The 2019 Onitsha palace meeting experience

By Pharm. Ikenna Mbata

June 23, 2019.

The Ime Obi is not new to tourists, visitors, revelers nor festivities. It is an international tourist site sitting on an expanse of land on Awka Road in Inland Town, Onitsha. Her gates, skillfully crafted are always wide open to welcome both the nwa dị ani and the alien.

But this exposé is not about the Ime Obi. It is about the event of the day. Away from the largest cultural event that annually gathers Onitsha aborigines from far and near to pay tribute to the Igwe. Away from an official visit from the diplomatic corps or a state visit of a governor or president. To what then did Ime Obi owe this constellation of men of wits, a gathering of captains in various fields of human endeavour. Whence comes this assemblage of men, young and old, bonded by Ogssianic cords, on an unusual visit to the Onitsha monarch. Oh, they were all well-dressed, but of course, not in trademark and legendary Onitsha attire. Maybe, not as colourful too. Then what?

It was the Collegiate Ofala.

Back in time.

His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR is well known globally for his love for education. A distinguished Ogssian himself. He had sought to revive or rather swell up the membership of the Onitsha branch of the Old Boys’ Association beyond just himself, Pharm Uche Apakama (73A) and Pa Eugene Anoliefo (’53). He (Agbogidi, please) had humbly requested, on Ogssian National Publicity WhatsApp platform, that all old boys living in Onitsha and environs attend a meeting for the resuscitation of the branch, at his Palace. Then the invite was extended to all old boys residing in Anambra State and Asaba, Delta State. The National Publicity Secretary, in his characteristic manner, took up the role of sending out invitation on WhatsApp, and later issuing some laid-down age-long Palace ground rules for eventual attendees. But, beyond that, word had already gone forth. It had become a royal decree. A reunion of sorts and the WhatsApp platforms buzzed with the excitement of old boys indicating interest to attend this “reunion” outside Owerri. Yours sincerely was to be there and I thought deeply to christen this august gathering. Then I coined up a name for the occasion. Yes. Collegiate Ofala.

And the name stuck. It lived to its billing. The National Executive Committee was led by the National President. Branches had their executive members, classes had their representatives. The young old boys, the old and the older old boys were there. Likes of Sir Jonas Odocha (’59), Prof Sam Onyiriuka(’55), Hon Eddie Mbadiwe (’55) and many more respected old boys.

The day had started with paying of tribute to the monarch in the main Palace throne room. Then came a guided tour led jointly by the Palace chief of staff and our own Mr Olisa Egwuatu (’75), a son of the soil. The guides led the throng through the arena where the bronze statues of past Obi’s, from Eze Chima to Igwe Okagbue, were sculpted, giving very detailed highlights of each monarchs reign and genealogy. Then to the courtyard. The traditional courtrooms of the Palace. The settings were ancient, epochal, each feature with its own distinctive significance. This guided tour was a privilege. One most natives of Onitsha have not had themselves. Yet, Agbodigi was gracious enough to grant Ogssians such rarity. And we all got a peep into the hallowed courts and temples; saw the ancient breath-taking ogirisi trees well positioned in Obi Ụmụnna and Obi Okpala Eze. But beyond the sights, were the sounds – the voice of Mr Olisa Egwuatu (‘75). He kept eulogizing and extolling the virtues of Onitsha’s traditional heritage and of the Igwe. He was such a historian. I bet he could pass as a curator at Buckingham, a master of words and language and history.

At the main event of the day, a charge from His Royal Majesty elicited comments from old boys and would snow-ball into fund-raising for the Endowment Fund. There was enough to eat or drink. A royal banquet.

While the initial intentions of the Royal invitation were met by the resuscitation of the Greater Onitsha Branch of the Old Boys’ Association, the memories of the epochal Collegiate Ofala would linger for a lifetime. It was an event one would only wish it could happen again.