By Justice Iyasere

He stepped into the palace hall as an ordinary man. The palace, a cluster of edifices, though uncompleted, occupies an expansive parcel of land at Otor-Udu, political and traditional headquarters of the Udu people, in Udu local government area of Delta state. A huge crowd had gathered to witness the transformation and coronation of their new King. They were expectant. But a veil shielded the rostrum from the rest of the spectators. The Kingmakers were inside, performing their traditional role of crowning the King. By the time the curtain falls, HRM Engr Mike Ogheneovo Orugbo JP, KP, Okporua 1, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom has been duly decorated, crowned and seated on the beautifully designated throne. The crown was sitting majestically on his head, a crown of enigma; it was a spectacle of excessive dignity, the epiphany of royalty and the mystery of a man destined for the throne.

‘Behold your King’ was the message, and the crowd erupted into a frenzy of unmistakable joy and ecstasy. He was an awesome sight to behold. His flowing regalia enunciated the splendour of his majesty. Spotting a royal smile, amplified by the dignity of his carriage, he radiated the aura of one truly made for royalty. The grandeur of his amazing glory in those regalia was breathtaking. The Chiefs and nobles rose in total reverence for their King, and the crowd followed in echoing the eternal royal greeting: ‘’Udu Ovo! Udu Ovo!! Udu Ovo!!! Wo sun tor.

History was made with a bang. The ovation was loud and clear. For once, Udu got it right. Udu successfully crowned their second King on June 7, 2025 without a single gunshot fired at opponents in the battle of succession to the throne. There may be some feeble but inappropriate resistance from a couple of persons who indicated interests, but these were resolved amicably.  

Shakespeare once observed that ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.’ The ascension of the bespectacled technocrat, HRM Engr Mike Orugbo, to the throne is an exceptional case of a man destined for greatness. He did not fight to be King. His case was that of a man whose head was destined for the crown. His kernel was indeed cracked by a benevolent spirit. Men fell over heels in mounting pressures on him to take over the mantle of leadership. They strongly believed he possessed the charm and charisma to light up Udu in an unprecedented, amazing glow. People appealed to him to rise to the occasion to remake and rebrand Udu in the sparkles of modernism and class.

In the Beginning: Chief Eddie Ono-Sorhue blazed the trail by rallying people of like mind to prevail on him to accept the crown. He rebuffed all entreaties. His friends, some royalties, were enlisted to make him see reasons why he was raised for a time like this to unite Udu. According to Ono-Sorhue, ‘’traditional rulers are not just the bastions of a jaded and obsolete institution. They are naturalistic and original. They exist not just as romanticised symbols of a nostalgic past but as dynamic models of timeless grandeur. Engr Mike Orugbo fits the bill, and we must do everything to convince him to accept the crown’’.

Other notable Udu sons from the Okporua Ruling House who were interested in the crown, like Engr Alex Neyin, a retired top management staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Chief Luke Djebah, the Ovwata of Udu Kingdom, Barr Moses Uchere, President of Oghior Community and several others, had deferred to Engr Mike Orugbo, declaring without equivocation that they would surrender their ambition if he accepted the mantle.

On Thursday May 8, 2025, the Chief Eddie Ono-Sorhue team, comprising Engr Alex Neyin with the full support of the council boss, Olorogun Vincent Ogheneruemu Oyibode, rallied presidents of the five Okporua communities to convene a meeting at the Ogbe-Udu country home of Engr Mike Orugbo where a full delegation of community presidents, elders, women, youths and critical stakeholders from all over Okporua placed a public call on him to accept the offer for him to be King. It was a well-calculated ambush. He was hesitant, but eventually, he accepted the offer, and the journey to the throne began. He, however, insisted that due process must be followed and that he was not willing to jump the gun and be King through any foul means.

As soon as the news hit the airwaves that Engr Mike Orugbo had accepted to be King, the tempo changed, and a flurry of activities and solidarity visits followed. On May 13, all Udu chiefs of Okporua extraction, led by Chief Luke Djebah in the absence of Chief Godwin Notoma, who was on vacation abroad, and Udu youths from all over the Kingdom, led by Comrade Igho Onobraekpeyan paid him solidarity visits, pledging total allegiance to his candidature. On Saturday, May 17, the presidents of all 32 Udu Communities, led by Engr John Uviejitobor visited to pledge their loyalties. This was followed by the Forum of all Udu chiefs, who came in their number to pledge loyalty on May 19.

The Election: Meanwhile, in exercise of his powers as the Otota and Regent of Udu Kingdom, Chief Sam Odibo had forwarded a letter to the Okporua ruling house, requesting them to send their nominee(s) to the throne of the Ovie of Udu Kingdom to his office for consideration by the Council of Chiefs or Kingmakers. The letter was dated May 7, and Okporua had 30 days to respond by sending their nominee from the date of receipt to the office of the Otota. The letter stimulated a series of meetings by communities in the Okporua ruling house until elections were eventually scheduled for June 6, 2027.

Besides Engr Mike Orugbo from Ogbe-Udu community, other aspirants to the throne were Chief Wisdom Ghaghara, Chief Gasper Ighwre, Chief Ernest Mereh, Sir Obukowho Doghor, Barr Abraham Kolodi and Kesiena Joseph Towe all from Oghior community. Names of the delegates from the five communities were announced a week before the election. The election, which was held at the Ogbe-Udu town hall was witnessed by prominent chiefs from the other six ruling houses in Udu, including Chief Steve Sokoh from Ovwian Ruling House, Chief Austin Emaduku from Uloho, Chief Lucky Mughelle from Owhrode, Chief Austin Lafua from Owhorhu and Chief Gowon Ogheneovo from Adadja while Justice G.K.B Gbemre (rtd) served as principal observer during the election.

Before the poll on the scheduled date, Chief Ernest Mereh announced his intention to step down for Engr Mike Orugbo. He announced that he would not contest with Engr Orugbo because of his pedigree and achievements for the people. The election was held via option A4, and Engr Mike Orugbo was duly declared the winner at the end of the day. The result was immediately communicated to Chief Sam Odibo, and without much ado, he fixed the following day, Saturday, June, 7, 2025 for the coronation of the new King, subject to approval of the Kingmakers. A meeting of the Kingmakers was held at the private residence of the Otota/Regent, Chief Sam Odibo, at 10am the following morning. Following the affirmation of Engr. Mike Orugbo's candidature as Ovie-designate, the Kingmakers move en-masse to Otor-Udu, for the coronation proper.

THE MAN

HRM Engr Mike Ogheneovo Orugbo was born at Ubogo (Showho’s compound) to Late Pa. James Eyatsiremu Orugbo of Ogbe-Udu and Late Mrs Onameyore Orugbo (Nee Esekairoro) of Emadadja, all in Udu LGA of Delta State. The name Michael was given to him by his maternal grandmother’s younger brother, Late Poko of Emadadja.

He attended Emadadja Primary School, Emadadja and proceeded to Urhobo College, Effurun, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi and Teesside University, UK.

Work and Businesses: He began his career in Engineering at NNPC where he had the privilege to be part of the pioneer staff in July 1977. He rose to the position of Senior Instrument Engineer before venturing into the private sector.

Engr Mike Orugbo’s love for Engineering knows no bounds. He set up an Engineering Service Company, O-Secul Nigeria Ltd, that pioneered technology-driven Equipment and Plant Maintenance in Nigeria. O-Secul has become a household name in various industries in the areas of Equipment Condition Monitoring (ECM) and Plant Reliability. The company renders extensive services to almost all the major players in the Oil and Gas, Manufacturing (Cement), Power Generation, Food and Beverages, Refinery and Petrochemical industries, among others. The company has established an extensive relationship with several European and American companies as their Local Business Partners in Nigeria and some other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to the above, Engr Mike Orugbo has been involved in the promotion and development of various projects, including NAFCON Acquisition, Aladja Industrial Energy Park (AIEP), just to mention a few. He is also presently into Logistics (Cars and Trucks hire), Agriculture (Aquaculture), Private Equity and Solar Power Businesses.

As a Christian and Family Man: He tenaciously practices the Christian faith into which he was born. He worships at the God’s Kingdom Mission, where he has held all the highest positions at national and branch levels by God’s grace. He is Foundation Elder (FE) and recently awarded a Kingdom Pillar of the Church.

Following in his footsteps, the Engineering profession now flows in the family with his eldest son acquiring a Doctorate in Engineering in the UK, his stepson, younger brother and nephew acquiring Master's degree in Engineering also in the UK, while his eldest grandson is also into an engineering degree course in the USA.

The Orugbo Dynasty: He is so blessed by God in many aspects of his life, happily married to two beautiful, lovely and amiable wives, wonderful and lovely children, biological (4), step children (4) and inherited from his late father (31).  

The Orugbo dynasty is today known all over the world, having second and third generation Nigerian, American and European citizens. God granted him the grace and privilege to open the door to University education in the Orugbo family, and today, there are Engineers, Lawyers, Medical Doctors, Nurses, Accountants, Teachers among others. He rose from a humble background, having lost his mother quite early (when he was 12 years old and his younger brother, Chief Andrew Orugbo just 6 years old) and wading through the vicissitudes of life. He loved and cherished his mother so much, no wonder he did not only name his eldest daughter, Dr (Mrs) Onameyore Utuama (nee Orugbo) after her, but also set up a foundation in her memory, the Onameyore Foundation.

A King and Unifier: The ascension of HRM Engr Mike Orugbo, Okporua 1, to the throne of his fathers has totally united all tendencies within the traditional polity. Many who subscribed to different creeds and factions have openly declared to sheathe their swords and cooperate with Okporua 1 to take Udu to a higher level of development.

His Highness is already working hard to build a modern Udu with a think tank in place to help drive various action plans in the best interest of the people. As Udu prepares for the presentation of the Staff of Office to His Majesty, the people are proud they have a King who is god-fearing, urbane, contented, unassuming yet unafraid of battles, unpretentious yet unflinching, humble yet tough. His moves are swift and decisive, delivering on set goals with such precision and mental clarity that defied common reasoning. I have studied this man, and he is certainly a leader one should be proud to have. Congratulations, Okporua 1. Indeed, those born to lead are few; those born to follow are many. We have a King! Congratulations to Udu. Udu Ovo! Wo sun tor!!!

Justice Iyasere is former Vice Chairman, Udu Local Government Council, Otor-Udu.

Wado Admin

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