ROBINSON AGBO-IDOGA BECOMES THE ‘ONYISHI ARUA’ OF UMUEZEOGWUI NDIOKE IBAGWA-AKA
By Nkem Ossai
History was made yesterday, the 3rd of November 2025, as Mr. Robinson Agbo-Idoga, Umu–Ogiri Abeje, takes over as “Onyishi Umuezeogwui, Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka (Akwebi). By this colorful ceremony, he is now the oldest man in Umuezeogwui, Ndioke, Ibagwa-Aka, Igbo-Eze South.
Yours sincerely, High Chief Nkem Ossai (Odenammuo 1) of Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka, was on hand to witness the ancient heritage of transfer of traditional (ancestral stool) power to Onyishi Robinson Agbo-Idoga at the palace of the immediate past Onyishi, late Emmanuel nwa Asogwa.
Performing the ceremony which brought together Onyishi Umu Elemagu, Onyishi Amagu Ndioke and the brand new Onyishi, the symbolic instruments of “ARUA EZEOGWUI” were displayed/shown to all the children of Umuezeogwui, Amagu Ndioke, Umuelemagu and enthusiastic observers present at the more than ‘2000 years’ ceremony.
According to traditions of Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka, it is said that the “Arua Totems” will be at rest in its new abode (Akpata), for sixteen days after which the grand ceremony called, “Nkposhite Arua” will be performed at the palace of the new Onyishi. The ceremony will bring together all the members of “Ama and Ogbulado” title holders, various other title holders, all the children of Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka and indeed, friends and well-wishers for a unique ceremony of “Nkposhite Arua” on 16th November, 2025. It will involve a grand celebration of the movement of the Arua symbolic Totems to a new abode which will see the entire village come together for an elaborate ceremony of eating and drinking.
Asked to comment on the fact that God brought him this far, as he takes over the ancient title of his fathers, Onyishi Robinson Agbo-Idoga, expressed joy that it pleased God to bestow on him, this mysterious ancient title of “Onyishi Umuezeogwui.” He prayed God for a lasting tenor and for peace in Umuezeogwui, Ndioke and Ibagwa-Aka in general. He appealed to all and sundry for support to enable him succeed.
We now wait till November 16, 2025 when the Arua and it’s Totems will come down from its ancient abode of “Akpata.”
Talking about the personality of the new Onyishi, Umuezeogwui, Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka, one is without doubt, confident that we are about to witness the reign of one of Ndioke’s most wise men. He is humble. He is patient and above all, very intelligent. I call him the ‘Cecerio’ of our time. Although he is not educated in the modern way of what we now know as education, he exhibits many qualities that will make you think he is a professor of ancient knowledge and wisdom.
I am hopeful that with the kind of wisdom and articulate native intelligence I have observed in him over time, his reign will witness peace, progress and unmeasurable tranquility in Umuezeogwui and Ndioke in general and even beyond.
