Penultimate Thursday,May 29, the premises of Owerri North Local Government Council Headquarters was a beehive of activities as the good people of Obube Autonomous Community emptied into the Council Arena ,in escatsy and jubilation to formally present their illustrious son, American trained Administrator, the Crown Prince and first son of His Royal Highness, Eze Dr Andrew Onukogu , the immediate past Traditional Ruler of the Community, Crown Prince Kemakolam U Onukogu as their Eze -Elect .The Crown Prince by virtue of the existing Ezeship succession tradition of the Community,has been adopted to ascend the Royal throne of his forefathers to succeed his late father considering the hereditary status of the stool.
Earlier in his remarks while presenting the Eze-Elect, a prominent leader and titled Chief from Obube Community, Chief Damian Ekeagba who stood in for the President General of the Community,Chief Engr Ephraim Anuforo, said that members of Obube Autonomous Community , comprising Leaders, elders,Ndi Nze na Ozo, Palace Chiefs,youths, women and other interest groups, including cultural dances were at the Local Government Council Headquarters to present their Crown Prince and hier apparent to the Obube Royal throne as their choice for the vacant Ezeship stool, following the passage of their traditional ruler,His Royal Highness, Eze Dr Andrew Onukogu.
While affirming the position of the first Speaker,Chief Nze Damian Ekeagba, the leader, eldest and Head of Onukogu Royal family,Prof I.B Onukogu traced the succession history of the Obube Community’s Royal stool to their founder AND progenitor of Onukogu Royal Dynasty,Eze Onukogu Okeremgbere, the first Warrant Chief and traditional ruler of Ngwoma Obube Ancient Kingdom appointed by the British Colonial authorities under Owerri District of Owerri Province in 1906.He reigned from 1906 to 1933 when he transited to eternal Glory.According to him, the first traditional ruler and founder of the Kingdom was succeeded by his first son,Eze Stephen Ejelonu Onukogu who reigned from 1933 to 1978 when he joined his ancestors and was succeeded by his first son, His Royal Highness,Eze Dr Andrew Onukogu, the immediate past Traditional Ruler who ascended the throne in 1979 and reigned till 2024 when he passed on.Prof Onukogu posited that the succession to the Royal throne has been hereditary through a direct order of premogniture (From father to first son in the Royal family) and that following the passage of the immediate past King, his first son, Prince Kemakolam U Onukogu is entitled to step in to ascend the throne of his forefathers and that,it was on that premise that the Onukogu Royal family and Obube Community decided to adhere strictly to this norm and tradition and adopted Crown Prince Kemakolam U Onukogu as the Eze- Elect to succeed his late father,His Royal Highness,Eze Dr Andrew Onukogu.
Prof Onukogu reiterated that the Ezeship succession tradition has been established for over a Century since 1906, without distortion and cautioned that it is only the first son of the immediate past Eze that can succeed him, citing the 1981 Imo State Government gazette that recognized the existence of both rotational and hereditary monarchy as applicable in some communities.He added that anyone who for whatever reason or reasons rises to challenge this ancient institutional arrangement is on his own and can’t be supported.
Prof Onukogu while raising Prince Kemakolam’s hands , introduced him as an American trained Administrator and business man who has two Master Degrees from American Universities.And that the Eze-Elect has excelled as an Administrator and business and he is happily married.Prof Onukogu, together with other leaders and elders from Obube Community jointly presented the Eze -Elect to the Chairman of Owerri North Local Government Area as protocol demands.
In his response, the Executive Chairman of Owerri North Local Government Area,Hon Chief Lucky Abaraonye, welcomed the members of Obube Community and expressed satisfaction with the orderly manner they conducted their affairs and thanked them for coming to present their Eze -Elect, observing that it is normal for Communities to organize themselves to present their Eze-Elect to the Council after the passage of their King and concluding the traditional one year mourning period.He revealed that the function of the Council at this preliminary stage is to receive Communities and their Eze-Elect and thereafter tidy up the files and forward them to The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for processing and recommendations to the Governor for final decision.He maintained that they have no power to decide who becomes the Eze and that it is the duty of the community to select their Eze and present him to the Council and thereafter the State Governor approves and presents them with the staff of office and further recognizes them as the traditional rulers of their Communities.
Meanwhile, the Eze-Elect, Crown Prince Kemakolam Onukogu had expressed appreciation to the people of Obube Ancient Kingdom/Autonomous Community for adopting as the Eze-Elect in line with the existing Ezeship succession tradition in the Community and promised to offer his people a God fearing leadership.He pledged to carry everybody along and appealed for partnership and collective efforts with the stakeholders to make his reign successful hence he will not work alone.
The event attracted several dignitaries from the Obube Community which include Chief Fidelis Oparaocha,Nze Peter Nze, Prince Celestine Onukogu,Chief Martin Offurum, Prof I B Onukogu, Chief Damian Ekeagba and hosts of others.Also present were top functionaries of Owerri North Local Government Area such as the Vice Chairman, Secretary to the Council, Supervisory Councilors, Councilors, Treasurer to the Council, Director of General Services and others.
The celebration of the new Eze – Elect continued with cultural displays and entertainment of guests and all those present.
