hehe.....Coronation ceremony and presentation of
the Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty, Crown Prince (Engr.) Nduka
Ezeagwuna as the Obi of Oligbo Kingdom, Issele-Uku, Aniocha North LGA,
Delta State by His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa,
Governor, Delta State is tomorrow....Please be there.
Arrangements have been concluded for the formal presentation of Staff of Office by the Delta State Government to His Royal Majesty, Obi (Engr.) Nduka Ezeagwuna, Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the Coronation Committee, Prince Victor Egbune and the Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ojei, the presentation ceremony will be performed by the Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, on Thursday December 29th, 2016 at the Oligbo Royal Palace, beginning from 11am in the morning.
The statement called on all Sons and Daughters of Issele-Uku, as well as friends and associates of the town, to come out in their numbers to grace the occasion, which is expected to have the State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya and the Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi in attendance.
Others being expected to grace the royal event include members of the Delta State House of Assembly including the Member representing Aniocha North Constituency in the House, Hon. (Engr.) Emeka Nwaobi, members of the State Executive Council as well as Chairmen of Local Governments in the State including the Executive Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Chuks Oseme.
The Statement further stated that the Oba of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11 will be present at the occasion, where he will be performing a very major traditional role.
Other dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include, members of Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee led by the Chairman, HRM. Obi Emmanuel Mohanyem I, Obi of Ezi, recognized Traditional Rulers from Delta State, top Statesmen and Government functionaries, as well as Captains of industry and the academia from across Nigeria and in Diaspora, amongst others.
Crown Prince of Oligbo Kingdom, Issele-Uku, HRM Obi Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna will be married to Miss Chukwudumebi Ejiogwu from Ogboli Quarters of Issele-Uku in Aniocha North LGA of Delta State on Saturday the 27th August, 2016.
A statement issued and signed by Prof. J.N. Mokwunyei, Chairman, Media, Publicity and Protocol Subcommittee, Coronation Committee, notes that the traditional marriage ceremony which is slated to hold at the family compound of Rev. Ejiogwu in Ogboli Quarters, Issele-uku, promises to be grand as all stakeholders and people of Issele-Uku are fully prepared to make the once in a life time ceremony a traditional fanfare.
Feelers from the Palace also indicate that immediately after the marriage which begins at 11am at the bride’s family compound, there would be a grand reception at the Oligbo Royal Palace, where the new bride would be handed to the Crown Prince and unveiled to the entire community of Issele-Uku.
Competent traditional sources affirm that a sitting Obi of Oligbo Kingdom does not get married and this has informed the decision of the Regency Council, the Ogbelani and the elders of the community to agreed and endorse the decision that the Crown Prince has every right to enjoy all the privileges of getting married as a Crown Prince, before undergoing the traditional rites of becoming an Obi.
Crown Prince Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna, a Production Engineering graduate has already completed all processes for the marriage and Saturday Saturday the 27th August, 2016, is slated to formalise the traditional marriage rites with a befitting ceremony.
The Palace, according to the statement by the Chairman, Media, Publicity and Protocol Subcommittee of the Coronation Committee, is therefore inviting all sons and daughters of Issele-Uku, as well as guests and well wishers who desire to witness the marriage of Crown Prince Nduka Ezeagwuna, to Oligbo Royal Palace, Issele-uku, on Saturday 27th August for the historic and colourful ceremony.
Isi-Ile-Uku, “Issele-Uku” Kingdom was founded by the Binis in about 1230 AD by Oba Eweka 1 of Benin Empire and first Ogie of the kingdom was Prince Uwadiaie who was the second son of Oba Eweka 1.
The original name of the new kingdom carved out of Benin Empire “Isi-Ile-Uku” signifies relationship with the Benis and Oba of Benin-City ‘Uku akpolokpolo Omonoba n’edo’.
When Oba Eweka 1 created the new Benin outpost of Isi-Ile-Uku now pronounced Issele-Uku, his main objectives was to check and stop the influx of the movement of people from East of the River Niger, and people from Igala land into the Edo land West of the River Niger, for farming and fishing operations. Also to use Isi-Ile-Uku, the new outpost and kingdom, as a defensive outpost to the Benin Empire and moreover for expansion purposes.
Prince Uwadiaie, the second son of Oba Eweka 1, was crowned Ogie ‘King’ by his father Oba Eweka1 of Benin Empire about 1230 A.D. and sent to rule the Bini new kingdom of ISI-ILE-UKU in company of a group of Binis, worriors, administrators, chiefs and other princes of the royal family of Benin from Ogbe, Ehaekpen, Idumu Inaleibiwe, idumu Igun, Idumu Iken, Idumu Isama and Idumu Ugboka. Members of the royal family of Benin were settled at Ehaekpen of Issele-Uku.
These Bini quarters – Ogbe and Idumu are now called Isheakpe, Ogbidibo, Idumu-Inele Ebigwe, Idumu Uzu, Idumu Ikem, Idumu Ozoma, Idumu Onishe, Idumu Ihama, Idumu Isama and Idumu Edemoka “Umu edomoka” at Ogboli. The present language of the people of Issele-Uku has changed slightly the original pronounciations.
The Oba of Benin in the days of old had real suzerainty over the kingdom of ISI-ILE-UKU. The new kingdom of ISI-ILE-UKU was gladly hailed in Benin then as an Eastern extension of Benin empire. In fact, the kings of ISI-ILE-UKU have paraphernalia and relics of kingly office as the Oba of Benin and performs the same yearly festival – Ugie ro ‘Oba – “Uje ine Aho Obi” at Issele-Uku.
The kings of ISI-ILE-UKU “ISSELE-UKU” are the true representatives of the Oba of Benin in the area lying to the West of the River Niger and as such the Obi “king” of Issele-Uku has a position of authority as the oba’s authentic representative in the Eastern extremeties of the great Benin Empire
The custom and tradition of Benin is the same at Issele-Uku and the influence of Bini language can be noticed or traced in the Ika-Ibo language of the people of ISI-ILE-UKU “ISSELE-UKU”.
The Oba of Benin continues to crown the Obis of Issele-Uku until presently when he sends Chiefs to officiate for him on the crowning of any new Obi “king” of ISI-ILE-UKU “ISSELE-UKU”. Although the Ika-Ibo Language predominates at Issele-Uku nowadays and it was due mainly to the fact that there were more interactions with the later Ibo founded towns around Issele-Uku than Benin-City which is situated a long distance away.
All roads will lead to Issele-uku on the December 29th for the Coronation of the crown Prince of Issele-Uku Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna.
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