Preparatory to our family visit to Issele-Uku for the first time sometimes in the early 1960s, my father, Diokpa, Prince MNC Onyebadi of blessed memory, used to arouse our interest in our home town, Issele-Uku, with several folktales on Issele-Uku.

My father was fond of constantly referring to Issele-Uku as “Issele-Uku – London”. With time, the coinage: “Issele-London” became a popular refrain among us that continued to spread among our people and neighbours alike.
We were really looking forward to the visit as myself and my sibling then were born and lived outside our home town. We were then resident in Lagos. I had an idea of how beautiful London was; I started imagining how much more beautiful Issele-Uku will be compared to Lagos. A whole Issele-London? You can just imagine!

On the fateful day of our trip to Issele-Uku enroute Okigwe in today’s Imo State, South-East Nigeria, where my grandpa, the late Diokpa, Pa Joseph Akuagwu Onyebadi, was domiciled, I was a bit restless and eager at the same time as would be of any boy my age then, to get to Issele-London!

It was quite a distance travelling from Lagos by road that lasted several hours. Getting to Benin City en-route Issele-Uku, I noticed that the soil everywhere in Benin “City” was looking redish, unlike the “white” soil of Lagos and dotted with ancient buildings. I then asked my father, that I hope Issele-Uku is not as “local” as this place they call Benin “City”? My Dad simply smiled and said to me that, ours is a very unique place called “home” and that there is no place like “home”! I was to understand what this actually meant much later in life.

It was already getting dark in the evening when we finally arrived Issele-Uku. I hardly noticed any good tarred road, no electricity, no pipe-borne water and majority of the houses were mud houses with rafter roofing. There were no fences separating the houses; everybody in the neighborhood appears to know each other by name and lineage; there was an apparent filial affiliations and bonding among the people that words cannot express.

Astonishingly, our reception at Issele-Uku was carnival-like and we were lavishly entertained with our very rich local delicacies, some of which, I came to know and tasted for the first time that day.

The houses were lit with hurricane lamps, and outside were brightened with the moon light. The special warmth of the people was so contagious and comforting so much that the deficits in infrastructural facilities became so insignificant. We could, as it were, feel humanity real time, real life!

We were very warmly received by our kits and kin at Issele-Uku. The joy of seeing us and the excitement of our presence filled the air everywhere! Virtually everybody came to greet their own that have come all the way from the far “City” of Lagos which was akin to overseas in
those days.

Our reception later at the “magnificent” Palace of the Obi of Issele-Uku was even more electrifying. I became so excited and proud with what I was seeing, yet curious to unravel the real “Issele-Uku – London”!

So, I learned a lesson first-hand on our first visit to Issele-Uku that, “all that glitters is not gold” and that there is “no place like home.”

I also learned that the beauty of a place may not necessarily be the physical structures but to some extent, dependent on nature, the hospitality of the inhabitants and the beauty the people radiate from the inside outwards.

Apart from the several versions of oral history of our royal kingdom at Issele-Uku and her people. In addition to what I have read from recent books, I have been privileged to witness the reign of four distinguished monarchs in succession at Issele-Uku. They are: HRM, Agbogidi Obi Okafor; HRM, Agbogidi Obi Rufus Osemene; HRM, Agbogidi Obi Henry Ezeagwuna1 and the reigning monarch, HRM, Agbogidi Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna 2, on the revered throne of Oligbo kingdom, spanning about three decades.

Therefore, I think I am fairly positioned to recount the candour, wisdom, magnificence, majesty, royalty, mystery, authority and power, all inherent and embedded in the simplicity of the throne of our Kingdom at Issele-Uku.

Ours is, indeed, a uniquely royal kingdom with a very rich cultural heritage. The Oligbo kingdom to which we all belong, is an ancient kingdom domiciled at Issele-Uku. The origin of the kingdom has been traced to the legendary ancient Benin Empire. The story is told of how a prince of the ancient Benin Empire founded the now ancient Oligbo kingdom at Issele-Uku.

The compound word “Issele-Uku” is an adulteration of isi ile uku, which over time, became known as Issele-Uku for ease of pronunciation. Issele-Uku is the biggest and the head of all the Issele, including Issele-Mkpetime and Issele-Azagba, among others.

The Monarch of Issele-Uku has since been confirmed as the Head of the Ezechime clan, which spreads across some hinterlands of the Igbo nation of old Eastern Region of today’s South-East and parts of South-South Nigeria, which includes but not limited to Onitsha, Obosi, and the Aro, among others.

The title/designation of our king, “Obi” is peculiar to our people in origin, context and content. Ours is indeed a special incontestable royal monarchy with a uniquely peculiar designation.

Our Culture and Tradition speaks volumes of our common heritage as can be seen during our traditional marriages, child birth/naming, house building/warming, funeral ceremonies, the coronation of a new king, chieftaincy and Okpara ceremonies, our meetings, including “Izu Ani”, and so on.

We also have a grand annual festival known as the “Ine Festival”, which origin is traced to the annual Igue Festival of the ancient Benin Empire. But, our Ine Festival is peculiarly ours in concept and content.

Our mode of dressing is outstandingly unique and peculiar to our people. Our traditional wear is Akwa-ocha. Our traditional wear easily tells of where we come from anywhere we go, wearing it. It is easily our identity.

Our people were predominantly peasant farmers in the past such that each household could readily fend for themselves. No wonder our variety of food and delicacies are ever so invitingly mouth-watering.

There is something unique about Ani which means “Land” in our place. Some argue that Ani is like a deity to our people. Virtually anything and everything that is important to our people has something to do with Ani!

Our place and environ is known as Ani-ocha, meaning “white-land” and our nation is known as Ani-oma, meaning “good land.” There is also Ome-na-ani, which means “our culture/tradition” and we have Izu-ani, which literally means the “meeting of the land”, which is the palace’s high decision-making body.

Importantly, whenever any of our people dies wherever, the person has to be brought home and buried in our Ani, our land. In fact, there is much to Ani in our place that the space available here and time is too short to recount.
There is something also unique about our language. It is a distinct dialect peculiar only to our people. Some call it Enu-ani, some say it is “Ika Ibo”, some say it is “Delta Ibo”, and so on. But, from the benefit of hindsight, I think it is better identified as “Anioma”, reflective of the Anioma nation to which we all belong.

Though our dialect sounds somewhat igboish, our language is not exactly Igbo. Some people say that our language is a blend of Edo (Bini) and other neighbouring languages of Igbo, Igala and so on, which over time has become a unique dialect.

Whatever the metamorphosis, there is no denying the fact that a peculiar dialect has emerged in our language.
Long time ago, “London” was wittingly and/or unwittingly being literally “imported” to Issele-Uku as earlier stated in the “Issele-Uku – London” or “Issele-London” story above. But, by efflux of time, Issele-Uku is now being “exported” to London, America, Europe and, indeed, the world at large. Thanks to our rich cultural heritage, our patrimony, our resilience as a people, our creativity, our determination and the leadership offered by the throne of Oligbo kingdom.

Over time, our ancestral ancient kingdom has witnessed some tremendous transformation into a modern environment. There is now a city gate heralding visitors into Issele-Uku. We had Post and Telecommunications (P&T) presence with functional telephone lines and Post Office, a state library annex, the traditional market, the trail-blazing Revd Olisemeke Martins Group of Schools and church, the Catholic Church Cathedral and Catholic Bishop’s Court, among others, long before the creation of the present Delta State, where we are now domiciled.

We now have fairly good tarred roads and modern houses, including a majestic Palace of Oligbo Kingdom at Issele-Uku. We have petrol stations, banks, schools, business concerns, hospitals,
magistrate and high courts, NYSC Orientation Camp, Divisional Police Station, and so on.

Our town now has electricity supply and street lights. Our ancient kingdom, which is now the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, has since been transformed into a cosmopolitan environment.
Of all the four monarchs that I have been privileged to witness their reigns so far, the reigning king, HRM, Agbogidi Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna 2, and our special guest in Abuja, is to say the very least, highly outstanding. Though the youngest so far in recent times as at the time he ascended the throne of his forebears, the achievement of Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna 2 in just about three years on the throne are quite outstandingly remarkable.

Just within three years of the reign of Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna 2, we now have electricity restored to Issele-Uku with street lights, a magnificent city gate and ongoing infrastructural development. Besides, he personally showcases our rich cultural heritage abroad, at least, twice in America and Europe within the period under reference.

We are now also very visible on the internet, more than ever before and Issele-Uku is on Google world map.
Indeed, Issele-Uku’s rich heritage is continuously being planted in global consciousness – thanks to His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi, Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna 2, The Obi of Issele-Uku and Head of the Ezechime clan. Special thanks also to our brethren dispersed everywhere and in the Diaspora.

Of a truth, one can proudly say anywhere that we have a great majestic kingdom in Issele-Uku: Our heritage, our pride.

Welcome to Abuja, your Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna 2.

We feel highly honoured by this your royal visit to your people at Abuja.

You are highly welcome, our revered Obi of Issele-Uku.

Dooba, Nno!

Long live Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna 2!

Long live Issele-Uku!

Long live Ezechime Clan!

Long live Oligbo Kingdom!

Isi Obi ne nu!

•Otunba Echefuna' RG Onyebeadi is Professor of Engineering Economics.

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