By Onome Oghenetega
A former two-time governorship candidate in Delta State and Special Adviser to Governor Sherriff Oborevwori on Project Monitoring, Engr. Goodnews Agbi PhD, has been crowned as the first Ovie of Oyede Kingdom in the Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.
Agbi, an astute politician and academic, was crowned at an historic ceremony inside the Edion traditional hall on Saturday, marking the historic shift from the age-long Odiologbo system of rulership.
The coronation officially brings to an end the Odiologbo system, which had hitherto allowed the oldest man in the community to ascend the throne.
The newly introduced Ovieship, already approved and gazetted by the Delta State Government, will now rotate among the three recognized ruling houses in the kingdom.
The new monarch, to be known as His Royal Majesty, Engr. Goodnews Goodman Agbi, PhD, Athuaro I, hails from the Athuaro royal family and emerged through a unanimous endorsement by the nine kingmakers drawn from the three ruling houses.
He was presented to the Oyede Traditional Council by the Clan Otota of Iyede Kingdom, High Chief Apah Itesah, before being crowned by the Iyasere of Oyede Kingdom, High Chief Eta Enahoro, following the performance of traditional rites.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Oyede Traditional Council of Chiefs, High Chief Abighe Itiveh, alongside High Chief Apah Itesah, described the transition as constitutional and in line with laid-down guidelines, noting that it had the backing of critical stakeholders, including the late Odiologbo, Idiareh Joseph.
They called on sons and daughters of the kingdom to support the new monarch in moving the community forward.
Also speaking, High Chief Eta Enahoro expressed satisfaction with the successful transition, stating that the emergence of an Ovie would enhance development and attract greater government presence to the area.
In his acceptance speech, HRM Agbi described his emergence as a “new dawn” for Oyede Kingdom, pledging to promote unity, uphold tradition, and lead with the fear of God.
He urged stakeholders, youths, and women to support his administration in charting a new course for the kingdom.
Oyede Kingdom had operated the Odiologbo system until the death of its last holder in 2025, paving the way for the full implementation of the Ovieship structure, earlier gazetted by the state government in 2020.
The 66-year-old new Ovie of Oyede Kingdom is a trained engineer and holds B.Eng (Civil) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; M.Eng (Structures) from the University of Lagos; MBA from the University of Calabar, Cross River State and M.Eng (Civil Geotech) from the Delta State University, Abraka.
Athuaro 1 also holds a PhD (Monetary Economics) from Staton University, Florida, USA, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in Structural Engineering from the Delta State University, Abraka.
The new monarch is also a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), and Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers (NIStructE).
