Ab initio, Amaudo an ancient kingdom situated in Enugu – the then
capital city of East Central Zone, Nigeria was unarguably known for its
uniqueness in the whole of Igboland, especially during early eighties (1980s),
based on the innumerable number of respected personalities found in the area in
addition to the invariable and rare farming prowess peculiar to its indigenes
in their entirety that it obviously became a point of attraction to every
rational being that existed within the aforementioned calendar period. Traders
and farmers were frequently touring to the area to purchase their wares and
farming materials as the case may be, thereby making it reckoned to be a commercial
kingdom to the envy of other neighbouring communities. Owing to the booming
nature of the locality, its Traditional Ruler Igwe Ogadi Nduka – Ama II of
Amaudo was recognized by all and sundry as the most influential King across the
entire Igbo nation; this remarkable phenomenon attached to the throne made it
seemed like what every illustrious son of Amaudo wished to sit on. The most
fascinating scenario was that anyone either indigene or non-indigene who
received a chieftaincy title from the kingdom was widely regarded as one of the
most important chiefs in existence; thus any personality within the clan whom
was yet to bag the title was seen as one who hadn’t arrived, thereby
constituting an unending inconsequential controversy among the people especially
during occasions or festive periods.
“Igwe..!” the community’s town crier Uzondu saluted Igwe Nduka, head
bent as the custom expected right in the king’s palace. “Igwe…ee!!” the short,
dark and plump young man repeated.
He was standing about two metres away from the King who was seated on
his magnificent and adorable throne surrounded by two palace male servants whom
were busy blowing some air on him with native hand-fans made of wicker material.
He had been ordered by the king
just a few minutes ago to appear before him in the palace.
It was on Friday September 10, 1982 at about some minutes past six in
the evening.
“Uzondu.” Igwe Nduka called.
“Igwe.” He responded, lowering
his moderately big skull.
“Summon all the sons and
daughters of Amaudo,” the King mandated. “Ask them to be in this palace as soon
as the cock crows tomorrow.”
“Igwe…ee”
“Go immediately.” The King commanded.
“Igwe…ee.” He said, bowing as usual and hastily dashed out of the palace
as demanded.
The following morning being Saturday 11th of September 1982
at about seven o’clock, the palace was flooded with every dick and harry in
Amaudo as requested by the king; the alarming number of people present at the
palace was no doubt an indication that Igwe Nduka was highly adored by his
people. An open place at the King’s residence was used as the venue for the
gathering rather than the palace due to the intimidating number of persons at
the arena.
Every elderly man and woman was comfortably seated while the youth as
well as the kids were all on their feet as a result of insufficient seats.
“Great people of Amaudo,” Igwe Nduka who sat on his throne commenced his
awaited speech in a very high and pleasant tone. “You are all welcome.”
On the King’s right hand was his immediate younger brother Chief Amaechi
Nduka while High Chief Amasiri Ogbuehi – the Traditional Prime Minister (TPM)
of the ancient kingdom was rightly seated by his left side.
“Igwe…ee!” The people chorused in unison.
“Without being told,” Igwe Nduka who dressed in his kingship regalia
proceeded. “You already know why we are gathered here.” He hinted.
The elders amidst the crowd nodded.
“Of course, a week today September 18 would be our Iri Ji festival,” the
king said. “So, I thought it wise to remind you of the formalities involved
based on our ancient tradition.”
‘Iri Ji’ festival, which was an annual event, meant New Yam festival;
the remarkable ritual which was celebrated every 18th of September
marked the beginning of yam consumption for each farming year in the kingdom.
Thus no one, not even the king, was supposed to consume a newly harvested yam
until the ‘Iri Ji’ ceremony is observed.
“And more importantly,” Igwe Nduka rode on. “On that very day, the heir
to this throne I’m sitting on would be presented to the entire people of
Amaudo.”
The elders nodded in appreciation. There was maximum silence among the gathering.
Interestingly, the heir to the throne of Amaudo was meant to be
ceremoniously presented by the serving king in every fifty years interval, and
the ceremony was designed to coincide with the day of the new yam festival of
the affected year. Igwe Ogadi Nduka – Ama the second (Ama II) of Amaudo whom
was eight-three years of age was presented by his late father, the pioneer and
immediate past king, Igwe Obifere Nduka – Ama the first (Ama I) of Amaudo as
the heir to the throne in question fifty years back when he (Igwe Ogadi) was
33-years-old; and he succeeded his late father two years after the event at 35,
after his father’s eternal exit. Suffice it to say that he had consecutively
spent about forty-eight years on the throne as the Ama II of Amaudo, making him
the longest served king in the kingdom so far.
According to the tradition, the
kingship of Amaudo wasn’t rotatory rather hereditary. The first son of the
serving king was meant to succeed him when he dies, but the second son of the
king could be enthroned if the supposed heir to the throne (the first son) dies
prior to his father’s departure. And a situation where the king had no male
child to succeed him, his immediate younger brother would assume the throne if
he eventually passed on.
“As it stands,” the old but vibrant Igwe Nduka continued. “Ahamefula my
son will be officially presented on that day as the heir to this throne.”
“Igwe…ee!” They chorused unanimously.
Prince Ahamefula, who was 51, was the fourth child and only son of Igwe
Nduka whom had two wives; he was begotten by the King’s second wife. The said
Prince was seated very close to his father - the King, clad in complete royal
regalia.
The gathering, which lasted for over one hour, ended successfully after
light refreshments. At about half past eight, everyone departed for their
respective residences.
On Friday 17th of September 1982, less than a day to the
proposed New Yam festival coupled with the presentation of the heir to the
throne, something very terrible transpired; Prince Ahamefula Nduka – the incoming
heir to the throne kicked the bucket unexpectedly. He passed on in the evening
of that fateful day in his matrimonial room. The incident, which generated an
unquantifiable uproar in the royal home and among the people of Amaudo
interrupted every activity taking place in the kingdom including trading,
farming and what have you. Owing to the painful development, Igwe Nduka died of
heart attack at the night of that very day.
Consequently, in one year’s time after observing all the burial and
mourning rites of the late king and that of his late son, on Saturday October
22, 1983, Chief Amaechi Nduka the late king’s immediate younger brother was
enthroned as the Ama the third (Ama III) of Amaudo by the Chief Priest of the
land as the custom demanded.
Subsequently, Igwe Amaechi Nduka’s reign
as the king of Amaudo brought a total hardship to the entire people of the
kingdom and its environs; to say the least, he was not unlike a tyrant. His
leadership was completely contrary to the reign of his late elder brother.
Amazingly, four months on, precisely Tuesday 14th of February
1984, he mysteriously died on the throne. Prior to his exit, he confessed that
he, alongside Late Igwe Ogadi’s first wife – Ugoeze Obiageri was responsible
for the untimely death of Prince Ahamefula; according to the confession, the late
Prince was killed via food poisoning with the help of the aforesaid queen.
She willingly accepted the offer due to her silly jealousy; she couldn’t
imagine seeing the son of her sister in-law recognized as the heir of the
throne, or succeeding her husband Igwe Ogadi Nduka when he dies.
Two weeks later as nemesis would have it, the peculiar queen was
overtaken by psychosis.
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