BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Traditional institutions play a significant role in Nigeria, serving as a bridge between the government and the people, They help preserve cultural heritage, resolve conflicts, and promote community development.
In many Nigerian societies, traditional leaders are highly respected and influential, often playing key roles in mediating disputes, advising on cultural matters, and supporting local initiatives.
In governance, traditional institutions support local governance. They often help implement government policies and programs at the community level
Traditional leaders mediate disputes and promote peace in their domains. Cultural preservation, they uphold and promote local customs, traditions, and values
In cultural preservation safeguard heritage. Traditional institutions protect and promote Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity. Promote cultural practices. They encourage traditional arts, festivals, and rituals.
In community identity, traditional leaders help maintain a sense of belonging and identity among community members.
Oyigbo is one of the local government areas in the 23 LGA in Rivers state with it’s peculiar nature of the blend of Ịgbo tribe, the aborigines and other tribes.
A searchlight on the traditional institution of the LGA especially the Oyigbo Urban ancient kingdom revealed that the Eze Oha ancient throne dated back 1912.
The Political History of the area had it that Oyigbo was part of the old Eastern Region and later Imo State before being transferred to Rivers State in 1976 by the Federal boundary adjustment into Rivers State.
In recent times, traditional rulers like His Royal Highness, Eze Kingsley Akobundu Nwogu Ph.D, JP emerged to represent the interests of the community, often highlighting the struggle for recognition and development in a resource-rich, but in their view, neglected local government area in Rivers state.
The kingship history of Oyigbo is marked by a blend of spiritual, Igbo culture and social structures.
Oyịgbo urban ancient kingdom has two notable clans; ỤMỤALAKE and ỤMỤSỊA; with thirteen communities.
Ụmụalake clan comprises of Ụmụwudịnoị, Ụmụokochịtọ, Ụmụohịrị, Ụmụmgbaake, Ụmụokolobo, Ụmụakpahụ, Odugu communities, while ỤMỤSỊA clan comprises of Ụmụebereke, Ụmụeye, Ụmụịkere, Ụmụwarịe, Ụmụwalịa, Ụmụelebo and Komkom communities.
Chief Lazarus Arụsị Arụsị, residence of Komkom community, from Arochukwu LGA, Abia state, who came to Oyigbo in 1962; spoke socinctly and eloquently about the traditional institution of Oyigbo urban kingdom and Oyigbo Local Government Area in general.
“I am 82 years, I came to Oyigbo as small boy in 1962 in support of Chief Banana Ezekiel Heart from Bonny. Eze George Akobundu Nwaogu 1st began the ancestral linage of Eze Oha of Oyigbo urban KINGDOM. He said Eze Nọdumele from Ụmụwalịa, a warrant chief of Oyigbo and Eleme under colonial administration presented George Nwaogu, one of the most educated then to the colonial administration in 1930 to be the Eze Ọha 1 of Oyigbo urban kingship”.
According to him, one of the numerous legacies of Eze George Nwaogu during his reign was the remobilization of people at the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1971 to return to Oyigbo, because people were afraid of the effects of the war. He assured the returnees of their protections, which yeilded positive impact then.
The Eze Ọha Urban Oyigbo traditional kinship has historical, spiritual and ancestral lineage tied to it. The history trended from 1930, which transcended from the linage of Eze George Nwaogu Eze Oha 1st Eze Phillp Nwaogu, Eze Oha 2nd. Eze Mike Nwaji, Eze Ọha 3rd and currently the incumbent, Eze Kingsley Akọbundu Nwaọgu Eze Oha 4th.
His Royal Highness, Eze Kingsley Akọbundu Nwaọgu PhD. JP, Eze Ọha 4th, the paramount ruler of Oyịgbo urban ancient kingdom, Oyịgbo Rivers State was crowned and coronated on the 11th day of April 2024 as Eze Oha 4th of Oyigbo Urban ancient kingdom by High Chief Sylvester Amechi Nwafor the Ojịọfọ-Ala-Oyigbo urban ancient kingdom, who has the statutory ancestral spiritual duties from the gods to crown Eze Oha Oyigbo urban ancient kingdom.
Key Traditional Rulers and Lineage
Eze Oha Mike Nwaji was enthroned as the crowned traditional king of Oyigbo in 1998.
In a chat with HRH Eze Kingsley Akobundu Nwaogu Ph.D, JP: Recognized as the Eze Oha 4th of Oyigbo Urban ancient Kingdom said “My enthronement as the Eze Oha of Oyigbo urban kingdom was the selection of the people and affirmed by the gods of our our land”.
“Initially I didn’t have the appetite or the penchant to be a traditional ruler of our kingdom. But nature had it that it must be me, to serve the gods and people of the kingdom with utmost truth and dignity to mankind”.
“I was crowned and coronated on 11th day of April 2024 as Eze Oha 4th of Oyigbo urban ancient Kingdom by High Chief Sylvester Amechi Nwafor is Ojịọfọ-Ala-Oyigbo Urban Kingdom and the event was greeted and highly welcomed by the aborigines and everybody residence in the kingdom; prominent amongst them was Mr. Samuel Nnamdi Azu the son of Ephraim Kekeh Azubuike from Obowo LGA Imo state”. Eze Akọbụndu stressed.
The Eze Ọha Oyigbo Urban ancient throne was gazetted in the 2nd class traditional rulers’ council cader of Rivers state in 2015. And Oyigbo local government area presently is the only LGA in Rivers state that does not have Rivers state government gazetted 1st class traditional ruler. As result this has detached the local government area from effective statutory traditional duties, federal and state governments connects and presence.
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