The Obi-in-Council of the Ubulu-Uku kingdom has revealed that the newly installed 17- year-old Ubulu-Uku monarch, Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I, was selected in accordance with extant tradition.
The council, who made this know in a statement signed by Sir Jones Ofunne, National President, Ubulu-Uku Development Council, (UDC) pointed out that the clarification became necessary because of issues raised by some members of the community over issue.
“The Traditional Council approved and recommended the recognition of HRM Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III as requested vide a declaration signed by all the Traditional Rulers in Aniocha South Local Government Area, but one.
“This is not a secret document. Worthy of note is that some of the traditional rulers who were in this meeting and who signed this declaration are still members of the Council, including the Obis of Ubulu-Okiti and Ubulu-Unor.
“The State Government approved the request, recognized the new king and presented him with a Staff of Office,” Sir Ofunne stated categorically.
According to him, after the kidnap and killing of the late monarch, Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III, the council in accordance with tradition enthroned Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I, the first son of the late monarch.
He said that the enthronement of Obi Noah Akaeze I, followed the pattern of his grandfather (Obi Edward Ofulue II), and father’s (Obi Akaeze Ofulue III) enthronement.
“We neither practice rotational monarchy nor do we choose kings from the wealthiest, most endowed or influential families. In our kingdom, a king is born, not made and he is known to all at birth because our kingship is hereditary.”
He said that government does not choose, but recognises the king presented to them by the communities.
“It is the prerogative of the state government to approve the appointment of a traditional ruler, and the chieftaincy laws of the state make the process transparent and without encumbrances.
“The courtesy call by Obi Noah Akaeze I, on the governor of Delta was in warm appreciation of the overriding support accorded the people and the kingdom of Ubulu-Uku during the kidnap, demise and internment of his father,” he said.
He, however, called on government and security agencies to conclude their investigations, expose and punish those involved in the kidnapping and killing of the monarch.
Ofunne urged mischief makers to desist from making inciting statements about the kingdom, but rather tow the path of peace. Clarifying the rulership of the monarch, Sir Ofunne revealed that Emmanuel O. Ejiofor was on hand to receive the heir apparent when he returned from UK.
According to Sir Ofunne “Emmanuel Ejiofor was always with HRM Obi Edward Akaeze III in the house of Prince Sunny Ofulue the Ozoma-Onyia at Akpama quarters where he resided because the heir apparent was not supposed to enter the palace until the time for the “isume ike nukpo”.
“When Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III passed through the “isume ike nukpo”, the main installation ceremony on the 21st August, 2006, Emmanuel O. Ejiofor was Onishe. He was not where Umuobi and Olizene Imunor put him on the royal stool. He did not complain.
“As a Chief, he participated in signing the enthronement documents on the 25th of September, 2006 (over a month after the installation of the king) along with other chiefs.
“He was also in the entourage that formally escorted the new king to the Local Government Traditional Council meeting, where he made remarks requesting the Traditional Council to recognize HRM Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III as the king of Ubulu-Uku.
“This is recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the Council of Aniocha South Traditional Rulers of the 28th day of September, 2006. The derobbed duo of Mr. Eluemunor Ikezue, the former Odafe and Mr. Sunday Ojiba, the former Ojiba (stooges of Emmanuel O. Ejiofor) also signed the enthronement documents.
“The former Ojiba fully participated in the installation ceremony as a Palace chief and attended meetings in the palace up till 29th of March, 2007 before he joined the rebellion against the king.”
The statement continued “Emmanuel Ejiofor challenged the legitimacy of the kingship of HRM Obi Edward Akaeze Ofullue III in the High Court in suit No. A/1212/2006, and lost. Ubulu-Uku has moved on, but Emmanuel O. Ejiofor continues to live in the past.
“He is heavily pained that he is no longer relevant in the affairs of Ubulu-Uku kingdom. As if to get back at the king after he was derobbed, he set himself on a mission impossible.
“He travelled to London, met Prince Okwuchukwu Ofulue, the Obi’s half-brother, and lied to him that he was sent by Ubulu-Uku people to bring him home to take the throne, five years after the death of his father HRH Obi Edward Ofulue II, and five years after a Staff of Office was given to HRM Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III. Why will it take five years for a Prince to acknowledge the death of his father? ”
“Put aside the issue of the throne, when, where and how did Prince Okwuchukwu Ofulue pay the last respect to his departed father, haven re-established contact with his father and visited Ubulu-Uku at least twice?
“Prince Okwuchukwu Ofulue is not the first male child of HRH Obi Edward Ofulue II. Emmanuel O. Ejiofor only drew the unsuspecting Prince into a crooked web of deception, and used him to engage in a personal vendetta against the king, which has estranged the Prince from his micro family. The project was an abysmal failure. The Prince has since returned to London to carry on with his life.”
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