By: Ike Philip Abiagom
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]r Dominic Okonta, DCS.CISM.CEH. SSCP has added another feather to his royalty with his coronation as (Ogbueshi) Chukwutubeugo,”Onye ego na ejele ozi” at Onaje Quarters,Asaba. Alor title is one of the major titles in various Anioma towns especially among the Enuani communities although the origin remains largely unknown. In other Anioma communities the name is either retained or known as “Ichi-nmor” depending on the particular society. In places like Asaba, an Mkpalor is known as “Ogbueshi”. The Ogbueshi, only a dialectical version of Ogbuenyi involves a traditional practice in which a particular male has metaphorically killed a cow. It has been emphasized that cow in the traditional sense symbolizes the mother earth. The Ogbueshi process is complex yet,ecessary in our society where it is practiced. However, it is called “Mkpalor” in communities like Asaba, Ibusa, Akwukwu-Igbo and others.
The Mkpalor come with integrity, honour and authority for some traditional reasons. Alor is an expensive title with rigorous ceremonies that require efforts and money to embark on especially in individual capacity. To be an Mkpalor, one must be a male and must have lost his father to death. It is the loss of the father that symbolizes the manhood status in him. Although age is not a factor here, it is an abomination for anyone to share Alor status with his living father. What is derivable from it is that the rites of Alor does not recognize anyone as a man in the presence of his father since it is the demise of the father that thrust one with fatherhood and accompanying fatherly responsibilities.
Ogbueshi(Dr) Dominic Okonta, DCS.CISM.CEH. SSCP, the American based medical doctor is being conferred with the Alor Title (Ogbueshi) Chukwutubeugo,”Onye ego na ejele ozi” at Onaje Quarters,Asaba, Delta State.In Asaba Alor title (Ogbueshi) has some well cherished expectation, not fighting in the streets, must not be found publicly drunk or misbehave, shall not steal or be found guilty of any misconduct, involve in criminal activity as doing any of the foregoing would tantamount to demeaning the traditional office and the honour that characterises it as well as watering down the esteem of other traditional title holders in Asaba community.
Ogbueshi(Dr) Dominic Okonta,is eminently qualified considering the fact that he lost his father some years ago. Since then has never allowed the situation to depress him, rather he focused on the realisation of his life ambition. Infact, the condition that he must be fatherless before he can be qualified for the title made him to once more regret his father’s death. As disclosed by him, he would have preferred forgoing the title, and seeing his father witness his achievements.
On Wednesday 4th January, 2023, history was made in the Onaje Quarters,Asaba, when Dr Dominic Okonta join the elitist elders’ club which is the Ogbueshi Ahaba. However, His Quarter discovered that something was missing in his life which he must achieve in order to further move higher. Considering this, the community found Dr Dominic Okonta worthy of Alor (Ogbueshi) title, and for him to accept it, without postponement, a town crier was assigned to announce the intention of the members of his traditional council, and the date of the ceremony.
According to Odogwu of Asaba,Obi Agbogidi Nwanze Nwa-Oduah, with Okonta’s excellent performance, developmental strides, very mature attitude and human dispositions, the people could no longer wait for him to grow up higher traditionally coupled with his status as an asset to the people of Onaje Quarters, and his kinsmen in particular.
Going down memory lane, we are reminded why the traditional history of Asaba says, that until and unless one becomes an Ogbueshi Ahaba, he remains strongly and very solidly a member of the community’s workforce, in order words, the person shall actively participate in all community’s menial jobs and youth’s group activities such a carrying of corpses/caskets and digging of graves during burial ceremonies as well as other community errands, among others.‘But today Ogbueshi Okonta escaped all these as he has really bought the exalted status of an elder in the community with his money as he can conveniently and comfortably sit in a meeting with elders in all traditional, customary and social occasions, take all vital decisions affecting the lives, welfare and development of his people as an accomplished community leader’’.
Before he clinched the title, Okonta diligently went through the traditional rigors which started with the customary preliminary hurdle, which is known as Igbu Egwu-Ogwa’’, which is the first part of the initiation process and determines his suitability, followed by other traditional matters including the official fixing of dates as well as provision of the statutory requirements needed to actualize the ambition of the aspirants.
As expected, he went through the five days traditional ceremony, which involves provision of hundreds of sizeable tubers of yams, cows, lavish cooking of foods and quantum supply of assorted drinks, Apart from payment of high impressively specified sums of money that makes the title an exclusive privilege for few persons who are capable as well as other prerequisites needed to make one an elder in the midst of others in the society.