It was fun, fanfare with cultureand tradition at its best, as the people of Afor Clan in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State converged at Obetim, to coronate His Royal Highness Oduegwu Okwese, as the new Okpala Uku of Afor Clan.
This came after the demise of the former Okpala Uku, HRH Thomas Okpala Onyechi, and the nine days of mourning, by the entore clan, as required by the culture and tradition of the people.
The clan comprising of Obetim, Ogbedigbo, Umuachi, Umuachi Ogo, Okolori , Ogbetti Umu Okpala, and Iselegu.
The colourful ceremony, which was last witnessed in Obetim over three decades ago, took place at the palace of the newly crowned Okpala Uku of Afor clan, with sons, daughters and friends of the eight clan from far and near that converged to witness the historic ceremony, which clearly depicted the unity that is so lucid within their fold.
The spokesman of Afor Clan, Chief Hon. London Onwuka, officially announced the commencement of proceedings, as required by the tradition of Afor Clan, as the newly installed Okpala Uku performed his first traditional rites before he is formally crowned as the Okpala Uku.
Thereafter the process scontinued in earnest, and the peculiarity associated with the people of Afor clan, is that the people practices gerontocracy, as the eldest person from the seven communities, becomes the Okpala Uku of Afor Clan, aside from Ogbedigbo community that have their separate Okpala Uku.
Our search revealed that Ogbedigbo community do not have same ancestry (Ndiche) that binds them, like the other seven communities in Afor, yet they maintain a cordial relationship, which was noticeable with their presence at the colourful event.
As the traditional rites gets underway, the spokesman of Afor Clan, Chief Onwuka announced the present 13-man new cabinet that will work with the newly crowned Okpala Uku of the Clan.
They are head of the cabinet Okwa Oduegwu Okwuese – the Okpala Uku Of Afor
Okwa Peter Odi -Igwe of Afor
Okwa Barrister Joseph Aka – Okwa Uku
Okwa Richard Chime Agenu – Okwa Uku
Okwa Gabriel Chukwuma- Okwa Uku
Okwa Sunday Onyinebe- Okwa Ose -Anu
Okwa Akpati Paul – Okwa Ose -Anu
Okwa John Oshino Okwa Ose -Anu
Okwa Tony Ngbame Okwa Ose -Anu
Okwa Tony Enebeli Igoshi Etim
Okwa Tony Ejechi Igoshi Etim.
Two more to be announced by the newly crowned monarch, in few days.
Also on ground to witness the ceremony was the President general of Afor Clan, High Chief Sony Chukwunweike Neme, a media veteran, and media aide to the national leader of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, His Excellency Seriake Dickson.
He was seen ensuring all went well, as the event progressed.
High Chief Neme, who doubles as a chieftain of NDC in the state, spoke extensively with our reporter in the course of the coronation of Okpala Uku Oduegwu Okwuese.
He harped on the need for all sons and daughters of Afor Clan to rally round the newly crowned Okpala Uku Of Afor Clan for a progressive and peaceful reign.
Neme also spoke on the historical background of the eight communities that makes up Afor Clan, and how the clan came about the concept of Okpala Ukuship, adding that Afor is an Anglised version of the name of the clan, and that Efor is the right spelling of the Clan’s name.
He further said, “After the demise of the former Okpala Uku, HRH Thomas Okpala Onyechi, and the nine days mandatory mourning by the entire clan, the mantle of leadership fell on Chief Oduegwu Okwese, and the community is happy to have him represent them as our monarch”
while commending the newly installed Okpala Uku of Afor, he added that, the traditional ruler is a man of peace, integrity, truth and honesty, just as he prays the new monarch continues in that space.
Hus words: “Having him as our Okpala Uku is an added advantage thatbwill enable us thebhigh level of unity, magnanimity and big brother role, as we must carry our brothers and sisters along for a progressive and prosperous clan”.
”The more we are together the merrier we shalm be. Our Okpala Uku is a good man, I believe that is was a reason God chose him as our king.
Also speaking, high Chief Johnson Okuse, the traditional Prime Minister of Afor clan, who is likely to join the envious 13-man Okpala Uku-In-Council cabinet, expressed gratitude to God for the formal inuguration and enthronement of their Okpala Uku.
For him the Okpala Uku is God sent to the people of Obetim Uno.
High Chief London Onwuka, the clan spokeman expressed appreciation to the people of Afor for coming together in unity for the installation ceremony.
He said, “Afor clan is underdeveloped, with motorable roads, no water and no electricity. A reason I called on the Oil Companies operating within and around the clans to render assistance for developmental projects, especially road projects”.
A spokesman of the member of the Okpala Uku cabinet, Okwa Anthohy Obodoeshike, who was visibly happy, said, “When a good leader is on the throne the people will rejoice. And that is the reflection of what the people of Afor is experiencing today. Our Okpala Uku is a good man and we are proud to have him rule us”.
on his part, High Chief Prince Okwuguni, Obetim Uno paramount Chief, said this is a new beginning for the people of Obetim Uno. “We are very happy and we believe God will continue to protect our new Okpala Uku” he prayed.
He called on the people to come together for unity because, “Unity is strength and when we are together development will come into our community”.
Chief Neme later hosted the media in his country home in Obetim, as well as NDC party members that came to honour him from across the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency.
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