By Clinton Asuoha
Most Nigerian traditional rulers are polygamous. This trend creates the impression that being a king comes with having more than one woman. But there are a few who are married to not more than one wife. Let’s show you some of them.
Alake of Ẹgba Land
Unlike many title holders, the Alake of Egbaland HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo is married to only one woman, Olori Tokunbo, and they have been married for 43 years. They say he’s the only long-serving Oba in this country with only one wife. He became Alake of Egbaland in 2005.
The Oba revealed recently at a wedding where he was the chairman that he still shares the same bed with his wife and mother of his children. This was after he praised her for being an incredible partner. He said they have a strong bond and he never had the need to marry another woman.
The Oba who is 80, said his grandfather had 24 wives, while his own father had three but he decided one wife was enough and even though he was an Oba, he and his wife have always shared same room and the same bed and that is how it will remain till death do them part.
2. Olu of Warri
Olu Ogiame Atuwatse was crowned the 21st Olu of Warri, of the Kingdom of Warri, on 21 August 2021. He succeeded his uncle, Ogiame Ikenwoli I, the 20th Olu of Warri.
Atuwatse was born in Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko (also known as Tsola Emiko) to Olu Atuwatse II, the 19th Olu of Warri (1987 to 2015), and Gladys Durorike Emiko.
Through his dad, he is a descendant of Olu Ginuwa (the 14th Olu of Warri), Olu Ginuwa II (the 17th Olu of Warri), and Olu Akengbuwa (the 19th Olu of Warri). On his mom’s side, Atuwatse is a descendant of the Royal Dynasty of Oranmiyan and the Ogboruu Royal House of Ile-Ife.
Ogiame Atuwatse III got a BA in International Studies and Political Science and a Master of Science in Management from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
He joined the NYSC in 2008 and served in the Public Affairs Department of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS). After his NYSC, Ogiame Atuwatse III was an officer at the Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator (SNCFPA) and Sahara Energy as a Government Relations Officer (between 2010 and 2012).
Also, the new Olu of Warri owns several companies, and is the Chairman of Ocean Marine Security Ltd., and Director at Gulf of Guinea Ltd. and Vessellink Nig. Ltd.
Who is the wife of Olu of Warri?
He is married to Olori Atuwatse III, Her Majesty and the Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom. The couple has three children.
3. Obi of Onitsha
His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe is a traditional ruler and the 21st Obi of Onitsha in Anambra State. He got a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Stanford University in 1966 and a Master’s in Business Administration from Columbia University.
Nnaemeka was a Director at Shell Petroleum Development companies in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ghana, Nigeria, the Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Angola (1985 – 1987) before becoming the Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 2015. Today, he is a trustee of the National Traditional Rulers Council and state Chairman in Anambra State
The Obi of Onitsha is a hereditary title to the royal lineage of Umuezechima. He is recognized both at the state and national level. Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe is often the first to be consulted on political, social, and traditional issues affecting southeastern Nigeria. Moreover, he is married to Lolo Chinwe Ngozi (née Ononye).
4. Dein of Agbor kingdom
Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi (Dein Keagborekuzi I) is the Dein of Agbor kingdom — one of the Igbo kingdoms in Delta State, Nigeria. In the Guinness Book of Records, he is Africa’s youngest person to be crowned a king. Keagborekuzi was crowned at two years and four months in 1979 after his dad’s sudden death (Obi Ikenchukwu I).
Dein Keagborekuzi I grew up in the United Kingdom and returned to Nigeria in 1981. He took over the governance of the monarchy in 2001. He is the Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and the Vice Chairman of the council of traditional rulers in Delta State.
Oba Keagborekuzi 1 married an Agbor woman he met at an event in America.
Their current Eze, Dein Keagborekuzi I, has brought many changes in the kingdom, including protecting the region from herders’ attacks and resolving the dispute between the Agbor-Obi Youth Movement and the police. He is currently working on ending the trafficking of persons in his domain.
