…Performs Ishu Onicha Festival on September 11
By Patrick Ochei
Issele-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, was a beehive of activities on September 5, 2026, as no fewer than 20 traditional rulers from different kingdoms honoured His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka, JP, (MNSE), on the occasion of his 10th Ine Aho Festival celebration.
The elated Obi Nduka lavishly received his royal counterparts in the palace chambers before stepping out with them for the Ime Uje at the Ezi Ogwa.
In his Ine Aho Festival message to the world, the culturally endowed monarch reverenced the Almighty God and the ancestors for blessing the traditional new year, which he said had brought enormous riches to the land of Issele-Uku.
Obi Nduka said the crops had performed well and the harvests had been bountiful, adding that the new yam festival was evidence of the immense favour of God upon the land.
He further stated that Issele-Uku had continued to make incremental progress in human capital development and infrastructural transformation, particularly with the prevailing peace, unity and love in the community.
He therefore commended the Delta State Government for the various road projects ongoing in Issele-Uku, including the DEFFRI Road, Ogboli Road, Issele-Uku/Idumuje-Unor Road and NYSC Road, as well as the already completed reconstruction of the Issele-Uku entrance road from the expressway.
The monarch assured the government that the community would continue to cooperate with it in line with its agenda for peace and security, in order to create room for more development.
The traditional rulers were enthused by their experience of the Ine Onyimi (Festival of Joy), a trademark of the Issele-Uku people, whose cultural heritage has been meticulously preserved for centuries.
The Obi of Ugboba Kingdom, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nkebakwu Emmanuel Ezedimbu III, who is the Chairman of the Aniocha North Traditional Rulers Committee, was in attendance alongside the Obi of Issele-Mkpitime, HRM Obi Sunday Ubaka Ogboli; Obi of Idumuogo, HRM Obi Samuel Otiegede; Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko, HRM Obi Chukwunonso Oreze Nwoko; Obi of Ogodor, HRM Obi Sunday Olisenweokwu; Obi of Ubulubu, HRM Obi Charles Ikechukwu Abiagom; and Obi of Obomkpa, HRM Obi Onyemaechi Josiah Kanyinaga I.
From other local government areas, the royal guests included the Agadagidi of Umunede, HRM Agadagidi Collins Ezenwali; Obi of Ubulu-Okiti, HRM Obi Michael Osemedua Isichei; Obi of Akumazi, HRM Obi Henry Ezeagwukpo Jegbefume; Gbesa 1 of Operemor, HRM King Dr. Ekioemi Oweiagbe John; Ovie of Arhavwarien, HRM Solomon Akporhiere Onojeta Okukeren III, (Vice Chairman of the Urhobo Traditional Rulers Committee); Ovie of Ogor, HRM Okiemute Onajite Igere 1; and Nna-Obodo of Akwukwu-Igbo, Chief (Dr.) Newton Jibunoh, among others whose presence was noted but not documented.
The Ine Onyimi was a colourful and fantastic display of culture and tradition, as Agbogidi Obi Nduka graciously performed the Inaka rites with the Onotu chiefs.
They included the Iyase of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Innocent Etenmua Ashiedu; the Ozah of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Victor Isiekwenamgbu; the Akogwu Omeanya of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Francis Ijei; the Okwalegwe of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief (Prof.) John Ochei; the Esogba of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Fidelis Jigide; and the Oloto of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Ignatius Memeh.
Following the Inaka segment of the Ine Festival came the Igbu Agbo later in the evening. It was a colourful display of anger, bravery and action in a warlike performance intended to ward off evil from the land. It symbolised the total extermination of evil from the land in order to usher in blessings and prosperity for the new traditional season.
The finality of the Ine Aho Festival series is the Ishu Onicha, which took place on Friday, September 11, 2026. At the ceremony, the final public sacrifice was offered in appreciation for a bountiful new yam season and in appeasement for a more glorious new traditional year.
It was another unique outing. Dressed in red royal regalia, Agbogidi Obi Nduka exhibited class and candour as he carried out his prayers and offered sacrifices at the Onicha shrine.
He was accompanied by the Olimgba drummers on one hand, and then the Egwu Issoh/Imanoba dancers, whose unique royal tunes elicited an unprecedented display of energy, with the king seamlessly performing in the rain without holding back.
Seated on the Ukpo, the Idime chiefs filed out according to their hierarchy to pay obeisance to the king and, in turn, receive royal blessings.
The Osodi of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Sunday Monyei, was the first to go for Inaka, followed by the UK-based Ideh of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief (Barr) Anthony Nwabuotu, and then the Osoezebi of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Nwakaife Ezieshi.
Others were the Ojugbana of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief (Prof.) Patrick Osiegbu; the Obazuaye of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief (Engr.) Onyeabor Nwabah; and, of course, the Uweh-Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Augustine Uche Maha.
All the chiefs who participated in the Inaka also took turns exchanging traditional greetings with the Ogbeleani of Issele-Uku, Diokpa Okonkwo Isimchei.
Seated beside the Ogbeleani were the Okpalabisis of the various villages that make up Issele-Uku as a community, and they were present to play their role as titled elders.
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