The Politics and Diplomacy of the Emergence of Obuzorship in Ibusa – Part One
OPINION
The Politics and Diplomacy of the Emergence of Obuzorship in Ibusa
By Onyeayana Christopher Okafor
The secret politics of the selection and coronation of Obuzor Ibuzor was a tripodal problem. Prof Louis Chelunor Nwaoboshi as the beneficiary was neatly done and dusted as at 1993.
A university Professor, in the mould of the Asagba of Asaba and a person that would readily checkmate Prof Onwuachi was expected and Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo, Obi Obiekea and Obi Nwaobi had zeroed in, on Prof Nwaoboshi as this candidate. Although Obi Obiekea was initially angling for it, being a Professor was a major criterion for the contestation.
The model agreed on, was that the beneficiary would act and carry out his functions as a Prime Minister in the shape of Ibusa representative and mouthpiece in government administration and Council of Traditional Rulers meetings but he would always return to brief the Diokpa of Ibusa, just like what the British Prime Minister is to the Queen.
In the meantime, the Prof Onwuachi angle was foreclosed technically, by the collective agreement that the new Obuzor would start from the senior otu being the Otu Odogwu. The informal collective agreement was tinkered with, when the gazetted white paper came out.
The Ozegbe Committee of Inquiry turned out to be a fate accompli with a lot of hooting of perceived opponents. Chief Austin Izagbo, at that momentous time was holding the yam and knife in Delta state Government to the extent that if he wanted to become the Obuzor, no sane man argued with a man, holding a gun.
The first problem of the Obuzor, after the informal and agreed template of selection soon started from Umuokonogwu where my two uncles, Senator Ikpo and Mr PC Okolie appeared on different sides of the divide being Ibusa Oshia and Ibusa Uno for while PC Okolie was supporting Oza Ji Ani Obi Onwuachi, Senator Nosike Ikpo was supporting Diokpa Ibusa.
Just before the commencement of Ozegbe Panel, PC Okolie jumped ship from Onwuachi’s side to the prepared and agreed incoming Obuzor side, and automatically became the central figure which was perceived as betrayal of trust and effrontery by the three musketeers (Ikpo, oObiekea and Obi Nwaobi).
From this point, everything about Obuzor was hijacked and the usual Igbuzo Dum Tufu, Dum Cho was input, then came the demise of Obi Uwaechue and emergence of Obi Mgbodo, with chief Elueme as Onu Diokpa. Senator Ikpo and his fundamental group became eased out of the system completely while Chief PC Okolie was given the title of Ochubadike Oshia and Chief Elueme, the Onyekwelume.
The first problem of the Obuzor, after the informal and agreed template of selection soon started from Umuokonogwu where my two uncles, Senator Ikpo and Mr PC Okolie appeared on different sides of the divide being Ibusa Oshia and Ibusa Uno for while PC Okolie was supporting Oza Ji Ani Obi Onwuachi, Senator Nosike Ikpo was supporting Diokpa Ibusa.
Just before the commencement of Ozegbe Panel, PC Okolie jumped ship from Onwuachi’s side to the prepared and agreed incoming Obuzor side, and automatically became the central figure which was perceived as betrayal of trust and effrontery by the three musketeers (Ikpo, oObiekea and Obi Nwaobi).
From this point, everything about Obuzor was hijacked and the usual Igbuzo Dum Tufu, Dum Cho was input, then came the demise of Obi Uwaechue and emergence of Obi Mgbodo, with chief Elueme as Onu Diokpa. Senator Ikpo and his fundamental group became eased out of the system completely while Chief PC Okolie was given the title of Ochubadike Oshia and Chief Elueme, the Onyekwelume.
Hon Christopher Onyeayana Okafor, a former Chairman of Oshimili North LGA of Delta State writes from Ibusa, Delta State
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