By
Dr. Emmanuel TONUKARI emmatonukari@gmail.com
If you were passing through Isiokolo on the 22nd of January, 2023, you would think there was a festival holding in Isiokolo town because of the ambiance of the town. Everyone, old and young, was gorgeously dressed, with chiefs walking majestically in their full regalia displaying their beads and adjudju which seldom contain their titles. They were all moving towards one direction – the ultra modern royal palace. It was indeed a psudo-feast brought to be by the indigenes of Isiokolo who, in their wisdom, took that day off to pay homage to their king, His Royal Majesty, Ogurimerime, Ukori the 1st . The occasion was an outright counter to the popular saying in some quarters that monarchs in the Niger-Delta Region are not well taken care of by their subjects. The people of Isiokolo chose to do the needful by organizing their people, the children of Akpata and pay homage to the number one citizen of Agbon Kingdom. This goodwill by the people is interpreted in different ways. Many of them are of the opinion that, if they could, on yearly basis, go to churches to support others in their annual thanksgiving, why can’t they do same by paying homage to their king officially, at least, once a year. This exercise would be the first of its kind in Agbon Kingdom where they have been having a steady positive rise in socio-cultural activities of the kingdom since the installation of His Royal Majesty, Ogurimerime, Ukori the 1st. Recall that one of the conspicuous landmarks of his reign is the mobilization and building of the ultra modern palace in Isiokolo, the ancestral home of the Agbon people. It is a great delight for the Agbon people both at home and in the Diaspora but it is unspeakable joy and untold enchantment for the Isiokolo people who have the great opportunity and privilege of living side by side with the king in Isiokolo. It is on this ground that the six mega families of Isiokolo: Erua r’Ekrurughwujabor, Eteh, Agobe, Eboh, Oviri and Ewhweri together with their sons and daughters led by the Okpako r’Orho of Isiokolo, Chief Ohwonigho Umukoro and the Prime Minister of Isiokolo, Chief John Ejitobor (JP) decided to pay homage to the king. In the entourage, there were other prominent members of the Isiokolo community who are custodians of the ancestral home, guardians of the palace like Prof. Emeritus Chief Andrew Onokerhoraye, Chief Broderick Arigbodi, High Chief (Barr) Christopher Egbonoje, Prof. Chief Nyerhovwo Tonukari, Chief Dr. (Mrs) Philomena Imonivwerha, Chief Ejuvwekpokpo Ighorodi to mention but just a few. We also have prominent dignitaries like Prof. William Akpochafo, Dr. Godwin Onanovwe, Mr. Vincent Omojiriemu Ideh, Mr. Ovie Akpobaro, Mr. royal Ugherughe, etc.
There were people from Onakpoma family, Eyeh family, Imialana family, Owhofariere family representing Orua Ekrurughwujabor; members of Ideh family, Tonukari family, Obanovwe family, owhonigho family, Ojaruowho family representing Orua r’Eteh; members of Arigbodi family, Orhokoruere family, onoh family Owhofadjeke family representing orua r’Agobe; members of Egbonoje family, Akpobaro family Onyokoko family representing the orua r’Eboh; members of Egodotaire family, Umukoro family, Ukudjayuvweri family representing the orua r’Oviri and members of Akpochafo family, Ohwovorione family, Ugherughe family, Ibihwiori family, Okpe family representing orua r’Ewhweri. It is obvious that we cannot categorically mention all the members of the families representing the different mega families.
Everyone came with a magnificent gift for the king. This is because, the average Urhobo person knows that, you give to King what befits a king and not necessarily what you have. So in the thanksgiving bowl there were exquisite drinks, the best you can think of and some exclusive gift items and cash gifts were all packaged into the royal basket of the king. There were wonderful cultural rendition exalting the position and importance of the throne. Everyone danced to the rhythm with the king blessing everyone who made it to the palace and who sent in their gifts.
This well planned visit to the Monarch came as a big surprise to the King who really appreciated the efforts of the Isiokolo people. He was overwhelmed and as a show of appreciation he announced five chieftaincy titles for Isiokolo ehovworens. What this simply means is that, five non palace chiefs, would be upgraded to Palace chiefs which is one of the highest honours one could get in Agbon kingdom. It is a big gain and achievement for Isiokolo people.
It has been echoed by Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari to all sons and daughters of Agbon and other Urhobo people both at home and abroad in many fora to take good care of their Monarch. All socio-cultural clubs should, as a matter of policy, pay homage to their king at least once a year. This can also be done on a personal level. The display of the Isiokolo people has set the pace for others to follow in Agbon kingdom and other neighboring kingdoms.
Okpe Quotidians 