THE PECULIAR
QUEEN (II)
“And more importantly,” Igwe
Ogadi Nduka rode on. “On that very day, the heir to this throne I am sitting on
would be presented to the entire people of Amaudo.”
The elders nodded in
appreciation. Consequently, 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. It suffices 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 died, but the second son of the king could be
enthroned if the supposed heir to the throne (the first son) died 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.” He informed, pointing the elegantly-looking royal chair.
“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, clad in complete royal regalia.
The gathering, which lasted for over an 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.
The rest is history, please.
Comrade Nwaozor, a novelist, playwright & poet, is
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
