The Oba of Ogbaland, Dr Chukwumela Nnam Obi has died.
A statement by the Crown Prince, Barrister Nwachukwu Obi, on behalf of the Royal Household and Ogba Traditional Council, described the deceased monarch as “a bold, forthright, fearless, dynamic, committed, patriotic, peaceful, visionary, perspicuous, and selfless leader who wielded his sceptre with the fear of God.”
The statement further described the late monarch as “a mystical father of class and distinction who was greatly loved, as his poise and dignity defined royalty in a most auspicious manner”.
A recipient of the national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) since 1981 and the Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS), among others, Oba Nnam Obi II was the pioneer National President of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) and three-term Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The pioneer pro-chancellor and chairman of Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, 1980-1984); he was at various times, chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure; and chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
He was a member of Vision 2010; member, the National Council of Nigerian Vision, member of the National Political Reform Conference 2005, and the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among several others.
The Ogba Traditional Council, the statement hinted, has outlined details of traditional rites of passage which shall be made public in due course.
The Eze Ogba last December marked his 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary on the ancient Ukpe throne of the Ogba people.
