Anyameluhor:the Making of Inalu;birth of Eze II

During the 1700s,Asaba since it's inception had no central government,but a strong confederation of all the clans come together occasionally.occasionally,inspired leaders like Nnebisi,Agu,Ugbomanta take charge.the town had worked that way for a long time.they needed a strong,wise and confident leader.they had been living a life that places high value on individualism and personal freedom. A King offered many advantages among which is;first,he provided central government,second,since his sons would normally succed as king,there would be no crisis of leadership any time a king gets old.so the people of Asaba decided to have a king.the millitary drft,high taxation,the king's power to make his people slaves.apparently,Asaba king does not answer to any parliament but to himself. Three men rose to the occasion and became rivals for supremacy in Asaba political life;Obi Onyebuchi of Umuezei,Obi Inalu of Umuagu quarters and Afadia of Umuaji quarters.all were attractive,powerfull figures who commanded admiration and respect.all looked promising.what could be done?

Asaba just like any other town in that region was under Idu but Idu's influence on it was minimal.once in a while a warlike and expansionist Oba will make good his claim.although Idu's influence on Asaba was minimal,nobody will question their dominance.they only traverse Asaba and take two things;Earth (sand) and Water (river niger).

Now,the Oba(called Eze Idu at that time) was the representative of the gods on Earth.he was much feared by all.infact it was very rare to see an Oba.you can only whisper his name.he has absolute control over the people and they owe their lives to him. The distance between Asaba and Idu was great.infact some scholars attributed Idu's minimal influence on Asaba to the distance.the forests were very thick and fearsome. Obi set off to Idu to get the insignia of office.it was during this time that Afadia made himself King.it happened like this,Afadia and his friends belong to a group collectively called the 'Olinzeles'.they are a group of very wealthy and influencial individuals.the highest title in Asaba was the 'Obi' title. It seems that Asaba tolerated immigrants because Obi Igweli was a migrant from Issa who took the Eze title and married many wifes among whom is Nkwo,the daughter of Onyebuchi of Umuezei.

Asaba people usually hold their meetings in ogbe-afia market.if it rains,they retire to Afadia's compound where they will be entertained sumptously.hospitality was taken very seriously in ancient times.now an ambitious Afadia started a program of public relations aimed at making him look better than his rivals.taking advantage of the people's gestures and his rival Inalu's absence,Afadia made himself Asagba.this does not mean being a king but a title which the Olinzeles invented and means Asaba man with so much money and influence. If being an Obi seems impossible now,how much more facing an Oba as only Inalu dared to do that.Inalu seems to have everything going for him,tall,handsome,powerfull in every way,he struck people with his appearance.this must have contributed immensely to his credit.the Eze Idu was surprised to see him.Inalu had to pass through the trials of the Oba and was succesfull.the Eze Idu was so impressed that he praised him.thus the title 'Obajamma' in Asaba today.

Obi Inalu returned to Asaba with the insignia of office,much to the surprise of the people and chagrin of his rivals.they contested for the right but lost. Now,the installation rituals began;he had to fast for 40 days without food which is called the days of suffering and deprivation.Asaba Eze involves a lot of religous rituals that are strict and very costly.an Asaba Eze must be a native-descended from Nnebisi on the patrineal line.he has to go through a lot of trance or communication with the gods.if he survives,he has to keep all the ashes from the fire in his room.the fire will never go out. Next,is the installation.the various title holders will be present.ritual specialists from Nri had to be present,to confere the title as tradition demands as Nri is considered the place where the igbos began.Igala representatives will be there as Nnebisi is believed to be from Igala.it was during Inalu's reign that dignitries from Idu came.it was the greatest installation of any Eze in Asaba.he was recognised as the choosen one. Asaba bought and sold slaves.they buy them primarily for burial purposes and for services such as manual labour on their farms.and for the production of palm oil and other needs.each quarter had it's own 'slavecamp'.they are also used as a means of exchange.most of the slaves bought are mainly from Igala. As tradition demands,eight slaves were killed at Inalu's installation.the drum beats were sounding 'go for a slave,go for a slave'.an Asaba proverb says'a slave who laughs at the killing of a slave should remember his own day is coming'finally,Inalu knelt and the feathered red cap was placed on his head.he was given the cow tail and the horn.he stood up,raised the insignia of ofrfice and the allthe people greeted him 'Igwe'(Heaven).



The whole village feasted that throught the installation.thus the installation of an Asaba Eze is very costly and impossible.if an Eze dies during the installation ceremony,he will be thrown in the evil forest. menstruating women are not allowed to enter an Eze's Ukoni since she is stained.if a woman must enter,she must wear a man's clothing since she must have worn hers at a stage during mentruatiion.an Eze goes about attended by pages,with bells.he always wear a red feathered cap and does not carry a load on his head.they don't go to farm,they eat in seclusion of their kitchen.they have to starve in situations of hospitality.they don't go to the market.infact the restritions surrounding them are too much to observe now.they are dignified and called 'Obi'. Slaugtering

Slaugtering the rivals opponent was normal practice when one would be king won out over the other.such action tend to lessen the probability that the rival family willcompete for the throne again. Surprisingly,Inalu did not toe that line of action.he showed wisdom and firmness.his fame grew.like all true leaders,he made his country thrive by not who he was but by what he did.

Asaba probably reached her golden age during Inalu's reign.he was remembered by all.the land and culture flourished during his reign.he was known as the only true king os Asaba.he was the most powerfull of Asaba kings. After his death,seeing ther priviledges he enjoyed,jealousy and greed tore the town apart,giving rise to the 'Reing of the multiple Ezes'.the title was split.they claimed that it was to check despotism and tyranny. The people decided that any one who could preside over the meetings of Obis will be king.Obi Ofordu,son of Hagbaume of Umuagu quaters was made king.after his reign,Obi Nnemor,son of Obi Inalu was found worthy.