+50th Coronation Anniversary
The traditional Council in Ogba Kingdom of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers state is poised to play host to who is who in Nigeria and global community as its monarch, Eze Ogba of Ogbaland, Sir (Dr.) Chukumela Nnam Obi II, Nigeria’s longest-ruling king and a former Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, will be 80 years old and 50 years on the throne come Friday, 20th of November, 2020. The event will take place at his kingdom with a funfair and pageant. He was crowned Eze Ogba of Ogba Kingdom in 1970 at the age of 30 years. His 50-years reign on the throne has been known to be beneficial to people who are host communities to multinational oil companies such as TotalFinaElf, Nigerian Agip Oil Company and others that began crude oil and gas exploitation since the 1960s to date.
HIS RIDE TO GREATNESS
The family of Eze Ogba, His Eminence Chukumela Nnam Obi II, will use the occasion to celebrate a king who has remained steadfast in caring for his people in the past 50 years that he has been ruling over them. Before his birth, it was predicted that he would be a great man and that prediction came to pass as the years rolled on even though the road to greatness has not been a perfect one as he rode on some rough terrain in life. The king of Ogbaland Eze Oba Chukumela Nnam Obi II, was crowned in December 1970 when he ascended the throne. He is the eleventh king of Ogba. His father, Obuoha Obi, was an Ogba Crown Prince, while Obi Chukwuma, his predecessor, reigned on the throne. He is the only king in South-South and South-East geo-political zones bearing OBA, which precedes his other titles as he has 4-wives and more than 30 children. Although about two of them are now deceased. The Eze of Ogbaland didn’t have a smooth upbringing as he had a rustic background as he travelled up the Northern part of Nigeria Kano to be precise where he was a Newspaper vendor in the streets of Kano. Born on Friday Nkwo, 20th November, 1940 and having started his early education at Methodist School, Sabon Gari, Kano, Kano State where he bagged Distinction in First School Leaving Certificate examination in 1959 as he quickly returned to his homeland, Omoku, where he was registered at Sancta Maria High School, Omoku, in 1966. He sat for West African School certificate -WASC examination he was School Prefect. He paid his school fees like other students.
HIS WORKING CAREER
With the coming of ELF Oil company to Ogbaland in 1962, His Eminence’s first job after graduation from Secondary School was in 1967 as he later joined Rivers State Civil Service leading to 1970 when he was crowned the King of Ogba kingdom. His reign as current Nigeria’s longest-ruling Monarch has been characterized as that of a fearless, blunt Traditional Ruler, who says it the way it is without inhibitions of any kind. This attribute has earned him respect and honour among his subjects and others who came in contact with him from all walks of life.
HIS SERVICES TO NIGERIA
Two years after becoming king at the age 30, he was appointed Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council 1972 to 1979. He was a member International Committee on Chieftaincy and Royalty for FESTAC –Nigerian representative from 1974 to 1977. He became the first Pro-Chancellor Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, in Imo state from 1980 to 1984. Pro-Chancellor Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State from 1997 to 2010, His Eminence Chukumela Nnam Obi II was appointed meritoriously the National President of Oil Producing Communities of Nigeria—TROMPCON from 1994 to date. He became a member of VISION 2010 Committee organised by then Military Government in 1996. He was a member of the National Council of Nigeria VISION.
HOW HE WAS HONOURED
He received the coveted National Merit award of Member of the ORDER OF NIGER-OON in 1981, Knight of the Grand Commander of the Mystical Order of St. Peter KTGC, Hon. Doctor of Letters D.Litt. from the City University of Los Angeles, USA, Hon. Doctor of Technology Federal University of Technology Owerri, Hon. Doctor of Science D.Sc. Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Justice of Peace JP., Fellow Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, President Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Council of Chiefs since 1973 to date. He is Grand Patron of more than 50 organisations, clubs including Nigerian Union of Journalists Rivers State Council, since 1975. His eminence was appointed member National Reform Conference of Nigeria Abuja in 2005. Fellow Institute of Business Managers and Administrators of Nigeria in 1994., He was made Fellow Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Enugu in 2003, He was awarded Community Leadership Merit Award of Excellence by West African Merit award Council, in 2001. In 2002, Opal-Magi Sanctum Award was bestowed on him in Governance and Community Service. He was awarded Selfless and Dedicated Services to Humanity in 2002. The highly revered Ogba monarch is a founding member of the Conference of traditional Rulers, eastern states of Nigeria since 1985 as he is officially addressed as His Royal Majesty, His Eminence, Eze (Dr.) Sir, Chukumela Nnam Obi II, OON, DSSRS, AP, JP.
The Royal monarch of Ogbaland is an astute businessman having been Chairman and Chief Executive of Cunim Nig. Limited since 1985 as he is a man known for his philosophical rhetoric and power of oration. In front of his Palace is a replical of Egyptian Pyramid painting skyward, making his Palace invoke mysticism and traditional influence. In front of the entry point to the palace are emblazoned graffiti of Lion’s mouth. Visitors to the Palace are always regaled with oral pronouncements accompanied with clanging of the traditional gong before His Eminence Sir, (Dr.) Chukumela Nnam Obi II, responds to any speech. He usually sits behind a lofty chair with the background of a leopard skin as his legs rest atop a podium. Besides his right hand is the Holy Bible. He has a room made up of pictorials as a gallery. His act of philanthropy knows no bounds with his welfare-minded traditional gestures to all and sundry irrespective of his or her political inclination.
-EMEKA AMAEFULA
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