The Agbor kingdom in Delta state,Nigeria is currently in a state of
confusion after their 37 year old King, the Dein of Agbor, Benjamin
Ikechukwu Kiagborekuzi I, secretly married a white woman, a decision said
to be unacceptable by his people who expected him to marry an Agbor woman.
The Dein who was crowned King when he was just two and a half
years old in 1979 following the death of his father, had all his education
abroad. He returned to Nigeria in 2001 after completing all his studies to
assume the throne as king and has been ruling his kingdom since without a
Queen.
Looks like he found love while he was abroad and decided to settle
down with her.
A highly respected palace Chief, Alika (surname withheld) told
Leadership newspapers that the ruling palace council had insisted that he gets
married to a Nigerian woman from Agbor kingdom according to the tradition but
appears their king called their bluff and married the white woman, a decision
seen as a taboo.
The Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty
Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi the First (Keagborekuzi I) is a monarch with a
very unique history. Agbor is a town in the oil-rich Delta State of Nigeria but
the king has put the town on global map.
He was born in July 1977, but following the unexpected death of his father, the late Obi in 1979, he was crowned the monarch at the age of two years, four months -the youngest anywhere in the world. This feat was noted in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1980 when he was acknowledged as the youngest crowned monarch.
He was born in July 1977, but following the unexpected death of his father, the late Obi in 1979, he was crowned the monarch at the age of two years, four months -the youngest anywhere in the world. This feat was noted in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1980 when he was acknowledged as the youngest crowned monarch.
The Dein of Agbor, when he was crowned in 1979 at the age of two years, four months, the youngest in the world. The Agbor Royal Family is called the Nhu-Dein. His mother later took him to England where he was baptized with the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Dein of Agbor attended the Catholic School of Kent and later, the College Bearwood in Surrey, College of San Benedict, Ealing and the Birbeck College in London. In his absence, a regent ruled until he came back in 2000 to fully resume duty as one of Nigeria's youngest traditional rulers.
He has no wife (thus Agbor Kingdom has no Queen
for now but there is a Queen Mother). Immediately after the coronation, he went
overseas for his education while a Regent ruled in his place. He obtained
various degrees and certificates and came back in 2001 when he took over
properly as the Dein of Agbor. He is passionate about horses. Despite his
busy schedule, he still finds time to ride them.
In
March 2006, he became the youngest monarch to be appointed the Chancellor of a
Federal University when former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him the
Chancellor of the University of Ilorin. He is currently the 4th Chancellor of
University of Ilorin and is the Officer (Order of the Crown of Belgium) and the
Vice-Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers' Council. He is also
of the Supreme Order of the Dein of Agbor, otherwise known as the Royal &
Dynastic Order of the Dein of Agbor (Supremo Ordine Del Dein Di Agbor Ordine
Reale E Dinastico). This Order was established in 2005 during his silver
jubilee celebrations of his coronation. He is the Grand Master Protector of the
Order and by virtue, he can bestow honours and awards on deserving individuals
who have contributed greatly to the development of Agbor Kingdom. Its motto
goes thus: 'By Spirit and Knowledge.'
Agbor is in the Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
When asked about his marital status,(I can feel the hearts of some ladies here fluttering already , he said:
"Now, you want to put me in trouble with my chiefs. The
wonderful answer is no. The press will be involved any time
such will happen. I look forward to being married. I am a
Christian and of a very young age."
“I truly love my people from the depth of my heart. But I do not like lies. I do not like it when people say bad things about their own brothers and sisters. If you see your brother or sister doing something wrong stop him or her. If you see your brother or sister in trouble, do something to help him or her. As long as all these are done, Agbor will continue to grow from strength to strength. There is no need for the people to work against each other.” The Dein is widely respected and greatly loved by his people.
Agbor Kingdom has been in existence since 721 BC. The name Ikeagborekuzi means 'What will Agbor people say now?' reflecting the controversy that surrounded his birth and coronation. His dad, the late king had many daughters and was worried until the Dein was born as the first son and Crown Prince.
His mother, the Queen Mother, Queen Victoria Nkem Egun Ikenchuku is also referred to as the Ojeba of Agbor. She was born on the 17th of January, 1960 and is the Honourable Commissioner for Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) (formerly of Women Affairs, Community & Social Development), Delta State.
Agbor is in the Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
When asked about his marital status,(I can feel the hearts of some ladies here fluttering already , he said:
"Now, you want to put me in trouble with my chiefs. The
wonderful answer is no. The press will be involved any time
such will happen. I look forward to being married. I am a
Christian and of a very young age."
“I truly love my people from the depth of my heart. But I do not like lies. I do not like it when people say bad things about their own brothers and sisters. If you see your brother or sister doing something wrong stop him or her. If you see your brother or sister in trouble, do something to help him or her. As long as all these are done, Agbor will continue to grow from strength to strength. There is no need for the people to work against each other.” The Dein is widely respected and greatly loved by his people.
Agbor Kingdom has been in existence since 721 BC. The name Ikeagborekuzi means 'What will Agbor people say now?' reflecting the controversy that surrounded his birth and coronation. His dad, the late king had many daughters and was worried until the Dein was born as the first son and Crown Prince.
His mother, the Queen Mother, Queen Victoria Nkem Egun Ikenchuku is also referred to as the Ojeba of Agbor. She was born on the 17th of January, 1960 and is the Honourable Commissioner for Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) (formerly of Women Affairs, Community & Social Development), Delta State.
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