By Austin Ogwuda
THE Onishe of Ubulu-Uku (Traditional Prime Minister) Chief Emma Ejiofor says it is an irony for people to believe that once a traditional ruler receives staff of office from the government that it symbolises authority to the throne.
He told The Townhall that the lingering crisis in Ubulu-Uku was fuelled following the alleged deceit from some community elites who hoodwinked the Delta State government to hurriedly present staff of office to Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze at the age of 18 in 2016 following the demise of his father Obi Edward Ofulue II.
Obi Akaeze recently returned from abroad to assume the throne. But Ejiofor insisted that he did not crown him as tradition demands.
Said he, “governments do not crown kings. Staff of office is what the government brought through the military to demonize our traditional institution. It is unrecognised by our traditional law.
“What is known and has been in existence is the ‘ofo’ that is what they call traditional staff of office.
“If you have government staff of office without the traditional staff of office (ofo) you are nowhere. And that is the oath that will be subscribed by the Onishe who crowns the king”.
Asked what is the way forward, Ejiofor who claimed that he still remains the Onishe despite the suspension slammed on him, maintained that there is no way the logjam can be resolved without him as the Onishe playing a vital role.
In answering this Reporter’s question, he brought out a book written by him titled, ‘My perspective on Ubulu-Uku traditional, throne & kingship’ published in 2021 and referred me to Part Seven: The Way Forward.
He stated that “people must know that if things were wrong before now, I want the wrongs to be corrected in my time.
“Whatever the process it will take us to rewrite the history of the wrongs of the past, we will do it. Everyone particularly the elites seem to be running away from the real issue because so many ills like usurpation, kingship politics etc have been there for a long time.
“We must speak with one voice. Why must anybody be afraid of the ‘ofo’ (traditional staff of office)?”, he queried.
Attempts by this Reporter to get comment from the other side of the divide were unsuccessful as at the time of this report but a source believed to be loyal to Obi Akaeze who pleaded for anonymity said, “Mr Reporter don’t you know that Emma Ejiofor is a controversial man, he is speaking grammar”.
Pic: Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze