Walking the Path of Cultural Conformity

HRM Philip Obele - L, Nwa'for Oji Awala, R

By Nwafor Oji Awala.

What makes us the Eleme people unique is not merely our language or names, but our way of life: our customs, our beliefs, and our sacred practices. At the heart of this heritage stand our chiefs and priests, sworn custodians of our tradition, entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the very soul of our land. When chiefs fail to uphold the chieftaincy institutions in line with our traditional norms and ancient values, they betray the essence of our foundation and the spiritual backbone of Eleme.

There ought to be no camps and defections in our chieftaincy institutions, for the roles of chiefs are spiritual and underpin the very foundation on which the land thrives. Traditional chiefs are not political actors who waver from coast to coast, looking for roots to hold on to in order to remain afloat. The chieftaincy stool is sacred, not a platform for personal ambition or survival.

The critical question remains: must everyone who can feed his stomach with good food and expensive wine become a chief? Are there no other ways for those with wealth in our midst to contribute meaningfully and uplift our community than by scheming to usurp sacred stools? To reduce the revered thrones of our fathers, the backbone of Eleme’s ethnic existence, into commodities for the highest bidder is to make a mockery of the very institution that holds us together as a people.

We are fortunate that the King of Eleme, HRM Dr. Philip Osaro Obele, DSSRS, as destiny would have it, is not only a monarch but also a teacher and a student of history. He understands that the actors of today inevitably become the subjects of tomorrow’s studies. He understands that legacies outlive even the greatest of men. He understands the delicate strings that tie politicians to the crown, as well as the deep valleys that often divide them.

History offers us a stern warning. In the 1970s, Eleme was plunged into bitter division by a chieftaincy crisis, worsened by government recognition of a stool that shattered harmony. That singular act slaughtered the albatross of peace and tore apart the cultural robe that clothed us. If we have healed from those wounds, should we now tread the same ruinous path that once left us exposed and vulnerable?

Wisdom demands that we tread carefully. Let us walk the path of cultural conformity and dignity. Let us allow the law courts to draw the curtain on this unfortunate episode. And above all, let us remember that traditional institutions are not mere relics of the past, they are the living soul of our people, the compass of our values, and the sacred flame that must not be extinguished.

History will judge us, either as custodians who preserved the dignity of Eleme or as destroyers who sold it cheaply for wine, fleeting wealth, and momentary pleasure. The choice is ours.

(c) Nwafor Oji Awala