(HRM) OBI AKAEZE EDWARD OFULUE III, UBULU-UKU KINGDOM (1962-2016)
By Chris Anucha and Paul Osuyi
HIS death was sacrilegious. The manner of it, heinous. Still in a state of shock, the people of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State are wondering how and why such evil found its way into their kingdom. On January 20, 2016, natives of Ubulu Uku discovered the decomposing body of their traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Obi Akaeze Edward Ofulue III on the trunk of a palm tree inside the bush at Umunede, a border area between Delta and Edo states. The king had been missing for 19 days and was suspected to have been in kidnappers’ hold.
The discovery dashed the hopes of his subjects who thought his was another case of kidnapping of which abductors demand for ransom and at the end, set their victims free. The discovery began another dark chapter in the history of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom.
Since the history of the kingdom, founded by Ezemu, incidentally, the first Obi of Ubulu-Uku, through the reign of Ozimegwu (1280-1296), to that of His Royal Highness, Agbogidi Obi Edward Chukwuyem Ofulue II (1924-2006), father of murdered Obi Edward, this is the first time an Obi of Ubulu-Uku would meet such ignominious, egregious death. It was death in the hands of a murderous gang called, ‘Fulani Herdsmen.’ This band of marauders was said to have kidnapped the king along a major highway and after 19 days, it was his decomposing body that was found. By then, it was quite difficult to identify the body, because of the state.
Although one of the earlier kings, Obi Ogene reigned for 11 years (1824-1835), Akaeze Edward Ofulue III’s reign has become the shortest in the history of Ubulu-Uku kingdom. He reigned for only nine years. He marked his ninth year anniversary on the throne in 2015. Sadly, the kidnappers from hell never gave him the opportunity to enjoy long life, unlike his predecessors. For instance, his grandfather, Obi Ofulue I died at the age of 75, after 35 years on the throne; while his direct father, Obi Edward Ofulue II, who reigned for 42 years, died at the age 82.
Controversies surrounding his death
The talking point of his Ofolue III’s death is that he died in the hands of Fulani herdsmen. However, there are side talks that he might have been assassinated by certain, unidentified opposing interests. One account says that some persons, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, had abducted him on the fateful Tuesday evening of January 5, 2016. The bandits were said to have already opened up negotiations for payment of ransom of N100 million. Later, the abductors cut the communication line between them and the royal family, on the suspicion that there could be hidden plot to sell them out to security agencies.
Even though security agencies claim they have made some arrests, including a certain Hausa boy, who allegedly bought Obi Ofulue’s mobile phone, it is yet to be established if it was the same abductors (Fulani herdsmen) who actually murdered him.
In spite of that, some prople believe that the monarch’s death smacks of assassination, using ‘Fulani herdsmen’ as cover. Those canvassing this, query what Fulani herdsmen could be doing with AK-47 riffle, instead of their usual dagger, bow and arrows. “ Our Obi was assassinated”, one of the indigenes of the town, who refused to disclose his identity, fumed.
Some of the locals also attributed his death to the alleged violation of the tradition and culture of Ubulu-Uku by the late king, as a result of his staunch Christian faith. Yet, some people who spoke to Saturday Sun linked his death to the controversy surrounding the late Obi’s ascension to the throne in 2006.
One of the palace chiefs, and Alloh of Ubulu-Uku, High chief Alfred Mordi Ojubi, appraised the late Akaeze as resolute and strict with his decisions. “He was a Christian to the core, a pastor in the Deeper Life Bible Church. He relaxed some of the fetish cultures and traditions because of his belief; you can’t serve God and mammon. As the traditional ruler, the chief custodian of the people heritage, he carried the chiefs along. Occasionally, we lallowed him to have his way, because we took oaths of allegiance, to be loyal to him. He didn’t like arguments, but if you employ persuasion, he may fall for you,” the Alloh of Ubulu-Uku told Saturday Sun.
Now, gloom hangs over Ubulu-Uku. Even a first time visitor to the kingdom will feel it. And the people of the kingdom are truly mourning, even grieving over their beloved, young Obi. For instance, the day this reporter visited coincided with their Eke, market day (Afia Eke), the biggest market day in Ubulu-Uku. Afia Eke, which operates every four days was closed to business activitruly mourning, even grieving over ties, as part of the rite of mourning and paying last respect to a late Obi. Those who came to sell or buy were only allowed to do so outside the market. This, it was gathered, would last for three months.
Who was Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue?
Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III was born in London on December 22, 1962. He was, however, brought back to Nigeria at the age of two, after the death of his grandfather (Obi Ofulue I ) while his father, His Royal Highness(HRH), Agbogidi Obi Edward Ofulue II, who resided in the UK was asked to come back home to ascend the throne of his ancestors. He had his primary education at Ilo-Akwu Primary School, Ilo-Akwu quarters, Ubulu-Uku. He attended St Anthony’s College also in Ubulu-Uku between 1975 and 1980. He later proceeded to the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Enugu, before proceeding to the University of Benin where he obtained a degree in Modern History. In 1990, he traveled to England, where he studied and qualified as Lawyer from the University of East London.
Following the death of his father in 2006, and as the first son and heir apparent, he was installed the Obi of Ubulu- Uku. Before he ascended the throne, he became a ‘born-again’ Christian and later, a pastor in Deeper Life Bible Church in England. That was a development many of his subjects said, made him to ‘abolish’, ‘abandoned’ or ‘suspended’ some of their customs and traditions.
The late monarch was married to Queen Fatima, a lawyer from Guinea. They have five children –two boys, three girls.
Obi’s childhood friend
Mr. Rowland Osaji is a childhood friend of the late Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III. Their relationship did not, however, end as childhood friends and schoolmates, the late Obi invited Osaji and made him his Personal Assistant (PA) when he ascended the throne, a position he held till the death of the king.
Recalling their early days at Ilo-Akwu Primary School, Osaji said both of them were very close. According to him, he was opportuned to be meeting with him at the palace as his own father, Nnkwor Osaji, who served in the palace under Agbogidi Obi Edward Ofulue II, was always sending him on errands to the palace, where he and the young Edward would met and conclude any play or discussion they couldn’t finish in school.
He described Obi Ofulue as intelligent and a lover of sports. He disclosed that most people loved him because he was handsome, and above all, for being a Prince. He disclosed that one other thing that drew every child closer to him was that, his aunt (father’s sister) known as Ada Obi, was the Headmistress of Ilo- Akwu Primary school at the time.
“Then, we knew him to be Obi’s son, but at that age, we never knew he was going to be next Obi, after his father. I was very close to him,” Osaji said.
After their education, Osaji and Obi Ofulue secured admission into St Anthony’s College the same year. That was in 1975. “As usual, we were promoted from one class to the other, and we all passed out the same year,” he recalled.
He continued: “The late Obi was a good mixer, social, and loved sports, especially football and sprinting, even till his death. He understood the social and traditional lives of the people; he was grounded in the tradition of Ubulu- Uku; he was a home-grown prince.”
Molokwu, his Secondary School teacher
One of the persons who taught Obi Edward Ofulue III at Anthony’s was Mr. Hyacinth Molokwu, from Onicha-Ugbo. Molokwu, now retired, described the death of the Obi as, “horrifying and painful.” According to him, the young Obi, although brilliant, was an easy-going student who was hardly noticed by the teachers and school management.
“I taught at St. Anthony›s College for a number of years. But I can’t even fix which year he was there, but I still remember that he was one of our students. Usually, stubborn and troublesome children are the ones that are picked and remarked, more than those on the quiet side.
“So, when a child is very quiet and does not make trouble, except he is exceptionally brilliant, that is another area of recognition. So, I could not fix the year we taught him but I know he was our student at St. Anthony,» he said.
The younger brother to the late traditional ruler, Prince Obidi Ofulue, described him as an “above-average student.”
“He was a great footballer in his growing up days. He participated in youth competitions, among the 13 quarters of the kingdom. He represented Akpama Quarters, where the royal family lives.
“As the first child, he had an outstanding upbringing. People that grew up with him within the same family, emulated his upright character and good behaviour.”
Shock, disbelief
Chief Sunnie Obi-Ofulue, the Ozoma of Ubulu-Uku is yet to come to terms with the tragedy that befell the kingdom, especially the royal family.
He described the kidnap and murder of his younger brother as very sad. “He was going to Asaba, when they waylaid him, all we had hoped was that he would come back alive but after two weeks, we started searching for him but lo and behold, we found out that it was too late.”
“God knows the best, concerning what happened to him. Being a real Christian, we know that his God will call for explanation and reward those who perpetrated the murderous act with unquenchable fire,” the Ozoma said.
On his part, Molokwu, the teacher said he had remained in-doors since the death of his former student, noting that the feeling of losing the Obi was indescribable. “To say the least, the death is horrifying and very painful. I feel very bad. Since the news broke, I have not left this house; I only stroll out now, to exercise myself. It is as if we are under house arrest. That is to tell you the extent of the pain we are going through.”
“To be an Obi is not an easy thing; it is a gift from God. Whoever is an Obi is ordained by God. So, those who murdered him, I don’t know whether they reasoned properly, whether they put into perspective, who he was. We are really pained by the news of the murder.”
The District Pastor of Deeper Life Bible Church, Ubulu-Uku where the late Obi worshipped before his death, Augustine Igbukwu, said the church received the news of his kidnap and subsequent murder with shock, just like every member of the community.
“We were shocked. I, in particular, was in Lagos for the Congress when they told us on phone that they were looking for him. The shock was there until we came back, with the hope that he would come back home alive. Not only the church, the entire town was shocked,” Igbukwu said.
Unfortunately, Obi Ofulue III, described as a devout Christian never returned home to the warm embrace of his distraught but loving subjects.
Ofulue was one of the few ‘born again’ traditional rulers in the country. His Christian faith, no doubt, brought changes to the palace. In manner of speaking, here was a traditional ruler who introduced a strange God to his ancestors and his ancestral heritage. Evidence: At the main entrance of the historic palace is the inscription, JESUS IS LORD. However, a strange death visited a strange ruler.