BY PATRICK MGBODO
After months of anticipation, the five quarters (ebos) of Asaba, on Sunday, spoke in resounding agreement over the emergence of the next Asagba of Asaba from among 10 candidates that contested for the throne.
Consequently, the Asagbaship contest came to an end, following the announcement of Obi (Prof.) Epiphany Azinge to succeed the late Asagba, HRM Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, as the 14th Asagba-Designate.
The announcement was made by the Ochendo-Asagba (Regent), Prof. Anthony Edozien, in an enlarged meeting of the Asagba-In-Council and the Otu-Ihaza (parliament), after extensive deliberations by the five ebos (quarters) of Asaba.
According to the Ochendo, represented by Ogbueshi Lewis Edozien, “I must be guided by the wishes of the people of Asaba. Here today (on Sunday) Asaba has, with one voice, let their wish be known.
‘’Therefore, with that guidance, by the authority vested in me as the Ochendo-Asagba, and the authority vested in me under the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edit of 1979, I pronounce Prof. Epiphany Azinge as the 14th Asagba of Asaba-Designate.
’In line with Asaba customs and traditions, there are many steps that will commence today (on Sunday) culminating in his installation as the 14th Asagba of Asaba. Most of those rites which have long been established by tradition are conducted under the guidance of the Onihe, and the various traditional chiefs, Okpala-Ukus, and Obis have their sacred roles to play.
‘’Until that installation is done, the authority of the Asagba cannot be in a vacuum; it still rests with the Ochendo-Asagba. When the 14th Asgba of Asaba is installed, Ochendoship will be extinguished. May God guide all of us’’, Prof Edozien said.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili in the House of Representatives, Hon Ngozi Okolie expressed absolute confidence in Obi (Prof) Azinge to pilot the affairs of Asaba, just as he wished him (Azinge) well in his new role.
‘’There are about 10 of the contenders and the five villages (Ebos) went into their separate meetings to deliberate. All of them voted for Prof Azinge; everybody voted for him to be the next Asagba.
‘’Everybody knows that he (Azinge) is the best of the candidates. But the competition was good because if there was no contest, I do not think there would be respect for the office so the contest was very good. Different persons came in and they are all qualified but we cannot have two Asagbas at the same time’’, Hon Okolie said.
The Omu of Asaba, Obi (Dr) Ada Biosah, expressed excitement over the development, adding ‘’I feel very confident in the process so far and I think Asaba has not made any mistake. The process was very transparent and from now on, the process will remain transparent’’.
Similarly, Chief Chuck Ndukaeze described the decision as unanimous. ‘’In the history of Asaba, it is often not the case that Asaba always speaks with one voice as they did.
‘’This is something that will go down in our history. I have every confidence that we have made the right choice and that Prof Azinge will give Asaba better service. We look forward to his tenure with great enthusiasm’’, he said.
Obi (Prof) Azinge was a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) and the President-General of the Asaba Development Union, Worldwide (ADUW). He, is among other things, an expert in constitutional law and has widely been recognized for his contribution to legal scholarship.
