Peace & Harmony As Muslim Monarch Rules A Christian Igbo Kingdom

Without a doubt we can categorically say that the Igbo tribe are predominately Christians by religion and they chose their leaders as well mostly from the Christian faith or Traditional believers. Reports lately reveals that that there is a kingdom in Igbo land were the traditional ruler is a devoted Muslim. That community is the ancient Umuofor kingdom in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state. His Royal Highness, Abdul Fatai Chima Emetumah Duru the 3rd and Ofor the 9th of Umuofor autonomous community is the royal father chosen by his community to be their custodian of culture and tradition.
Umuofor is a big community which agriculture is the main occupation of the people which they often export some of their farm produce to other parts of the state and beyond. Cassava and palm oil are the main export materials.

How Umuofor embraced Islam
In 1970, when Eze Abdul Gafar Ihunanze Duru Emetumah, 2nd, father of the incumbent traditional ruler of Umuofor was converted to Islam, his people who believed in his kindness and generosity followed him. Although he was yet to preside over Umuofor as their king, but in 1977 he eventually became their ruler then under Awa autonomous community comprising of Akabo, Awa and Ejemekwuru. By the time Eze Abdul Gafar was converted to Islam, his son, the incumbent monarch was just eleven years of age and automatically joined his father with the religion.

Umuofor under the reign of Eze Abdul fatai Chima Emetumah
After inheriting his father’s stool after his death, he continued with the religion as he grew from faith to faith and eventually turban by the late Emir of Kano, Adobayero in November, 1992. Islam according to the royal father goes beyond the religion of the northerners in the country, he described Islam as a universal religion, personal to the believer which preaches peace and oneness to all.

Umuofor join the world in celebrating Edil Kabir
The celebration of this years’ Edil Kabir was unique in Umuofor kingdom as all the muslim faithful prayed with their royal father at the mosque in the community and subsequently in a procession to the palace of Emetumah the 3rd. The royal father who also doubled as the chief Imam preached love and unity to his people who gathered at his palace . After listening to their king, they wine and dine with him and left with a gift each by the monarch.

Relationship between Christian and Islam worshippers in Umuofor
In spite of the traditional ruler being a muslim, their exists a cordial relationship between christians and muslims in the community . They both derives joy in participating in the festivals of their religions. As a matter of fact the king leads by example as he attend ceremonies he is invited by the three main churches in the community, even sometimes he finds time to worship with the church just opposite his palace. Oguta, the local government area of Umuofor have three central mosque.

What residents say about Islam in the community
An indigene of the community, Abdul Wahab Nwabuihe who said he joined Islam in 1971 and have trained all his ten children including his 13 grand children in the doctrine said they have no qualms with christians in the community. According to him they don’t believe in division as they inter marry and coexists as one. Another son of the soil, Obed Orumezie who is a christian corroborated the remarks of his muslim brothers and sisters. To him, he does not see anything strange in cooperating with the muslims in the country.

Eze Emetumah’s take on insurgency in the nation
He believes those hiding under the cloak of Islam to perpetrate evil in the country are not of Islam. The Insurgency , he believes is the handiwork of some selfish politicians in the country, he advised politicians to see politics as a sport were a looser embraces the victor.

Credit: The Leadership