DEIN OF AGBOR KINGDOM: HEALING THE WOUNDS FOR PROSPERITY

Today, our king flaunt his beards. In years to come, we will celebrate him in his grey beards.

Ewere Okonta

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Mon, 29 Jun 2026 3 months ago 96 views 0 likes 0 comments

DEIN OF AGBOR KINGDOM: HEALING THE WOUNDS FOR PROSPERITY

Today, our king flaunt his beards. In years to come, we will celebrate him in his grey beards.

By Williams Eghebi

Today, Dein of Agbor Kingdom, HRM Dr. Benjamin Ikenchuku, Keagborekuzi I, (CON), marks his birthday. In the last one year, the kingdom recorded tremendous peace and giant strides ranging from commerce, hospitality, real estate to urbanization. These gains are very visible on the face of our monarch which translates into raised confidence, charisma, social interactions and engagements, traditional and cultural renaissance, advocacy and networking for positive change.

Our king is the oldest Agbor man. This makes him the traditional reservoir of wisdom, custodian of our rich culture and values as well as the interpreter of myths and conjectures. Our king is like the Bordeaux wine that gets better with age. Excuses due to age no longer has relevance. He has been with us for long to have his personal and unbiased assessment of all issues. It is safe to infer that he knows the jesters and the philosophers. And they all have their defined roles in our kingdom.

Our traditional ruler has grown from that innocent young king whose image became a regular in global media spaces in 1979 to a statesman whose inputs have become relevant in national discourse. He has become an informal diplomat to resolve disputes across the length and breadth of Nigeria. In his avowed desire for a prosperous and united nation, he offered to travel through the brackish waters of the creeks on mahogany canoes and ride on horses in the sahel to meet armed agitators for the sake of the nation. This signposts that we must give him the catalyst at home to sustain a national platform.

As Agbor people, we need not be reminded that working together genuinely with our king as captain will be beneficial. Despite our rich natural and human resources, it is essential for us to safeguard our demographic strength. We are stronger, bigger.

The incontrovertible reality is that we are one kingdom under one King with shared values and diverse responsibilities. The feel-good atmosphere did not come without bruises and sacrifices. The enablers do not expect turban but at an appropriate time, they will find space in the Hall of Fame. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.

The Osiezi Festival should be given all the required oxygen. Responsibilities should be assigned based on capacities. Whatever that is delayed, should be executed with extra vigour and funfair.