Okey-dede emerges Eze Ndigbo in Mpape
By Precious Enebuse
On Tuesday, September 13, 2022 the Igbo community in Abuja crowned Chief Amb. Engr. Kingston Okey-dede, as the Igwe Obata-Obie, the Ochigbo II in Mpape, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
The event, which took place at the Aco Estate, Life camp, home of HRM Eze Dr. Ibe Nwosu, the Eze Igbo 1 of Abuja, saw the making of an Igbo King in it’s finest tradition as the entire ICA FCT and other stakeholders, led by HRM Eze Dr. Ibe Nwosu, MON performed the coronation rituals amid soul-lifting Christian songs, to the consternation of all.
The elated Okey-dede said his decision to take the title was to fulfill several prophesies in the past about him that there was a crown on his head. “So, when the Mpape unit of the Igbo Community in Abuja approached me to be the Eze Ndigbo in Mpape, I couldn’t turn it down because I saw it as a fulfilment of those prophesies,” he said.
He is expected to make peace whenever there is a dispute between the Igbo and any other ethnic group in Mpape.
He promised to use his influence and resources to ensure peace and wellbeing of the Igbo in Mpape, even as he charged them to cooperate and be loyal to him for that to happen.
President-general of the Igbo Community in Abuja, Hon. Leonard Eboh, said the significance of the event was the replication of tradition and culture in the FCT. “Today, we crown him the Ochigbo II of Mpape, six years after the demise of the late kin HRH John Ossai, Ochigbo I who joined his ancestors. We do that to bring about peace during crisis between the Igbo in Mpape and any other ethnic group, the Sarkin Mpape will send for him and the problem will be resolved amicably. And since we started crowning Eze in Abuja, there has been no ethnic crisis involving the Igbos,” he said.
Eboh stressed that the title of Eze was only conferred on those with good track records of service to humanity, saying that Okey-dede was picked for the honour because of his generosity and humanitarian service especially to Igbos in Mpape.
Okey-dede’s wife was equally crowned the Ugo Eze 1 of Mpape during the event in the presence of his Chief of Staff, HRH Eze Dr. Charles Olisekwe, Eze Ndigbo in Garki, and the palace secretary of Eze Igbo 1, HRH Eze Amb. D. Anyagala (Ochiliozwor) who is also the Eze Igbo Gawagwa.
Among those who spoke at the event include Chief David Olumba (Eze-Udo), a cabinet member to late Ochigbo I of Mpape, the chairman of ICA Mpape unit, Mr. Emmanuel Awa, the immediate past chairman of ICA Mpape unit, Prince Ikenna Motuanya aka presido.
Chief David Olumba who is a cabinet chief of the late Ochigbo I of Mpape, likened the Igbo to the Israelites of the Bible days. He said, in those days, the Israelites were the only people that had the right to crown their kings outside their homeland. “The Igbo are part and parcel of Abraham and wherever they go they must have a leader who can stand on behalf of other Igbo. In the city of Abuja, many Igbo don’t understand Hausa or any other native language spoken there, so if there is any problem, the Igbo King will meet the Sarkin Mpape and find a solution to such problems,” he said.
He therefore enjoined Igbo community in Mpape to submit to the leadership of HRH Eze Kingston Okey-dede as the recognized Ochigbo II and work together to guarantee peace and unity of Ndigbo in Mpape.
Highpoint of the occasion was libation by the Eze Igbo 1 of Abuja and blessing of the newly crowned Eze Igbo Mpape while emphasizing that Mr. Fabian Ike has never been crowned Ochigbo Mpape as he couldn’t fulfill the requirements for his coronation despite four years of waiting as against six months required traditionally.
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Dignitaries that graced the grace include Mr. Celestine Ochiagha, Mr. Vincent Ezekwem, Sir Tony Chibueze, Ichie Nze Ernest Nwaiwu, Mr. Fidelis Obri, Chief Peter Umezuruike, Mrs. Ijeoma Richard, Mr. Princewill Odoegbeluem, Engr. Daniel Okoro among others.
