Ubulu-Uku, Delta State | A fresh controversy has emerged in Ubulu-Uku Kingdom following a statement circulating on social media titled “Message for Ubulu-Uku Kingdom from the Palace,” allegedly signed by Prince Tony Ofulue.
In an official response released on Friday, the Onishe Ezemu of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, Chief James Asika Onwordi, dismissed the palace message as misleading and filled with what he described as false claims about the traditional governance of the kingdom and his role within it.
The response, addressed to the people of Ubulu-Uku, the Delta State Government, and the general public, was issued to “correct grave misrepresentations and deliberate attempts to mislead the public.”
Chief Onwordi firmly rejected claims that he unlawfully assumed the title of Onishe or that he could be suspended at will.
According to him, his installation followed established Ubulu-Uku customs and traditions, stressing that the position of Onishe is not a personal appointment that can be withdrawn without due process.
“Any claim of suspension must follow proper traditional procedures, council resolutions, and lawful notification,” the statement said. “None of these processes were validly completed. What is being presented is administrative manipulation, not lawful traditional action.”
Concerns Over Who Controls the Palace
A major issue raised in the response is the question of who currently exercises authority in the palace, especially during the prolonged absence of the Obi.
While the disputed palace message insists that the Obi retains final authority, it reportedly also admits that the Obi’s uncles are actively managing palace affairs, land issues, and administrative decisions.
Chief Onwordi described this as a dangerous contradiction.
“Unelected, uninstalled, and constitutionally undefined individuals have assumed executive control over the affairs of the kingdom,” the statement noted. “This is not customary governance and represents a serious deviation from tradition.”
The Onishe also denied allegations that he is leading a rebellion against the Obi or the palace.
He argued that speaking out against illegality, lack of transparency, and abuse of tradition does not amount to rebellion, but rather a defense of Ubulu-Uku’s heritage.
Labeling dissenting chiefs as rebels, he said, is a tactic aimed at silencing accountability and intimidating those who raise legitimate concerns.
Addressing accusations of illegal land sales, Chief Onwordi stated that no court of law has found him guilty of land grabbing or expropriation.
He maintained that he has never personally sold communal land and challenged accusers to present verified records or court judgments to support their claims.
“If there are genuine allegations, the appropriate place to address them is the court of law, not media propaganda,” the statement said, adding that the land accusations are being used to distract from the real issue of palace authority.
Clarification on the Role of the Obi’s Uncles
The response emphasized that, under Ubulu-Uku tradition, the Obi’s uncles serve strictly as advisers, not administrators or substitute rulers.
• According to the Onishe, custom does not empower any uncle of the Obi to:
• Issue palace directives
• Control communal land
• Act as final authority
• Decide the fate of titled chiefs
• Any arrangement that elevates advisory roles into executive power, he said, violates long-standing tradition.
In his concluding remarks, Chief Onwordi called for transparency, dialogue, and adherence to tradition and due process in resolving the matter.
He said he has continued to show restraint and respect for the institution of the Obi, insisting only that Ubulu-Uku must be governed by custom, law, and truth, not by proxy authority.
The people of Ubulu-Uku were urged to remain calm, vigilant, and committed to protecting the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
The statement was officially signed by The Onishe Ezemu of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom and dated Friday, January 16, 2026.
