'Ezechima Was Igbo’ — Benin Prince Reveals the Hidden History of Ubulu-Uku & the Oba of Benin

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Chioma was a noble, a well-known person, noble and not.

[00:00:07]Uh proficient and well-known in his tradition as an Igbo man because he was a proficient uh traditional medical medicine man and a metaphysicist.

[00:00:22]As our history has it, he was one of the best of the time.

[00:00:27]The next man that matched him was Ezemu, who was equally credited with his own special part of traditional and metaphysical work that has to do with longevity of life called Idai.

[00:00:42]Ezemu was known very well to be one of the chiefs or one of the Ezis or Enogies that served or performed for Oba Ewuare in the matters of extending longevity and the rest of Oba after Ewuare followed suit. We know that in our history to be true.

[00:01:05]>> [music] >> When Prince Efrem Nwabuokei Myibo makes his claims about this lineage, we are not just fact-checking a story.

[00:01:25]We are interrogating centuries of royal history, migration, and political identity.

[00:01:34]Eweka the first ruled from 12th century AD, in 1200, to 1235 AD.

[00:01:42]He is regarded as the first Oba, king of Benin, the founder of the Oba dynasty. Before that dynasty, what you had was the Ogiso era.

[00:01:55]Ewuare the first ruled from 1440 AD to 1473 AD.

[00:02:03]He is often called Ewuare the Great.

[00:02:06]There are three salient points that I picked from what he said, and we are going to analyze them one after the other.

[00:02:15]First of all, he said, "Chima was a metaphysicist.

[00:02:23]He said Chima was a spiritualist, noble or not." No, you don't say that, Ephraim.

[00:02:30]How do you say noble or not for a person who you have already ascertained is noble?

[00:02:37]A princely bloodline is not something you can wish away.

[00:02:40]Oba Leze, you have said he is a noble person. He is either noble or not. And then you don't just be flippantly calling him Chima, where you know the name is Eze Chima.

[00:02:55]But you have acknowledged, first of all, that he is an Igbo man, and I'm very pleased with that because that is factual.

[00:03:03]The second point you raised about Eze Mu, now, when you say noble or not, princely or not, I am by bloodline a descendant, a son of Eze Mu directly by right hand. Mu Eze Mu Gembu.

[00:03:19]And you just posited a lot of lies about Eze Mu alongside some truth. You can't say one truth and say three lies, and we accept them. No, we will call out the lie and accept the truth.

[00:03:41]Let's point out the truths about what you said. First of all, I have pointed out the truth that you acknowledged that Eze Chima is an Igbo man who recoiled back from Benin when he had a problem during the reign of Oba Ewuare.

[00:04:01]Now, some Benin historians, people like uh Chief the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Edisi, the late Esama of Benin.

[00:04:11]He believes that it was during the reign of Oba Orobato that Eze Chima was invited and made an Iyase of Benin. And that is why the people of that lineage till today are still greeted Lawu Eze.

[00:04:30]That aside, you have acknowledged that Eze Chima is an Igbo man. Good. You have also acknowledged that he is a very powerful spiritualist, a medicine man, a sorcerer. Good.

[00:04:44]Whether now when you now say noble or not, you begin to become mischievous.

[00:04:49]He is noble. If he is not noble, he will not bear the title Eze.

[00:04:54]All right? Now, let's come to my father, Ezemu.

[00:04:58]Ezemu did not reign in the time of Oba Ewuare. No.

[00:05:03]Ezemu, in fact, according to some Benin historians, is regarded as one of the Ogisos.

[00:05:12]The history book written by the Benin renowned author, Jacob Egharevba, regarded him as one of the sons of the Ogisos of Benin.

[00:05:21]But that is not true.

[00:05:24]This is to tell you the epoch of Ezemu's reign.

[00:05:27]Ezemu reigned in Ubuluku as the king of Obolo. Eze Obolo is what he was called.

[00:05:35]Ezemu of Obolo reigned from 12th century. That was during the time of Oba Ewueka the first.

[00:05:43]12th century.

[00:05:46]So, you see where you pick the holes as a most rain as a most dynasty his time his epoch of his reign has no business whatsoever with the time of Oba Ewuare which is around 14th century, 15th century. Okay? Now, Ewuare's reign was around the 12th century.

[00:06:07]And that was during the reign of Oba Eweka.

[00:06:09]That So, that is the lie that I am puncturing. The truth in what you said is what I have always said. I don't know why people like denying what is obvious.

[00:06:18]I said that Benin people, the Oba of Benin will come to Igboluku and spend 3 days minimum as part of his coronation rites.

[00:06:29]And that was not because of Idah. If it is Idah, we have a specialized lineage from Igboluku that live in Benin whose role is to perform these rites for them.

[00:06:40]But, the Oba must come to Igboluku and spend 3 days. You have acknowledged it in what you said that we continue that role. In fact, that the Obas after Ewuare continued. It was not Ewuare.

[00:06:53]It was instituted by Eweka the first.

[00:06:56]And then after Eweka, everybody continued to come to Igboluku including Ewuare himself.

[00:07:04]And that was why during the reign of the Oba that went to war with Igboluku, Akengbuda in 1750.

[00:07:14]Some people say Obioha went to pay homage. No, it was a diplomatic visit just like the Obi of Igboluku visits the Oba of Benin. The Oba of Benin visits Igboluku on a diplomatic visit.

[00:07:29]So, the Oba of Benin comes to Igboluku and you have rightly acknowledged that. And also acknowledge the fact that every Oba after Ewuare according to you, but I'm telling you now that it wasn't Ewuare.

[00:07:42]it was after a war car because it was a war car that became the first Oba.

[00:07:49]Aweka instituted it and it continued even onto this day and I have pictures to show. In some of my videos that I have put out here, I have posted pictures in this era of photography of Obas of Benin who have visited Ubuluku for their rights.

[00:08:08]This present Oba of Benin has not visited Ubuluku and the reasons are very obvious.

[00:08:14]Because our own community has its own internal political traditional political issues to deal with.

[00:08:22]So, there are some things you say right and some things you say wrong.

[00:08:27]This is just to make this very clear that my ancestor, Ezemu, was never in any way subservient to the Oba of Benin.

[00:08:37]And then secondly, whether it is a slip of tongue or you are deliberately once again being mischievous, what do you mean Enogie?

[00:08:47]>> [cheering] >> We are not a vassal kingdom to Benin.

[00:08:50]It is on record. You can type it in your phone now. Adesua war or Ubuluku versus Benin war.

[00:08:56]We were never a vassal kingdom to Benin.

[00:08:59]We went to war against the Oba of Benin.

[00:09:02]So, how do you call our king Enogie?

[00:09:04]Enogie means duke.

[00:09:07]How do you refer to the Obi of Ubuluku as Enogie?

[00:09:11]All you people that want to associate yourself or link yourself back to Benin, I have no issues with you at all. The problem is you trying to drag in ancient kingdoms alongside you.

[00:09:24]Ubuluku Ubolo kingdom is older than Benin kingdom.

[00:09:28]Hear that again and again. I said Ubolo kingdom is older than Benin.

[00:09:34]Because when you go back to when Oromiyan now returned, You now recall that he had gave birth to a son whose name is Isoduwa. Isoduwa now turned to Oduduwa. Whatever names is being mispronounced as you said or corrupted.

[00:09:50]Those were the errors that they founded Benin. By then, Ubuluku was already established, Ubulu Kingdom.

[00:09:55]We call it Ubuluku today, but it was Oborono, Ubuluku, and Ubulukiti.

[00:10:01]And Ubulu is the foundation of so many communities even across the Eastern Niger.

[00:10:07]That is why I mock people who say we are not able.

[00:10:10]Because no fewer than 20 communities across the River Niger migrated from Ubuluku.

[00:10:17]While there are existing lineages in Ubuluku that crossed the River Niger from Oni Kingdom and settled in Ubuluku even before Ezem got to Ubuluku.

[00:10:28]So, Ibobo ofu, but what I'm trying to point out here, Prince Ephraim Nwabuoke, my boy, I don't know since when you added my boy to your name.

[00:10:38]Well, Prince Ephraim Nwabuoke, note this and note it very well that Ubuluku is older than Benin.

[00:10:50]In fact, as a son of Ezem, I have to trace myself back to Ezem so that you will understand. Let me mention the monarchical order of kings of Ubulu for you so that you will understand.

[00:11:02]Ezem ruled Ubuluku from 1201 to 1288. That was before Eweka even became Oba of Benin.

[00:11:11]Ozimegu, the child of Ezem, became king, a female king, because Ozimegu is a woman.

[00:11:20]The first son died. The first son's name is Ijedin Kajezia died during a battle.

[00:11:25]And then, he commissioned the daughter as an Idebeli, a female man. She passed the of passage of transmission into manhood and she became a female man and gave birth to children. That is why I can say I am an Ozim today because of this Ozim.

[00:11:45]Because we came from the dynasty of a woman.

[00:11:48]Ozim. So, we are Umuozim. We are the kingmakers even onto this day. I can become the Opara Umuozim if I get to that old age. Now, Ozim gave birth to Oji Obalu. Oji Obalu ruled from 1296 to 1341.

[00:12:07]Then, he gave birth to Obi Awali.

[00:12:10]We all know these people. Their lineage is still today. Obi Awali is the father of all the people in Inubia today.

[00:12:18]We greet them afar.

[00:12:20]Obi Awali gave birth to Obulu Beleme.

[00:12:23]Obulu Beleme gave birth to Bar Beleme, gave birth to Oshai.

[00:12:28]Oshai gave birth to Shieze.

[00:12:30]Shieze gave birth to Diabo. Diabo gave birth to Obi Zabo. Zabo gave birth to Obi Obani.

[00:12:37]Obi Obani gave birth to Enale. Enale gave birth to Obi Olisa. Obi Olisa is directly the father of Obi Dieze. Dieze is the father of Obi Ojukwu. Ojukwu gave birth to Ojukwu Muobi.

[00:12:53]Ojukwu Obi is the father of seven sons. But, let me link it to mine.

[00:12:58]The name of my own father is Ojukwu Obi. Ojukwu Obi gave gave birth to Oshuleze. Oshuleze gave birth to Masha.

[00:13:08]Masha gave birth to Omudi. Omudi gave birth to Ogochukwu. Ogochukwu is my own father.

[00:13:14]So, you see me tracing myself back to Ezenmuo's dynasty. Now, Jebonma was a regent of my grand great great grandfather, Ojukwu Obi.

[00:13:25]Now, that is how our kingship went into regency.

[00:13:29]He left the royal bloodline of Ezemu into regency.

[00:13:33]We now have Jeboma, who is the same as Obioha Oghene.

[00:13:37]His title was Obioha Oghene, and he married a Bini woman and gave birth to a son called Usifo.

[00:13:44]Usifo gave birth to Obioha Obanwa.

[00:13:46]Obanwa gave birth to Nwajie. Nwajie gave birth to Obanwa. The name Obanwa came from when Mhm. One of Obanwa was dethroned and sent away from Benin Kingdom to exile.

[00:14:00]He came to Obulukwu and tarried for a while before proceeding to Calabar, where he eventually died.

[00:14:08]Did you hear that?

[00:14:09]That is why when he was escorted away from Obulukwu to Ishagu, where he boarded the canoe that took him all the way to Calabar.

[00:14:21]When the king was going to take his title, he said, "Name me Obioha Obanwa."

[00:14:25]That is, let the king come back. Let the king return. Obanwa.

[00:14:31]So, the name Obanwa is still in existence today in Obulukwu.

[00:14:36]Then, Obanwa gave birth to Okonkwo Ofunwa.

[00:14:41]Okonkwo Ofunwa gave birth to Chukwuyem Ofunwa.

[00:14:46]And it continues that way.

[00:14:48]This is the kingship of Obulukwu Kingdom. As at 14th century, when Ewuare was king of Benin, the person ruling Obulukwu as at then was Babaleme. We have already had our fifth king.

[00:15:02]So, Obulukwu is not in the same age or epoch with your hometown of Onitsha Olona.

[00:15:09]Obulukwu has well been established before Onitsha Olona and the rest, and before those who came back with Eze Chima. This is why in our history, the king who interacted with Obioha of Iselu Uku in Ubuluku history is Obi Ojoko, not Ezenmu. Obi Ojoko here is like the 12th king of Ubuluku.

[00:15:32]He was the one who interacted with Olilibo, the last the last male child of Eze Chima. This is pure history. And this is me telling you the story of my community as I have it in the palm of my hand from all our history and from published works. This document I read earlier is from the sociology of Ubuluku published in 2005. I also have another one here, the story of Ubulu Kingdom published in 2017.

[00:16:04]So, the history of Ubuluku, the history of my community is thoroughly documented. It is not something you can change with just one press statement.

[00:16:17]And luckily for us, we have a platform and we have a son like myself from the royal family who can debunk these lies.

[00:16:26]Thanks for watching this very beautiful video. My name once again is Prince Ohadike Nnadozie Ububaka Fortune. I will see you in my subsequent videos. Bye.

[00:16:42]>> [music] >> A new one.