A Breach Of Tradition As Some Ubulu-Uku Chiefs Openly Challenge Their Monarch

By Braxton Ilobah

The authority of the young monarch of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty Obi Noah Chukwuka Akaeze 1, has been challenged by
some ceremonial chiefs in the community over certain decisions the Monarch has taken in recent time.

In a press release dated 11th August, 2025 and signed by no fewer than 16 chiefs led by Asika Onwordi, they contended that it was wrong for the king to allow the existence of a regent in his stead when he is rightly the reigning king.

Part of the release says that “it is to be noted that the Obi-in-Council does not accept regent when there is a king like His Royal Majesty as it is against the cherished principles of the people of Ubulu-Uku kingdom.”

As part of their grouse against the Monarch, the Chiefs rejected the dissolution of the town’s Youth Development Council which emerged at the February 18, 2025 election reportedly supervised by the Delta State Commissioner for Youth.

The Chiefs also picked hole in the Monarch’s appointment of a 6-man Caretaker Committee for the conduct of a fresh election for the Ubulu-Uku Development Council. According to them, the Monarch did not carry them along in setting up the Committee which is headed by a former Professor at the University of Port Harcourt with a renowned medical doctor as his deputy, both of whom are well respected indigenes of Ubulu-Uku. Regrettably, the Chiefs rejected their committee.

Investigation in the community by ATLANTICNEWSONLINE revealed that the Monarch who completed his university education about three years ago in London had taken some far reaching decisions sometime in May this year when he came to Nigeria.

Some sources said a lot of activities that were centrifugal to the unity of the town had been taking place in the community under the watch of the Obi-in-Council which had constituted a Caretaker Committee to take charge of governance in the town.

Under the watch of the chiefs, an election for a new executive committee of the Ubulu-Uku Development Council (UDC) was reportedly conducted but largely condemned as it was done in a controversial circumstance that ultimately pitched those who emerged victorious in that election against the caretaker committee and those allegedly disenfranchised.

The UDC executive committee that emerged from the controversial election was having credibility problem with some sections of the community championed by the Caretaker Committee appointed by the Obi-in-Council. This eventually resulted in litigation in court.

Similar thing had also happened to the Ubulu-Uku Youth Development Council (UYDC) as the executive committee legally elected a few years ago had not served out its term when the Caretaker Committee on the instructions of the Obi-in-Council conducted another election to display the existing exco.

These two scenarios reportedly created by the mis-governance of the Obi-in-Council in absence of the Monarch resulted in polarisation of the once peaceful community into different factions that were working at cross purposes, thereby promoting deep rooted disunity.

Even though the Monarch had not been on grounded, he had been well briefed and in other to have a one united and peaceful community, he decided to dissolve the caretaker committee and also disband the executive committees of both the UDC and UYDC.

To create a level playing field for everyone, the Monarch appointed a 6-man Caretaker Committee among other things, to conduct fresh elections for both the UDC and UYDC.

The Monarch in his wisdom followed this decision with a letter dated 18th July, 2025 to the Commissioner of Youths and Sports, conveying his decision to dissolve the controversial executive committee and conduct a fresh election.

Regrettably, in his reply dated 6th August, 2025 the Commissioner rejected the King’s position stating among other things that “a fresh election at this time is not feasible as the current EXCO has already been functioning as duly elected body.”

Some well informed indigenes of the community speaking anonymously to ATLANTICNEWSONLINE argued that some of the chiefs with strong connection in Delta State government were out to undermine the authority of the Monarch whose decision with respect to the dissolution of the UYDC was against their personal interest.

A good number of other indigenes spoken to, were quite displeased with the position of the chiefs many of whom, they said had contributed more to the crises at Ubulu-Uku than anything good. They had hailed the decision of the young monarch who is currently in his twenties.

According to some of them, what the 16 chiefs all of whom are reportedly not members of the Idimas (Traditional Council) did, was tantamount to rebellion against the Monarch.

Our investigation revealed that a larger number of Ubulu-Uku indigenes are worried over what some have described as treasonable act by the chiefs.

A member of the Royal family spoken to, told ATLANTICNEWSONLINE on Wednesday evening that the royal family was not going to leave any stone unturned as action of the chiefs was not only an embarrassment to the King but to Ubulu-Uku kingdom.