Under the weight of history and the hope of a brighter future, two ancient kingdoms—Asaba and Oko—have finally laid down the burdens of a decade-long dispute.
In a moving ceremony described by many as nothing short of redemptive, the Royal Majesties of both communities stood side by side, not as adversaries but as brothers, proving that even wounds left to fester for years can be healed with truth, courage, and dialogue.
It was more than a reconciliation. It was a homecoming and reunion.
A Fracture in the Family
The rift that once separated Asaba and Oko was not merely a legal disagreement. It was a crack in the very soul of a people who share bloodlines, borders, and a deep-rooted history.
What began in 2016 as a disagreement over traditional rulers’ stipends quietly grew into a bitter legal stalemate, one that robbed generations of trust and stifled cooperation.
Courtroom battles replaced community meetings. Injunctions silenced dialogue. And in the shadows, the people of both kingdoms waited, yearning not just for justice, but for peace.
A Leader’s Burden and a Promise Made
Enter Hon. Ezenyili Kelvin Obi, the Executive Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government. From the moment he assumed office in 2021, he made a quiet but resolute vow: this division will not outlive my administration.
Known to many as Ikemba of Ahaba and Oko, his mission was personal. Navigating two proud royal institutions, deep-seated emotions, and years of accumulated mistrust was never going to be easy. But Hon. Obi understood something that politics alone could not teach, that to build a future, one must first heal the past.
“Today is not just the resolution of a conflict. It is the redemption of our collective spirit,” he said, his voice rich with emotion as he addressed the gathered dignitaries, palace chiefs, and villagers at the Oshimili South Council Secretariat.
Peace, Earned and Accounted For
More than words were offered. Hon. Obi presented financial records with surgical transparency—over ₦522 million preserved during the dispute in a dedicated account, untouched until peace was restored.
“This is not just about reconciliation. It’s about rebuilding trust,” he said, handing over the original documents to both royal houses. “Accountability is the first fruit of peace.”
The moment was met with applause, but more importantly, with relief.
Voices of Royalty, Echoes of Unity
The Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, rose with humility and grace, reflecting on a journey marked by patience and purpose.
“There was never a war, only a silence that lasted too long,” he said. “But now, we speak again, as one family.”
In a powerful gesture of brotherhood, he publicly thanked HRM Engr. Eze Osita, the Akor of Oko, not only for his role in reconciliation but for attending his coronation as Asagba of Asaba, a symbol of healing that no court verdict could ever decree.
The Akor’s response was equally profound: “What happened in the past will stay there. From today, we walk as partners, for peace, for our people, for posterity.”
It wasn’t just kings talking. It was legacy being rewritten in real time.
The People Rejoice: ‘Our Spirit is Whole Again’
From palace chiefs to schoolchildren, market women to elders, the news of peace rippled through Oshimili South like a long-awaited rainfall on parched soil. The reconciliation means more than resumed stipends or halted lawsuits, it means the revival of joint festivals, cross-community development, and the restoration of a shared destiny.
A Governor’s Quiet Hand
The role of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was also acknowledged, his steadfast support credited as instrumental in allowing diplomacy to flourish. “The Governor believes in peace, not as a policy, but as a principle,” said his Special Adviser on Peacebuilding, Chief Edwin Uzor.
Not Just an Ending, It’s A Beginning
As the ceremony concluded with prayers, handshakes, and the symbolic exchange of documents, it became clear to all present: this was not the end of a conflict, but the beginning of a new covenant. A covenant that says culture is stronger than conflict. Unity can outlive division.
And leadership is measured not by how one wins, but how one brings others to the table.
Hon. Obi closed with a final blessing: “May this peace echo across our communities, into every home, and into the hearts of our people. May it last beyond our time.”
And in the heart of Delta State, where two great kingdoms once stood apart, they now stand together, stronger for the struggle, wiser from the wounds, and ready for the future.
What This Means Going Forward
Traditional rulers’ stipends to be disbursed transparently going forward.
Asaba and Oko expected to collaborate on cultural, economic, and educational projects.
Oshimili South poised to enter a new era of unified development and inter-kingdom cooperation.
In a time when division seems easier than dialogue, Asaba and Oko have shown Nigeria, and the world, what it means to reconcile not just on paper, but in spirit.
