EGBUDU-AKAH COMMUNITY REJECTS APPOINTMENT OF PRINCE AUGUSTINE NZEMEKE EZEAGUNA OKOLIE AS THE OBI OF EGBUDU-AKAH.

EGBUDU-AKAH PEOPLE REJECTS THE APPOINTMENT OF PRINCE AUGUSTINE NZEMEKE EZEAGUNA OKOLIE AS THE OBI OF EGBUDU-AKAH.

The elders, youths and women of Egbudu-Akah gathered on the 5th day of March 2025 at the palace (Ogwa) of Diokpa Adigwe Enemokwu, the Okpala

(Oldest man) in Idumu-eze Egbudu quarter and head of the Illoh Royal Family in Egbudu-Akah to protest 

The reason for their protest  was to express their grievances and rejection of the appointment of Prince Augustine Nzemeke Ezeaguna Okolie as the obi of Egbudu-Akah by the government of Delta State.

While addressing the people, Diokpa Adigwe Enemokwu and the Isama of Egbudu Akah Chief Patrick Wepuaka,asked the people of Egbudu-Akah to remain calm, peaceful, law abiding and pleaded with the youths not to do anything that will lead to the breakdown of law and order in the community. 

Diokpa Adigwe  and Chief Wepuaka said that, being the oldest men and head of the Illoh Royal Family and  brothers to the late Obi Alfred Okolie, they want the community to know that the issue of the selection of the rightful successor to the throne of Egbudu-Akah kingship is a task that can only be performed by the royal family, not the local or state government.

Diokpa Adigwe Enemokwu and Chief Wepuaka appealed to the government of Delta State to retract the appointment of Prince Augustine Nzemeke Ezeaguna Okolie. 

They further added that, the royal family had already selected HRM Obi Solomon Ogwuagwu,took him to the Iyase and the Onishe, and has since been crowned and installed on the throne of his father as the rightful Obi of Egbudu-Akah.

The oldest men in the Illoh royal family of Egbudu-Akah wondered how the Delta State government came up with the choice of Prince Augustine Nzemeke Ezeaguna Okolie noting that Prince Augustine Nzemeke has not even been selected by the royal family and has not been presented to the Iyase or crowned and installed by the Onishe in accordance with the tradition of Egbudu-Akah, adding that It will therefore be a sacrilege and an abomination to pick somebody whose birth and position in the royal family has not been securitized, not chalked ,(idanzu) or crowned and is placed on the throne by the government.

While responding to questions,Diokpa Moses Kelikwuma, as the Onishe (King

maker) of Egbudu-Akah said that Prince Augustine Nzemeke was never chalked, crowned or installed on the throne stating that his appointment as the Obi of Egbudu-Akah was a political appointment and not as a traditional ruler. 

He said by his appointment the Delta State government is trying to cause confusion in the community because already there is a king in the community in the person of HRM Solomon Ogwuagwu who had been crowned and installed in accordance with the customs and traditions of Egbudu-Akah. 

According to chief Augustine Elie and chief Moses Nwaonye,in Egbudu-Akah,HRM Solomon Ogwuagwu is the only traditionally recognized king of Egbudu-Akah and if the government has anything against him they should seek clarification from the elders of the community who are custodians of the customs and traditions instead of appointing a rival king.

The Egbudu-Akah President General,Pastor Godwin Elue said he had pleaded with the youths and elders in the community to avoid anything that will make the community confrontational with the government.

The PG  observation, was that the state government did not seek the opinion of the Obi-in-Council and the royal family before making the appointment of an Obi for the community, adding that, even though government can exercise exclusive power in matter of appointment the issue of the Obi of a community was  more of a traditional matter and as such the government should carry the elders along to ensure that there is harmony in the community.