Reward For Humility …Obudibo: A Humble King’s Example

Royalty in any clime, especially most parts of the African Continent comes with an unusual aura of authority, benumbing panache, very intimidating clout, annoying display of wealth, over confident exhibition of power and majesty, a tempting air of grandeur and very often, a tinge of arrogance and pride. Perceived, seen, and beheld by subjects as first among equals in their Kingdoms, their words are laws.
In other far away lands, the British Monarchy remains one of the most relevant, enduring, respected, adored and powerful, if you like, even if the Queen performs mere ceremonial functions, as distinct from the political machinery that governs Great Britain. To date, most members of the Commonwealth view the Queen of England, the incumbent of British Monarchy as the symbol of traditional, even government authority to whom they demonstrate unimaginable reverence.
So worshipped, every issue affecting even her children and grand children are top of the news all over the world, and in some ways explain the awesome majesty of royalty as replicated in many other climes, though in various degrees.
Here, in Nigeria, monarchs are not only symbols of traditional authority, they wield so much powers that make, even the highest of political office holders, bow to them in reverence even if the laws of the land do not prescribe specific and or effective roles beyond advisory, for them in governance. By these pedigrees, it is very difficult for a King, Emir, Oba, Alafin, Obong, Eze, Ochiyi, Amananowi, Gbenemene, Nyenweli, Igwe or an Amanyanabo to live small. Infact, empathising too much with commoners, years ago, was seen as descration of royalty in some Kingdoms.
This is why a King’s display of  great humility, unusual simplicity, rare patience, love for peace and the ability to endure scorn as reward for his chosen lowliness, carves out, King Emmanuel Ibiagoleka T. Obudibo, Ikwo The V, Amanyanabo of Ogoloma Kingdom, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, as a rare epitome of how power of any kind must be exercised, convinced it’s a gift from God.
From his communication style to his social disposition to life, constant distance from vain-anger, ability to foster peace, even in the most volatile of times and lowly attitude to affluence, King Obudibo radiates wisdom, love, warmth, leadership, fatherhood, friendship, piety and indeed the fear of God. These are why his increasing popularity in the affairs of the state and nation should serve as an example to both the young and aged alike.
I recall a day in mid-2004, at a time when royal fathers traversed every available landscape with an accolade of personal aides, using the choicest of automobiles, this royal father opted to join a queue at the Garrison Bus Stop, awaiting a cab on his way to Ozuboko. It took this writer more than 20 minutes of appeal to get the royal father to use the vehicle in which I was travelling, while I picked a cab.
Months later, this writer pioneered the formation of what became known as Ogoloma  Developmet Association (ODA), amidst fierce opposition, from many who used to file around him, with the sole purpose of raising funds to purchase an official car for the Monarch’s use. Again, it took this writer days to get the Monarch accept such a gesture, his response being, ‘God’s time is the best’.
“Indeed, this is God’s time, otherwise this thought will not come to me”, was how I managed to convince the royal father to get the programme going. That 505 saloon car presented to him December 30, 2004, by the ODA a week after the fund launch, became the King’s first official car, which he accepted with great reluctance.
His devotion to faith is even more benumbing. As a monarch, but a Senior member of the Brotherhood of the  Cross and Star, King Obudibo, according to worshippers, is a worthy example of humility before God and man, to emulate. An instance is when the place of worship elects to embark on open-air evangelism, a time when, members undertake a spiritual rally round designated areas in prayers, sanctification and praise to God. At such times, being a royal father, the King could leverage on his high position to withdraw from such exercise but no, his response to those who suggest was often, we are all simply dust before the creator.
But perhaps the most ‘annoying’ part of his humility was his protracted silence to obvious marginalisation by successive local government authorities, whose moral duty it should be to include the welfare needs of royal fathers in their administrations. Strangely, each time he was persuaded to make necessary demands as enjoyed by his ilk in other areas, his response was the same, in God’s time, all things will be beautiful.
In view of that disposition to life, some Chiefs even found in his humility, their own opportunity to rub shoulders with him and many times, even chose to undermine his relevance. At other times, planners of government events would insist that he waited at the chosen venue, along with others, without the familiar courtesy visits to Monarchs.
It was Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who broke the jinx in that respect. Shortly after assumption of office, in 2007, on his tour of local government areas, on a thank you and needs tour and to hold public parliament, Ogoloma was listed as one of the venues. However security and protocol arrangement did not provide for a visit by the Governor to the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma, even if, Ogoloma Market Square was venue for the parliament. Instead, the monarch was advised to join all others at the Market Square, amidst protest by few in the area.
But as soon as Governor Amaechi arrived the town, he observed the mood and enquired from this writer, what the frowning faces meant. Told that it was in protest against plans that the Governor would not pay homage to the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma, against security and protocol concerns, Amaechi asked to be shown the residence of the royal father, where he found his host even ready to make it to the Market Square, against the protests.
An amazed Governor Amaechi told his host, the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma that he had been told of his rare humility and love for peace, but didn’t know that what he had heard was far less than a quarter of what everyone needed to learn from the monarch.
That indeed became the first day a serving governor would honour the Ikwo stool with such courtesy, since King Obudibo’s ascension to the throne of his fathers, in July 1978, presentation to the Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs on Saturday August 12, 1978 at the Ogoloma Town Hall and his formal elevation to Amanyanabo of Ogoloma and eventual government recognition on March 21, 1981.
From thence to date, King Obudibo has remained the truly blessed servant of God who must be adored, a ‘priceless bride’ to the political elite, a father, who is ever willing to listen and advise, and his humble residence, a Mecca of sorts to all desiring alternative approach to rancour, bloodbath, hatred and indeed strife.
Last week Thursday, King Obudibo played host to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, his wife, the First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, accompanied by Governor Amaechi and other top National and State officials, where, he conferred on the President, the Chieftaincy title of Selolia meaning, Star of the Nations, and the First Lady, Se-Nyengibo, Mother of the Nation.
Such is the affluence, popularity and acceptance King Obudibo today enjoys after years of humility and dedication to exemplary leadership and service to the throne and his people.
Emmanuel, thou hath blesseth, might well have been the divine inheritance to which he was destined, to be heir, without many knowing, while some others considered his legendary love for peace, service, fear of God and true humility as signs of royal weakness.
But in King Obudibo, can be learnt one of many lessons – God’s own time is truly the best.
My Agony is that in our clime today, once a young man is made family head, even on acting capacity, elected Councillor or appointed Supervisor by the Council, his GSM phone becomes too heavy to carry, he requires aides to take or ignore calls and would demand to be respected and worshipped.
Methinks, Nigeria would be a better place, if one and all, see life through the eyes of King Obudibo, and subject self to patience, tolerance, humility, endurance, empathy with the weak and embrace of solitude, all the time as a bride. The rewards, in recognition though slow in coming, still do come and in amazing ways.

President Jonathan And King Obudibo