Reporting ‘funny conversations’

On Friday 1st April 2016 The Nation newspaper published an extra-ordinary article on page 7 entitled “Funny conversation with Uromi Monarch”. The write-up written by Louis Odion, a former Commissioner in the Edo State Government, claimed that His Royal Majesty Zaiki Edonojie II the Onojie of Uromi threatened his life.  Situated in Esanland Edo State […]

On Friday 1st April 2016 The Nation newspaper published an extra-ordinary article on page 7 entitled “Funny conversation with Uromi Monarch”. The write-up written by Louis Odion, a former Commissioner in the Edo State Government, claimed that His Royal Majesty Zaiki Edonojie II the Onojie of Uromi threatened his life. 
Situated in Esanland Edo State Central Senatorial District, Uromi is a local government. It comprises a town centre and several small undeveloped villages and communities. On a good day it takes less than 10 minutes to drive from one end of the town to another. The controversy which made the traditional ruler of such a small place allegedly threaten a journalist concerns the traditional title held by late Elder Statesman and Nationalist Chief Anthony Enahoro. 
The Onojie in his wisdom agreed that former Minister for Works Mike Onolememen should inherit the title. Odion together with many Uromi indigenes and Chief Enahoro’s surviving siblings, notably the legendary Nigerian journalist Peter “Pan” Enahoro took exception to this decision.
Their grounds are that the title created specifically for Chief Enahoro was of necessity approved by the Oba of Benin and is supposed to be hereditary. Furthermore and more to the point  Mr Onolememen has in no way matched the achievements of the late Elder Statesman. They assert that Chief Enahoro single-handedly put Uromi on the map and always promoted Esan culture by wearing the “igbulu” traditional attire, unlike the fedora and French Suit or agbada wearing contemporary Esan politicians.
The Onojie’s detractors feel that an alternative title could and should have been created for Onolememen. What they failed to mention was the fact that giving out the title to a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart was simply a continuation of the PDP’s denigration of Chief Enahoro’s memory. It should be recalled that both President Jonathan and Vice-President Sambo who attended all sorts of minor social functions, inexplicably and without apology shunned the burial of the Elder Statesman recognised by the whole world as one of Nigeria’s foremost public figures. Odion in a previous article entitled “Vandals at Tony Enahoro’s Tomb” deplored the Onojie’s decision, claiming that His Royal Majesty was attempting to “ingratiate himself” with political interests by committing “a grave cultural sacrilege”.
It’s quite easy to understand how and why His Royal Majesty would take umbrage. At the end of the day he is responsible only to his conscience and can do as he pleases. However cynics remark that if Onolememen who constructed one road in Uromi qualifies as the Adolor of Uromi, then Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who constructed so many roads in Benin City should become the new Oba of Benin! In his quite evident indignation over the slight on the Late Elder Statesman’s memory, Odion listed the service to the nation rendered by Chief Anthony Enahoro and his siblings together with the distinguished history of service to the Uromi community by the Enahoro family ancestors who are of royal blood. Paradoxically His Royal Highness Zaiki Edonojie II is their relation.  However as Odion pointed out, the erosion of values in our traditional institutions isn’t news.
Peter “Pan” Enahoro who has been outside our shores for many years isn’t familiar with the level to which traditional institutions have sunk becoming sources for controversy or patronage. It’s a sad reflection of their relevance and real value that the majority of Nigerian Youth have neither time nor respect for traditional titles and institutions. The reality is that we live in a democratic era and the days when people ruled by “divine right” have long since gone. Regrettably traditional rulers are giving their “subjects” less and less reason to respect them. This isn’t their fault. Their monarchies are neither constitutional nor absolute, and in truth they rule only in their palaces. Between 1951 and 1966 when Nigeria practiced parliamentary democracy there were two chambers, the House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs.
However since the creation of a uniform local government system in 1976 traditional rulers exist merely as custodians of their cultures. Paid by the State despite having no official duties to perform, they are renowned for hawking titles in order to subsidize their lavish lifestyles. The most significant part of the published conversation between the Monarch and Mr Odion was where His Royal Majesty said “so because they gave you small money, you decide to be abusing me…”. It’s a revealing statement. Practically every public figure in Nigeria who is criticized in the press feels that money must have changed hands. This is probably because they themselves are not motivated to act out of principle.  That Odion could publicly report a conversation with a “King” is in itself an aberration. But it simply reminds one of the age old pidgin English adage that “na wall wey fall allow goat to climb am”!