By Austin Ogwuda
THE Asaba community has cautioned media practitioners to be circumspect and avoid rushing to the press with the news of demise of a traditional ruler without the official confirmation from the community.
This admonition was handed down on Tuesday at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, where the passing on, of the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Professor) Chike Edozien was formally pronounced.
The Palace Secretary who is also the Ihonor of Asaba, Chief Patrick Ndili before reading out a terse message officially announcing the transition said, “In all parts of the country, when a monarch passed on, only the community confirms, nobody should have the audacity to confirm it. We looked at it as a false publication.
“Some even published that he has passed on when he was still ill. It is an abomination. Those who did that need to cleanse themselves and if it happens again, they will be sanctioned. In future, they should be guided”, he warned.
To prevent a vacuum, the second son of the late monarch, Dr Anthony Edozien, was announced as the Regent (ochendo).
By the arrangement, he is empowered to sit on the throne and perform the role of a monarch until his brother, the first son of the departed monarch returns from abroad and subsequent coronation of another monarch in future.
The transition of the Asagba of Asaba was contained in a press release jointly signed by Dr Anthony Edozien (Regent), on behalf of the Edozien family; lhonor of Asaba and Palace Secretary, Chief Patrick Ndili, and Iyase of Asaba, Obi (Chief) P. I. G. Onyeobi on behalf of the community.
The departed monarch, Asagba (Prof) Joseph Chike Onyeobi, according to the press release was aged 100 years and he was the 13th Asagba of Asaba, having ascended the throne July 1, 1991.
The formal announcement of the demise was preceded with worrior performance by the ‘ogbus’ (war lords) and traditional shooting of 21 gun salute (canons).
Pic: Dr. Anthony Edozien (Regent)
