THE TRANSITION OF THE THRONE

Eze Ugo was given a befitting burial, at his funeral one won't believe the late king didn't have a male child as his funeral was graced with great men traditional rules, captain of industries, people that matter in politics and highly place individuals from all works of life.

The late King's funeral was more than the ofala of ten kings put together as Umunkata wore a different look that day.

Now, the king has been laid to rest and tussle for the kingship has start.

The cabinet has called for sons of Umunkata both home and abroad who are qualified for the position to indicate interest. Five sons of Umunkata indicated interest in the position but unfortunately three out of the five are from Ezi Obodo and as you know Ezi Obodo cannot rule over Umunkata.

Serious trouble rocked Umunkata as the people of Ezi Obodo insisted that the people of Ezi Obodo are not slaves in Umunkata and as freeborn they are stakeholders in the community and have the right to contest for any position.

The elders of the community tried to stop these young men and stood their ground that these age long tradition be followed to the letter. But they believe that no clan is more superior to the other, That if their forefathers accepted to be subjected to such, that the twenty first century Ezi Obodo will not allow any one ride on them.

One of the contest who is a lawyer did his background work very well and was able to establish that Ezi Obodo is being marginalized and was able to convince the people to allow the people of Ezi Obodo contest for the position. In his words "When it come to Kingship Ezi Obodo is not qualified, but may I remind you that the electricity you are enjoying today in Umunkata was attracted by professor Anya the former ministry of power, where is he from? Ezi Obodo. The water projects across Umunkata was initiated by Engineer Okafor a philanthropist, where is he from? Ezi Obodo, the good roads, markets, schools and so on was made possible by the governor, where is he from ?Ezi Obodo.

If these sons of Ezi Obodo can do all this for us and we praise them and call them son of the soil, sons of Umunkata. why can't we then allow the sons of Ezi Obodo to be indeed sons of the soil by allowing the contest for kingship. Imagine all those developmental projects was all executed in Ezi Obodo where would Umunkata be today.

When he was done speaking the elders separated themselves from the crowd and had a brief meeting where they agreed to allow the people of Ezi Obodo contest. When they returned to the crowd onowu said "We the cabinet has decided to give everybody equal opportunity to contest for it is the gods that makes a king not man, anyone that is chosen will go to Ajo ofia (evil forest) to the shrine of Umunkata to bring home the ofo (symbol of authority) and if the chosen one goes and return with the Ofo within seven days he shall be crowned king but if not the next Will go and so shall it continue till the ofo is brought home"

The contestants especially those from Ezi Obodo rejoiced because the ajo ofia (evil forest) is no longer evil as development and human habitation has extended to that area, one can simply drive to the shrine of Umunkata unlike those days.

After the election a son of Ezi Obodo the lawyer won and he was sent to the shrine to bring the Ofo he went into the shrine and saw the ofo on the ground immediately he bend down to pick it up thunder stroked him dead. After seven days he did come to present the Ofo to the people.

People believed as a lawyer he did not make it because he is not an honest man for the king of Umunkata must be an honest man.

They send the second person another son of Ezi Obodo and the same thing happened. People now said maybe the goods are angry because they are from Ezi Obodo.

They sent the third person this time not a son of Ezi Obodo and the same thing happened.

The elders became worried and the people of Umunkata very much afraid, that the remain two candidates had to give up their ambition because the don't want what happened to the other three to happen to them. The throne remained vacant great fear engulfed the whole land and nobody was ready to contest for the throne. The elders announced for qualified sons of Umunkata to come and contest but nobody was forthcoming until the Eze Ugo appeared to his son in-law Kelechi in the dream with a message to go forth and occupy the throne of Umunkata.

At first Kelechi did not want to take up the task because both him and his wife Olamma believe they are just fine without the kingship as they where living in wealth and influence already. But the continuous occurrence of this same dream coupled with yelling of the elders for a new king made him to consider the throne. Immediately, Kelechi indicated interest on the throne the whole community rejoiced, for he is such a peace loving and an upright man. They sent him to the shrine of Umunkata to get the Ofo and people gathered in the village square awaiting his return. Kelechi went on the mission and unlike the other ones he returned with the Ofo .

His return brought back light to Umunkata, the whole people rejoiced and welcomed the reign of a new king.