The Isama Ajie of Asaba kingdom, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, has said the 13th Asagba of Asaba, late Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, will be remembered for the communal and ethnic cohesion he brought to bear on Asaba during his reign, with national figures of great repute in his cabinet.
Chief Nduka-Eze stated this while speaking to journalists at the palace of the Asagba, in Asaba on Wednesday on the impactful life and reign of His Royal Majesty, Asagba, who joined his ancestors at the age of 100 years.
He said, “The late Obi (Prof) Edozien virtually ascended the throne as Asagba when Asaba became the capital of Delta State.
“The monarch would be remembered for the communal and ethnic cohesion he brought to Asaba, with various ethnic groups living peacefully and contributing to the development of the capital city.
“The history of Nigeria will not be complete without a reference to Asaba, which was once the colonial headquarters of the Royal Niger Company, and by implication Nigeria’s first administrative headquarters.
“Asaba made giant strides under the able watch and direction of the late 13th Asagba.”
Nduka-Eze said the news of the sovereign’s passing came to him as a rude shock because despite his very advanced age, he was blessed with an amazing robust health and mental alertness, which always made people forget how old he was.
The Isama listed some of the cabinet members who made Asagba Edozien’s reign eventful to include: the late Ideh Ahaba, Chief Sunny Odogwu; esteemed economist and Ojiba Ahaba, late Prof Emma Edozien; nuclear physicist and Akwue Ahaba, late Prof Philip Onianwa; and the Izoma of Asaba and former minister, Chief Philip Asiodu.
Others were: former military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Dike Doziani Ahaba; Lt. Gen Jeremiah Useni (rtd), Omelora Ahaba; and former Inspector-General of Police, Chief Ogbonaya Onovo, Etoe Dike Ahaba; who all played prominent roles in the governance of the country and lent their advice and weight to the late Asagba in piloting Asaba to her present status of a burgeoning capital of Delta State.
