The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the last general elections, Peter Obi and the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman, National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria NTRCN, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, have grieved over the demise of Asagba of Asaba, HRM Professor Joseph Edozien.

Obi who is also a former Governor of Anambra State in a condolence message, said the late revered traditional ruler was a thoroughbred professional who always desired a better Nigeria.

He said “Now that the Royal Palace, of Asaba Kingdom after the traditional rites, officially announced the passing on to glory of their revered traditional ruler, the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Joseph Edozien, I wish to sincerely extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Edozien family of Asaba, and the good people of Asaba, the government and people of Delta State and indeed, our dear nation Nigeria, over the passing of this great traditional ruler. 

His Royal Highness was a thoroughbred professional who always desired a better Nigeria. His love for education was not only reflective of his passionate zeal for higher academic pursuits but in his desire for the growth of education in the larger society. 

As a deeply patriotic Nigerian, he always supported good causes for the good of the nation and always spoke, courageously, for accountable leadership. He was a lover of unity who promoted a more united Nigeria. He remained in the vanguard of promoting good governance in the nation. 

His fatherly leadership style in the Asaba kingdom greatly contributed to the sustenance of peace and unity in the kingdom and beyond. He lived a good life and left behind lasting legacies for the nation. 

I pray God to grant his soul eternal rest and grant his beloved family, the entire Asaba Kingdom, the government and people of Delta State, and indeed all of us who mourn him, the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss. 

Similarly, the Sultan in a statement by his Media Team said the Sultan received the news of the demise of Asagba of Asaba Kingdom, with rude shock,  describing late Professor Edozien as “an unputdownable member of the Nigerian Federation and the traditional institution in the country, whose memory cannot be wished away in a hurry”.

According to the statement, although news of his death was earlier debunked, it finally dawned last weekend that the leopard that was sick in the savannah forest was gone and the Sultan of Sokoto has mourned the late monarch, who was born on July 28, 1925 and died early February 2024, a few months before his 99th birthday anniversary.

“He was an eminent member of the National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria, who had been very positively contributory to the peace, unity and development of Nigeria in his own capacity as the Asagba of Asaba in ensuring that our diversity as a nation is truly a source of strength and not of conflict beyond management,” the Sultan recalled.

He condoled with the family of the deceased, government and good people of Delta State over the demise of the late eminent professor of medicine-turned monarch, while praying that God will grant every one of them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of the Asaba king.