Condemnations, knocks and anger trail Nigeria’s traditional rulers’ visit to Abuja to welcome Prince Charles of England. Prince Charles who is also the Prince of Wales was on an official visit to Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of political power. Before coming to Nigeria where he was the guest of President Muhammadu Buhari with his wife, the couple had earlier visited Ghana where he was not accorded such honour.
Though, the reasons for the welcome party-like visit was not disclosed the kings to their subjects, the visit trended non-stop on social media – Facebook and twitter – albeit negatively as a result of the visit.
While some condemned it outrightly, others used so much unprintable words on the revered rulers who they say ought to be the ones that the Prince visited and not the other way round.
The uproar was triggered off by Lagos lawyer, Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, Esq., who described the visit as “Cultural Disaster In Abuja” on his Facebook wall.
Adegboruwa had wrote “Charles is still a Prince, as of today. All royal fathers were summoned to Abuja to meet with him. It should be the other way round. Obas, Obis, Emirs and Kings are to be honoured in their kingdoms and domains, and not to be lined up in Abuja to meet foreign visitors.
“Even at that, since there is no particular order of hierarchy for royal fathers in Nigeria, a round table sitting arrangement would have been better than this pupil arrangement of sitting very revered and respected royal fathers like people seated for examinations.
Adegboruwa went further to stoke the fire by saying, “The desperation for recognition and endorsement as 2019 approaches may backfire, if not properly handled.
“Our royal fathers should preserve the honour and dignity of their thrones.
“I remember that the immediate past Oba of Benin dignified his office and refused to pay any visit to Abuja for whatever reason. It was his courage and boldness that caused the Jonathan regime to hurriedly effect the reconstruction of the Benin-Ore Expressway.
“We need leaders like him in our present day Nigeria.
“The denigration of our royal fathers is outrageous to say the least. So, what will happen if the Queen herself should visit? The royal fathers will be asked to prostrate for her?
“Presently, Nigeria is a Republic, having fought for and gotten independence in 1960. We shouldn’t go back to the pre-colonial days,” the lawyer wrote. And that was what was needed to ignite the fire.
The facebook reaction to the post Was spearheaded by Mr. Fidelis Dukker, a moviemaker when he wrote “…. and the Obong of Calabar didn’t go visiting the Prince with others. At least better …”.
A barrage of reaction what followed minutes after. Below are some reactions from angry and disappointed Nigerians.
Uzodinma Okpechi A man.
Chima Nwankwo Was he invited?
Emeka J. Ossai He was not invited
Fidelis Duker Emeka J. Ossai so your Obi was there? Small chief
Emeka J. Ossai I’m not from Onitsha @Akpan �
Aghedo Emmanuel If true he was not invited that would not be proper for the history books make it very clear his importance to the relationship with the imperial powers and their trading companies and Christianity in Nigeria. Maybe the person doing the inviting could have known of he asked this knowledgeable of the rulers eminence in those days.
Bishop Kenneth Ebolum Where’s the Tor Tiv, Asagba of Asaba, Olowo of Owo, etc
George Buchi Nwabueze Second class chief.
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