By: Ike Philip Abiagom

Asaba represents an ancient kingdom endowed with enviable trans-generational, cultural and historical legacies. The capital city of Delta State, wears to date; an encomiastic paean evocative of the iconic founder NNEBISI a dexterous archer.

Ancient history has it that His father was a prince of the Atta of lgala . His mother DIABA was a native of NTEJE in Onitsho Division of the East Central State of Nigeria .The heirlooms from NNEBISI is what is being rekindled in the quest to install a befitting Asagba (leader) for the primeval city.

Educational achievements of Asaba stand tall. Education is no doubt a major industry in Asaba. Statistics show that in every household in Asaba, no fewer than five graduates in diverse fields of learning exist, little wonder then that Asaba today has produced well over a 100 professors and still counting. The aphorism of Asaba which is equity, fairness and justice therefore apt.

The unique role played by the revered late HRM Chike Edozie (of blessed memory) in the emancipation of Asaba in particular from the political economic stranglehold of the old Benin Emirate can never be forgotten and over-emphasised.

His struggle against social injustice, political enslavement, economic strangulation and developmental stagnation of Asaba as capital of Delta State was definitely without a doubt unparalleled and unquestionable. His love, devotion, dedication, loyalty for the growth and development of his community were unprecedented and appreciated.

The silence is deafening just as the obvious has become common place with everyone except a few playing the ostrich and believing that the vast majority are still gullible as it was in the past in this twenty-first century.

The rumour mill is grinding away dangerously with each passing day as to where the pendulum would likely swing to as directed by the God in Heaven and our ancestors but interpreted by men of power, money and influence. And yes, this is where the trouble lies-upturning the decision of the all-seeing God for selfish aggrandizement.

As deafening as the silence appear, there are obvious signals that all is not well with the kingdom selection of new Asagba, yet some are already arrogating to themselves the power of life and death even as others are insisting that only the right thing be done otherwise peace will continue to elude the kingdom as long as manipulations of the sacred revelations of the gods have become the order of the day.

To put it in perspective, various interest groups have sprung up propagating various theories and interpreting the “edict” to suit their whims and caprices. But one thing is crystal clear and that is the fact that Ahaba Chiefs(who is who) have insisted that the “next monarch must be independent, sound in mind and fit in character, morals and sound enough in the language, custom, culture and traditions of the Asaba people. On the tortuous journey to the nomination, selection of the next Asagba of Asaba, interested candidates or interest blocks have limited possible choices to Prof. Epiphany Azinge,SAN,OON, born 13 November 1957,is a Nigerian lawyer and academic. He was the 5th Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies from 2009 and 2014. He is a Judge at the Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal sitting in London, where he represents Nigeria and Africa. He is the founder and senior partner at Azinge & Azinge, a law firm in Abuja where his wife Valerie Azinge (also a SAN) is also a partner.

Epiphany had his secondary education at Sanit Patrick’s College, Asaba from 1970 to 1975. He studied law at the University of Lagos in 1976 and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980. He proceeded to the University of London for his Master’s degree in comparative constitutional law and shipping law in 1983. He proceeded to the London School of Economics for his Ph.D. His thesis was on Electoral Laws in Nigeria.In June 2015, he was appointed a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT) for a period of four years. He was re-appointed for another term of four years in 2019.

He started his career as a lecturer at the University of Benin, and then at the University of Abuja, where he introduced the information technology law in Nigeria in 1996. He also lectured at the Nasarawa State University.He was appointed Special Assistant to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Ashikodi Agbamuche where he served from 1991 to 1997. He was promoted to the status of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2006. He was the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced legas Studies from 2009 to 2014.
Azinge was awarded honorary LLD in 2013 by the Commonwealth University, Belize. In 2014 he was decorated with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by President Goodluck Jonathan. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

Azinge is an indigene of Asaba, Nigeria. He is married to Valerie Azinge, SAN and they have four children together, He is grounded in all areas,he is tucked away not too far from the kingdom and whose pedigree should be of interest to the king makers of Asaba land. He is a man of strong and stable character, independent minded and humble as a person worthy of traditional investigation for possible nomination, selection and enthronement baring any manipulation from the powers that be.

As national president of the Asaba Development Union Worldwide, Prof. Azinge pivoted the union meritoriously and singularly launched Asaba into an economic, social and political scheme not only in Delta State but also in Nigeria. Hence, his enthronement as the next Asagba of Asaba will not only be a blessing to the community but also a giant stride in the growth and development of the town and Anioma in general.
A well tutored academic on Nigerian legal system and politics, Prof. Azinge has a wealth of researched and written books in Nigerian legal system covering the period 1914 amalgamation to the present. In his writings, he evaluated component elements of federal, regional/state, and local government administration, analyzed Nigerian foreign policy, political parties and pressure groups.

A kind husband to his wife, dedicated father to his biological children and subjects, Prof. Azinge has left nothing to chance in his quest to see that the best happens to his community, bringing his knowledge and experience in life affairs to bear. As a result, his developmental strides have generated thrills and excitement among his people both at home and in the Diaspora as well as those who have cross his path.

Now that he has declared his interest for the throne first to the Elders of his village people ( Umudaike Village) and to his entire quarter Ugbomanta in Asaba. At this juncture,it is reveal that the emergence of Professor Epiphany Azinge, the Okilolo Ahaba as Regent was not accidental because the entire Anioma Nation sees the Asagba of Asaba as the traditional eagle head of the entire nation, we nolonger see Asagba stool of as Asaba affairs only, we need a man with international influencial status and a superlative gentleman like Professor Epiphany Azinge,the Okilolo Ahaba as the next Asagba of Asaba,not a mediocre.
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All said and done, Professor Epiphany Azinge no doubt deserves the title of Asagba of Asaba as he is without much ado the person the cap fits, let him wear it. His investiture will usher in peace, acceptance,progress, growth, development, love and unity in Asaba,Delta State and Nigeria in general.