IGBO COMMUNITY RULED BY A MUSLIM MONARCH
Igboland Traditionalists & Christians Crown Muslim King
--Attorney Patryk Utulu

IGBOS of Nigeria are 99 per cent Traditionalists and Christians. IGBOLAND (stretching from Igbo "Heartlands" in South-East to Igbo "Spear Points" in Delta State covering Oshimili [Asaba], Aniocha [Ogwashi-Uku], Ndokwa [Kwale] to the outer tips of Ika [Agbor]), are predominantly Traditionalists and Christians.

In Igbo Spear Points kingship is mostly hereditary (by bloodline) and succession is mostly by primogeniture (passing from fathers to first-born sons). When some Igbos crossed over thousands of years ago from the Heartlands to Spear Points those Igbos adopted the hereditary kingship culture of the Ancient Benin Empire with whom they shared old Mid West or BENDEL (yes, BENDEL meant BENin and DELta).

In Igbo Heartland kingship is predominantly NON-HEREDITARY. Kingship is gained by merit. The Igbos were practicing merit-based democracy thousands of years before America ever existed. Igbo kings arise by the will of peers and community. Based on a combination of factors (wealth, influence, leadership skill, bravery, etc.) a Community would elect/select a deserving son and make him king. It is seldom that his son would succeed him. Oral history and modern examples abound. Even British colonial authorities recognized/adapted to it.

IMO COMMUNITY CROWNS A MUSLIM KING

I detailed the background of merit, tradition and Christianity to demonstrate my happiness that regardless of religion, the Igbo heartland community of "ancient Umuofor Kingdom of Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State" crowned a "devout Muslim" as their traditional ruler...based on merit and ancestry.

His Royal Highness, Abdul Fatai Chima Emetumah Duru III and Ofor IX of Umuofor Autonomous Community was chosen as royal father and the custodian of community culture and tradition...regardless of religious differences.

BEST EXAMPLE OF WHAT NIGERIA SHOULD BE.

King Abdul Fatai Chima Emetumah Duru II was an 11-year old boy in 1970 when his father, Eze Abdul Gafar Ihunanze Duru Emetumah, then leader of the Umuofor community converted to Islam. Like 99% of the world the boy adopted his father's religion. Twenty-two years later, the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero ceremoniously turbaned King Abdul F.C.E. Duru III, in November 1992.

UMUOFOR COMMUNITY AND Id el Kabir 2014

For 2014 Id el Kabir festivities "all Muslim faithfuls prayed with their royal father who is also the Chief Imam at the Umuofor Community Mosque" and afterward followed him to his palace to celebrate. Notably, some traditionalists (non-Muslim non-Christian) members of the community joined in Islamic prayers with their king. Community relations among Umuofor Traditionalists, Christians and Muslims is said to be excellent. [picture: King Duru III; credit: Leadership]

As a Federal Constitutional Republic this is how Nigeria should be. Religion ought to be free, inclusive, voluntary and serving as points of unity and not as a sword for division. As a Nigerian honorary member of Sierra Leone Associations it never ceases to amaze me to see how Sierra Leonean Muslims and Christians cooperate. Whether it is Birthdays, Funerals, Graduation ceremonies, Christmas or Islamic celebrations ALL Sierra Leoneans show up. They discuss family, community, national issues and religion...without anger. You would not easily know who practiced what faith. To figure out their individual religions I had to carefully observe what each person or family was NOT eating or drinking.

Religion is NOT the problem. It is HOW you practice it that matters. After all, how many Nigerians knew that Sierra Leone's predominant religion is Islam, at 71%?

Patryk A. Utulu is a U.S.-based attorney and Strategic Communications Specialist
Global Defense Analyst and Global Events Commentator
Executive Vice President, Nigerian Diaspora-North America
Executive Director, The Center for Community Empowerment and Lifeskills, Inc.
[Rights Reserved 10102014. Copyrights Strictly Enforced. Fair Use Permitted].

One Luv,thats all we preach.

Emmmm
thats nice.

Ka mua pasa n'akuku

it sounds so odd and almost unbelievable when u hear something like "Alhaji Chukwuemeka Ogochukwu" . that combination no be am at all.

also when an igbo community selects an igbo muslim to rule over them.






























walahi, ego must be involved for an igbo man to venture into that religious line of trade.

Ayobase - you are entitled to think what you like. And you have the right to believe what you want but take a moment to read the article again and NOTE THE FACTS:
1. It was this king's father that first converted to Islam in 1970 when this king was just 11 years old. Did Muslims pay an 11 year old boy?
2. So the king "inherited" his religion as 99% of people in the world "inherit" their religions. Yes, 99 per cent of people in the modern world follow the religion of their parents. Only about 1 per cent convert or adopt other religions through marriage or for business

So, even if we accept your cynical comment that he did it for money (which is NOT true and for which you have no evidence) this king has been practicing this religion for 22 years. Twenty-two years suggests that someone is serious. Twenty-two years is enough to respect what holds sacred.

So, I suggest you read the article again, s-l-o-w-l-y.

PatrykUtulu:
Ayobase - you are entitled to think what you like. And you have the right to believe what you want but take a moment to read the article again and NOTE THE FACTS:
1. It was this king's father that first converted to Islam in 1970 when this king was just 11 years old. Did Muslims pay an 11 year old boy?
2. So the king "inherited" his religion as 99% of people in the world "inherit" their religions. Yes, 99 per cent of people in the modern world follow the religion of their parents. Only about 1 per cent convert or adopt other religions through marriage or for business

So, even if we accept your cynical comment that he did it for money (which is NOT true and for which you have no evidence) this king has been practicing this religion for 22 years. Twenty-two years suggests that someone is serious. Twenty-two years is enough to respect what holds sacred.

So, I suggest you read the article again, s-l-o-w-l-y.

my brother, nothing is cynical about my comment.....just the way it is.

I have always known the igbos to be the most dedicated religious people......I was shocked the day I heard Osadebe praising a muslim igbo.......thanks to my igbo friend who pointed out reasons of possibility.

come to think of it, a boy of 11yrs became a proselyte at such tender age.......just as it is dangerously difficult for a muslim to turn christian in the north, so it is for the igbos.


wait a second, and his conversion was in 1970. what a coincidence. after the igbos lost the war....... hia!


I told u. there was a foul play somewhere. it was politically, ethnically, socially, psychologically, emotionally and religiously motivated........a hungry soul can do anything to survive.

ayobase:



my brother, nothing is cynical about my comment.....just the way it is.

I have always known the igbos to be the most dedicated religious people......I was shocked the day I heard Osadebe praising a muslim igbo.......thanks to my igbo friend who pointed out reasons of possibility.

come to think of it, a boy of 11yrs became a proselyte at such tender age.......just as it is dangerously difficult for a muslim to turn christian in the north, so it is for the igbos.


wait a second, and his conversion was in 1970. what a coincidence. after the igbos lost the war....... hia!


I told u. there was a foul play somewhere. it was politically, ethnically, socially, psychologically, emotionally and religiously motivated........a hungry soul can do anything to survive.

Igbos don't and can't be Muslim unless they found one stupid Hausa or Muslim that has been blinded by Muslim religion...the Igbo man can make you look foolish by assuming that he is a Muslim so as to get something from you. I am Igbo so I know what I say


Don't yet rejoice ..I can put Alhaji Christopher and some gullible Muslim will be happy and give me business

But I choose the honors path

christopher123:


Igbos don't and can't be Muslim unless they found one stupid Hausa or Muslim that has been blinded by Muslim religion...the Igbo man can make you look foolish by assuming that he is a Muslim so as to get something from you. I am Igbo so I know what I say


Don't yet rejoice ..I can put Alhaji Christopher and some gullible Muslim will be happy and give me business

But I choose the honors path

God bless u brother......u do have a strong point.....my igbo friend told me that also.


but an 11yrs old boy conversion by 1970 is questionable. the boy must be hungry, and I gez he has no family who could call him to order......being a loyalist, he was later installed as king.

ayobase:



God bless u brother......u do have a strong point.....my igbo friend told me that also.


but an 11yrs old boy conversion by 1970 is questionable. the boy must be hungry, and I gez he has no family who could call him to order......being a loyalist, he was later installed as king.

You seems not to get the gist, did you read the article at all? His father which was the late king converted to muslim in 1970, so the little 11 year old son which happens to be the present king joined his father and converted to muslim then. Likewise the way we grew up and see our very selves in Christian and Muslim families. So will you say Muslims bribed the little boy then? The question should be on his father's conversion to Islam. Peace.

fulfillment2020:
You seems not to get the gist, did you read the article at all? His father which was the late king converted to muslim in 1970, so the little 11 year old son which happens to be the present king joined his father and converted to muslim then. Likewise the way we grew up and see our very selves in Christian and Muslim families. So will you say Muslims bribed the little boy then? The question should be on his father's conversion to Islam. Peace.

I mistook "this" to be "the"

all d same still.....i think the conditional legacy must prevail if the family wants to withhold title.