The serene ambiance of oil and gas rich Omoku community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was electrified last week when Barrister Nwachukwu Nnam Obi was installed as the new Oba of Ogbaland.
Barrister Nwachukwu Nnam Obi, the first son of the late Oba of Ogbaland – His Eminence Eze Dr Chukwumela Nnam Obi II, ascended the throne of the ancient Ogbaland after the demise of his father who joined his ancestors at the age of 80.
The colourful event which was graced by prominent personalities from within and outside Rivers State started soon after the death of the highly revered traditional ruler.
The new Oba, according to Ogba tradition, went into seclusion for many days before he was presented to the entire community and the Rivers State Government as the new Oba of Ogbaland.
The colourful event was attended by all the kingdoms such as Egi, Igburu, Usomini and Omoku which make up Ogbaland.
Colourful traditional troupes and various groups comprising men, women and youths took time to shower praises and displayed Some danced round the community in jubilation for the successful installation of the new traditional ruler.
Nwachukwu Nnam Obi’s ascension as the 12th Oba after his father, reportedly followed all due processes and procedures in line with the Ogba kingship custom and tradition.
The pomp and pageantry that heralded his coronation as the new oba testified to the rich cultural heritage of Ogbaland.
The coronation of Oba Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, with traditional rulers from the Ogba clans of Omoku, Igburu, Obrikom, Egi and Usomini, fully represented and all clad in their finest regalia.
The ceremony was remarkable because according to Ogba tradition, such event can only happen after the demise of an oba or where he is deposed. Nwachukwu’s enthronement presented ample opportunity for Ogba people at home and those living outside Ogbaland as well as those in the Diaspora to return home and have first-hand chance to witness the epochal event.
The event kicked off with a colourful procession from the oba’s residence along Palace Road. Decked in their chieftaincy regalia of white and red caps, the Council of Ezes led by the Traditional Prime Minister and Eze Iyasira, Eze Louis Ajie, led the parade to the ancestral Ahia Orie traditional play ground where the Chiefs and elders of Umuohali Kindred waited to perform the Oba’s coronation.
The Ezes were closely followed by ‘praise singers’, who dressed in their colours. They applauded the oba in various appellations such as the ‘Odudu’, ‘Eze Ogba’ and ‘Oba ka Uwa’ while others praised the king as ‘Uzo Epita’, ‘Oba ka Nigeria’ etc.
Our reporter learnt that various traditional rites were performed to mark the full installation of the new traditional ruler.
Notable personalities from the community have congratulated the new traditional ruler and urged him to unite the entire Ogbaland.
The President General of Orashi National Congress, Comrade Emeni Ibe, commended the people of Ogbaland for the peaceful selection and coronation of the new Eze Ogba.
He prayed for the monarch’s long reign and continued prosperity of his people while advising other ethnic groups to follow same peaceful conduct without bloodshed in the selection of traditional rulers in their domain.
Another resident of Omoku, Ahiazu Nna, said the installation of the new oba will bring peace and unity in the entire Ogbaland.
“We are happy over the peaceful succession process of the new traditional ruler. We thank God that a new oba has emerged without any rancour. We are very confident that the emergence of the new oba will bring peace in the communities of Ogbaland, and we want the new oba to uphold the legacies of his father who during his reign fostered peace and unity in our land. We are very confident that the new oba, being a renowned administrator, will carry everybody along in the community,” he said.
The former Chairman of PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah, who hails from Omoku, described the new monarch as a God-fearing man and expressed confidence that his emergency will represent a new dawn in the annals of Ogba Kingdom.
Another resident of the area, Emmanuel Nwabrije, described the traditional ruler as God ordained and a sound administrator with divine wisdom.
He expressed confidence that his reign will be laced with peace, unity, love and prosperity.
A notable indigene of the community, Alexander Bright Uboh, said the coronation of the oba will go down in the annals of the community as historic.
The new Oba of Ogbaland, Barrister Nwachukwu Nnam Obi, expressed joy over his successful installation and promised to uphold the cultural heritage of his ancestral kingdom.
He promised to foster unity in all Ogbaland and enjoined his subjects to live in peace and support him to succeed.
The father of the new king, late Oba Chukwumela Nnam Obi, died early this year at the age of 80.
The late monarch ascended the throne on 19th December, 1970, following the peaceful passage of his predecessor, His Majesty, Oba Wokoma Silk Obi in April 1970.
He was presented with the staff of office by the then, first military governor of Rivers State, His Majesty, King Alfred Papapriye Spiff shortly after he was crowned the king by the oldest man in Ogbaland, Elder Akwaburu.
Ogbaland according to history is one of the Igbo subgroups in northern Rivers State. The Ogba Kingdom is made up of Egi, Igburu, Usomini clans as well as Omoku urban, a rich oil and gas community.
The people of Ogbaland speak two dialects of Ogba language – Egi and Igburu.
