POMP AS ONICHA-UGBO GETS NEW ODOGWU

Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu

On August 24, 2013 a wintry Saturday afternoon in Onicha-Ugbo, a serene town in Aniocha North local government area of Delta State experienced an epochal event: the installation of an erudite scholar and eminent jurist, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu as the Odogwu of Onicha-Ugbo.

The historical event saw an array of persons from all walks of life trooping into the town and converging on the palace of Obi of Onicha-Ugbo, Agbogidi, Obi Victor Chukwumaleze I to witness the historic ceremony.
Onicha-Ugbo is about 20 kilometres from Asaba, the state capital. The town has about eight clans occupied by migrants from Benin in Edo State and Uri in Anambra State, their history dating as far back as the 16th century.

On the eventful day, Onicha-Ugbo admitted close to one and half million people, first of its kind since the creation of the place.
They, out of desperation forced their way into the not-too-big palace of the Obi to catch a glimpse of the inauguration of the 57-year-old Kachikwu, who was being honoured with the title of Odogwu – a title depicting the defence minister and field marshal generalissimo. The palace was filled to capacity.
Different traditional dance troupes graced the occasion, doing what they know best. Even Ishan acrobatic dancers from Uromi in Edo state and Yoruba drummers, as well as other dance groups from within and outside the town performed wonders and added colour to the ceremony.
At exactly 12.45 pm, the Obi conferred the title of Odogwu on Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, an outstanding Ishiekpe son of Nyemua extraction. The stool was occupied for close to 50 years (1967-2012) but vacated.
 During the ceremony, traditional guns were constantly shot into the air, with their thick balled-smoke ascending upward to kiss the sky.
As this was on, the sky opened and torrential rains poured down ferociously. However, chiefs, town people, relations and well-wishers defied the rains and danced along the streets with the new Odogwu in a snail movement from the Obi’s palace to his residence, as custom and tradition demands.
“Choosing Odogwu here is a rigorous process. As soon as an Odogwu dies, qualified quarters will present candidates. Among them we choose one through what we call democratic selection, after taking so many things into consideration,” the Iyase (Prime Minster) of Onicha-Ugbo, Chief Festus Mafiana said.
“What we believe and consider about the person involved are his wealth, physical strength, awareness, integrity, concern about the people and most importantly, he must be generally accepted by the people,” Chief Mafiana added.
While crowning Dr. Kachikwu, Obi Victor Chukwumaleze I said (through an interpreter): “I and the Council of Chiefs, as well as the entire people of Onicha Ugbo found you fit and capable of holding the Odogwu title for us. Being a proud and worthy son, you will at all times defend and protect us from both internal and external forces.”
As the ebony black middle-aged man who bagged a first class degree in law in 1978 at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) was honoured with the Odogwu title, his spirit rose, smiles planted on his face and tears of joy sluiced his cheeks. Instantly, his admirers crowded him, lifted him up and cheered to the crowd -Odogwu-Odogwu. Shortly after, the elated Kachikwu, who led a dance troupe from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to perform the Lamgbodo Opera at FESTAC 77, declared: “I am happy and [I] promise I will not disappoint anyone. We have to look for modern ways to bring about development. There is almost a prototype around Nigeria which is that government is going to do this or that, but I think we have gotten to a point where communities get to regenerate themselves in terms of what can be done to move their communities forward. Bring in fresh ideas and we can have a public-private sector partnership in somewhere else, but the genesis of it must come from the community.”
Those that witnessed the installation included the former deputy governor of Delta State, Chief Benjamin Elue; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, representing Delta North; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei; House of Assembly members, Mrs. Aimona and Ndidi Elumele; Justice Francis Tabai Rtd, High Chief Tunde Smarth, Warri South local government Kingmaker, Daniel Pere, Brig Gen. Demeyibo (rtd, former chairman of New Nigerian Bank, Chief N.O.E Tiemo and group chairman of A&E petroleum, Ayirimi Emani.

Culled from Daily Trust