The Ugbe royal family in Onicha-Olona Kingdom, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State has reaffirmed its exclusive constitutional and traditional responsibility to produce the next monarch of the kingdom, insisting that due process, customs and ancestral rites were strictly followed in the emergence of Prince Ephraim Odiakaosa Nwabuokei as the Crown Prince.
Elders and representatives of the royal family, who spoke at a gathering in Onicha-Olona Kingdom, traced the age-long method of selecting a king, stressing that the process is deeply rooted in tradition and guided by the authority of the ancestors.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the Diokpa and oldest member of the royal family, Prince Banyem Andrew Akalue (Odioegbe), explained that the traditional hierarchy clearly defines how a king is produced in Onicha-Olona
He stated: “Traditionally, we have a system. A town is bigger than a village, and a village is bigger than a community. When the right to produce a king comes to the Ugbe, it is transferred to the village, and the village then approaches the community concerned to present a prince.”
He noted that in ancient times, consultation of the oracle formed a critical part of the process to avoid choosing a candidate not favoured by tradition or the ancestors.
“When the time comes, names of three or four princes are usually presented and taken for consultation. This is done because kingship is not taken by force. When issues arise, the elders deliberate thoroughly before deciding on who should be called upon to ascend the throne,” he said.
Corroborating this position, the second oldest member of the Ugbe royal family, Prince Okafor John Enudiolu, stated that the family collectively invited the chosen prince to accept the responsibility.
Also, the youths’ representative of the royal family, Prince Efefe Obinna Ukwadia, declared that both the elders and youths are united in support of the chosen crown prince..
In his remarks, the Crown Prince of Onicha-Olona, Prince Nwabuokei, said his emergence was the outcome of a formal decision taken by the royal family, whom he described as the custodians of tradition.
He disclosed that the Ugbe royal family held a decisive meeting on October 25, 2021, where he was informed of their choice.
“I enquired why such a decision was made, and they explained their reasons to me. I initially resisted, but I later realised that I could not override the collective decision of the family,” he said.
He added that the pronouncement of the royal family represented the will of the ancestors, whose throne he has been called to preserve.
Nwabuokei further revealed that in 2023, he returned from the United States to perform the traditional rites of acceptance, marking a significant step in legitimising his position.
He added that on the same occasion, he initiated the rebuild the palace, which was destroyed during the colonial era.
“The traditional rite of acceptance of my position as crown prince was performed on December 5, 2023. In any kingdom, it is the royal family that has the responsibility to present the prince who will take the seat of the ancestors, and to the best of my knowledge, the family has discharged that duty,” he stated.
The crown prince assured the people of Onicha-Olona Kingdom and the general public that his actions are guided by service and not personal ambition.