IKAWORLD.COM – When news hit the public that the Obi of Abavo has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mustapha there was confusion. The reaction was mixed and many people were speechless. According to an Abavo man, it is hard to know what this means. This has never happened in Ika land in modern history.
Ika Weekly
ABAVO MONARCH SETS FOR GREATER PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT
By Joe Osieze Onyibe
The Obi of Abavo Kingdom His Royal Majesty Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Irenuma II has said that his convertion to Islamic faith is not to detract him from his traditional functions but to spur him into greater participation in the socio-economic development of Abavo Kingdom, Ika nation and Delta State as a whole.
The Obi who gave the assurance while speaking to journalists during a civic reception accorded him on his return from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where he performed last December Haj, said that as first class traditional ruler and a Moslem in Delta State, it is his responsibility to complement government’s efforts in educating Moslem community about the government policies and programmes.
Recounting the five pillars of Islam, the Obi said the performance of Haj is an important religious obligation for all Islamic faithfuls as he prayed to Allah for giving him the opportunity to visit the Holy land and came back safely.
Obi Irenuma II who was escorted into the Abavo Royal Palace in a motorcade led by the Obi of Owa, His Royal Majesty Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II (JP), His Royal Majesty Agadagidi Ezenwali II, the Obi of Umunede Kigdom was cheered into a mammoth crowd of Abavo indigenes, friends, well-wishers as well as Arewa community in Ika land, led by the Chief Imam Alhaji Audu and Sariki Bagudu.
The Obi who was accompanied from Abuja Airport to Abavo by the leader of Arewa community in Delta State, Alhaji Galadima, proclaimed that he has forgiven any person or persons that must have offended him as he also requested those he must have offended in the cause of his traditional administration to forgive him in the name of Allah, God, saying that the Obi of Abavo yesterday is no longer the same today as he has adopted an open door policy in the administration of Abavo Kingdom.
He debunked the notion that Islam is a religion of the people of the North, saying that his visit to the Holy land enabled him to put Abavo world map as he has made friends with Moslems from Australia indonesia America, Europe and other parts of the world as he urged his people to come closer to him, saying, he has stated a new life with the warm embrace of Islamic religion, that brings him closer to God.
Addressing the Obi’s entourage during a courtesy call on him at Owa Royal Palace earlier, the Obi of Owa Kingdom His Royal Majesty Dr. E.O. Efeizomor II (JP) said Obi Irenuma has created history through this world with making any history adding that it was nothing to pass.
He said for the purpose of seeking alliance for progress, the Obi has gone beyond the confines of Nigeria to put his kingdom on the world map, and called on the people to rally round him for a better tomorrow.
Earlier, the President of Abavo clan union, Mr. Andrew Okoh and the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ifeanyi S. Ehijene have congratulated the Obi for the important religious and spiritual assignment in the holy land as they added that the grand reception was to honour whom the honour was due.
Mr. Andrew Okoh remarked that Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Iranuma II is not only the first traditional ruler in Delta State to visit the holy land of mecca, Saudi Arabia, but also the first Nigeria king to address his subjects on the internet.
And in his words, Dr. Ehijene appealed to Ika traditional rulers to form an Association Ika Traditional Rulers in order to provide a forum of discussion and interaction among themselves in order to chart a cause on the way forward for the over all development of Ika nation.
Full details of the civic reception will be published in our subsequent editions.
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