Ogbueshi Chinedu Richard Esealuka, a prominent Asaba chief and former Ochendo of his quarter, has congratulated His Royal Majesty, Obi (Prof.) Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, FNIALS, LLD, The 14th Asagba of Asaba, on the second anniversary of his coronation on 2 October 2026. He described the reign as purposeful, unifying and development-conscious, and said the anniversary was a fitting moment for reflection on the direction of the traditional institution.
In a congratulatory message, Esealuka said two years may seem brief in the life of a throne, yet what matters is what has been achieved, the course that has been set, and the confidence inspired among the people. He added that Asaba requires an institution faithful to its history and customs, yet responsive to present realities, and that the Asagba has shown that understanding.
He commended efforts to strengthen the institutional and physical foundations of the kingdom. Among projects linked to the anniversary are the development of the permanent palace grounds, a 1,000-capacity event centre, the Asaba Community Smart School at Obiajé/Akwuose, a cemetery, the renovation and beautification of Ogbeke Square, and the beautification of Kainebisi Roundabout.
These works, he said, go beyond ceremony. The palace is the institutional home of the Asagba and a rallying point for the people; the event centre, school, cemetery and improved public spaces have practical value. In his view, the reign has sought to turn traditional leadership into visible community benefit.
Esealuka praised the monarch for encouraging Asaba sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to contribute to their ancestral community. No ruler, he noted, can develop a kingdom alone. What is essential is the capacity to gather the people, build confidence, and give each person a place in the progress of Asaba.
He also welcomed the broadening of participation in traditional governance, especially the greater recognition and elevation of women. The role of women in Asaba’s development, he said, cannot be overemphasised, and any effort that grants them fuller standing is an investment in the kingdom’s future.
He commended the Asagba’s engagement with institutions whose work affects the welfare of Asaba, and the consistent use of the throne to advocate infrastructure, services and development. Leadership, he observed, must extend beyond the palace: the Asagba must speak for the people, engage government and agencies, draw attention to community needs, and call the sons and daughters of Asaba home. He cited, among other examples, the 2025 engagement with the Niger Delta Development Commission on flood-related and other critical challenges.
Esealuka further described the planned Asaba Massacre Memorial activities as a solemn duty to history. A people who forget their past, he said, lose part of their identity. The Massacre is not a distant entry in a book; it is part of the story of the people, and its memory is owed both to those who died and to generations yet unborn.
The anniversary, he concluded, should be more than a celebration of the monarch. It should be an occasion to mark what has been done, to identify what remains, and to work together for a stronger, more prosperous and more united Asaba. He urged title holders, community leaders, professionals, business people and the young to support the institution and give their quota, holding that common identity as Asaba people must rise above individual differences. The stool belongs to all, and its success should be the success of Asaba.
Wishing His Royal Majesty many more years of peaceful and fruitful reign, Esealuka prayed for wisdom, health and strength for the Asagba, that the years ahead may bring greater accomplishment, and that history may remember this reign as one that advanced the progress, unity and dignity of Ani Ahaba.
