By Hardball,The Nation
Copyright thenationonlineng
Ancient lore teaches that the glory of a king is in the strength of his army. In modern terms, this translates to saying the status of a leader is measured by the size of the followership he controls. In Lagos, however, there’ve be title peddlers who arrogate themselves imperial status that no one but few fellow-conspirators recognise.
A self-styled ‘Obi of Lagos,’ Chibuike Azubike, is presently cooling his heels in police cell along with three accomplices pending their arraignment for alleged fraud and attempted disruption of public peace, according to the state police command. The 65-year-old, an indigene of Obodoukwu in Ideato North council area of Imo State, was recently arrested along with Chibuzor Ani (57), Martins Nwaodika (65) and Ikechukwu Franklin Nnadi (41) after the announcement of plans to install Azubike as ‘Obi of Lagos,’ unveil a prototype of a purported N1.5billion Palace of Obi of Lagos State and celebrate the Ofala/New Yam festival on Saturday, 13th September, at Apple Hall, Amuwo Odofin. The police said the venue was swiftly sealed off by security operatives to prevent public disturbance and protect unsuspecting members of the public from being misled.
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In a statement, Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh said the arrested persons’ plans were illegal under the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State (2015) and capable of disrupting public peace. He urged residents to be vigilant against impostors who exploit revered cultural institutions for personal gain.
Providing further details, Lagos command’s deputy spokesperson Babasaye Oluseyi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said preliminary investigations showed the aborted 13th September events were a ploy to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. His statement read: “Further findings revealed that the planned unveiling of the ‘Obi of Lagos Palace’ was fraudulently designed as a ploy to swindle unsuspecting personalities and other Nigerians of their hard-earned money… It was also established that the principal suspect acted alone, without the backing or recognition of any legitimate chieftaincy authority.” The spokesperson added that investigations were ongoing and all suspects will be arraigned in court once concluded. Meanwhile, according to him, Azubike has confessed to being merely a supplier of building materials and not a certified engineer as earlier advertised.
It isn’t that unrecognized titles are a new thing in Lagos. In April 2023, Frederick Nwajagu, a self-proclaimed Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, was arrested and later arraigned on terrorism charges after threatening to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to protect the properties of Igbo residents in Lagos. The thing with Azubike is the upscaled temerity of his impersonation. The official title of the traditional ruler of Lagos is ‘Oba of Lagos,’ and here’s an impostor assaying to be the ‘Obi of Lagos.’ Just how more daring could dare get?
