All hail the 14th Asagba of Asaba: Professor Epiphany Azinge
I met him in 1995 as Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Chief Michael Agbamuche, SAN, who was my father’s Lawyer before his appointment.
His brilliance is widely acknowledged. His scholarly output is as profound as it is prolific.
He taught me Constitutional Law at Baze University—a teacher’s teacher.
His ascension to the ancient throne of his forebears marks another dimension of Igbo traditional institution.
The next generation of Igbo traditional leaders must meet the standard of the new Asagba. Knowledgeable, educated, exposed, modern yet traditional and global yet local.
Asaba got it right. From Professor Edozien to Professor Azinge, they avoided the rush-to-the-bottom syndrome plaguing Nigeria’s political space, where a progressive love of mediocrity marks the choice of successors.
Across the land, leaders and communities appear to celebrate the elevation of successful charlatans and nincompoops in a flagrant rejection of decency, intellect and ability.
Asagba, your work is cut out for you. Promote Uche; knowledge, wisdom, and the need for our people to revert to celebrating and applying Uche in our activities and engagement with others.
Encourage Uchu; hard work, persistence, perseverance, and progress are born from dedicated and painstaking effort. Shortcuts and the current idolisation of get-rich-quick schemes are the path to perdition.
Celebrate Egwu Chukwu. At the base of Igbo civilisation is morality and respect for the cosmic concept of justice, fair play and respect for nto na ani (rules). The future of Ndi Igbo is aligned with our ability to respect rules and repudiate nso ani (abomination). The decline of Egwu Chukwu underpins our current social crisis.
As the Asagba of Asaba and a national and global voice return us to love of education, lead us back to respect of hard work, and remind us that we are the children of Nnamdi Azikiwe whose eyes are set on a renascent Africa.
Guide us to realise our collective destiny through our famed respect for human life, an ingrained celebration of industry, fierce defence of liberty and a deeply embedded instinctive promotion of equality.Asagba! Asagba! Asagba! Igwe ogalagidi, Ijele. I bow before your throne in deference and respect. I ga adi ka echi …..I ga achika nka
Osita Chidoka
Ike Obosi
6 October 2024