II passed on and Prince Akaeze Ofulue emerged as the king amidst protest by his elder brother (Prince Edward Okwuchukwu Ofulue).

There is already a case in court instituted by Okwuchukwu challenging the usurpation of the throne. Governor Okowa is very much aware of this.  Much as there are Ubulu-Uku elements who believe so much in the ‘correctness’ of the governor’s action in presenting the staff of office to the late Akaeze’s son as the new king, let them not be carried away by the  momentary “boundless joy” that attended the three-day event because many questions are not yet answered. The king of Ubulu-Uku should be for all and not a section as it is today.

Beyond the issue of who has the right to occupy the throne, while this writer as a Christian defers so much to the Christian faith, I will at the same time not subscribe to outright overkill of a people’s system of monarchical governance by contenders who want to hold the Holy Bible in one hand while at the same time struggling to take the spoils of the same traditional system they failed to recognise.  Such ambivalence naturally places them in contempt.

• Okonkwo, a citizen of Ubulu-Uku, wrote from Kaduna.