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| Prof Epiphany Azinge & Hon.Funkekeme Solomon |
In a significant show of traditional institutional support amid Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Professor Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, has publicly declared the full backing of the Asaba Kingdom for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The endorsement came during a congratulatory visit by Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Delta State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor on SERVICOM and Labour Relations, marking the monarch’s second anniversary on the throne.
The palace meeting in Asaba, held against the backdrop of Azinge’s second coronation anniversary celebrations in early October 2026, went beyond ceremonial pleasantries. It highlighted the growing intersection of traditional authority, policy advocacy, and partisan politics in Delta State—a region long dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until recent realignments under Oborevwori.
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A Scholar-Monarch’s Perspective on Leadership and Reform
Professor Azinge, a first-class traditional ruler and distinguished legal scholar, used the occasion to commend Solomon’s extensive mobilisation efforts across Delta State. He noted that he had closely followed the coordinator’s work promoting Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Oborevwori’s MORE (Meaningful Opportunities for Real Empowerment) Agenda. Particular praise was reserved for Solomon’s presentation at a recent engagement with the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, where the benefits of ongoing federal and state reforms were articulated.
“Let me commend you. You have shown passion and commitment. You are everywhere marketing the President’s and Governor’s messages. I saw what you did at the Traditional Rulers Council. You spoke so well,” Azinge said. “Please keep it up. Your efforts will not be in vain. You will surely be remembered when the time for compensation comes.”
The monarch framed traditional institutions as partners in purposeful governance rather than passive observers. “Traditional institutions had a responsibility to support purposeful leadership,” he stated, adding that the Asaba Kingdom stood firmly behind both the Tinubu-led federal government and the Oborevwori administration. He acknowledged the short-term hardships imposed by Tinubu’s reforms—such as subsidy removal and macroeconomic adjustments—but expressed optimism that they were repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth. On Oborevwori, he credited the governor with demonstrating the capacity to deliver on his mandate.
Azinge also recalled a March 2025 engagement with President Tinubu (while Delta was still under PDP control), during which he presented community concerns. He said the President acted on them, a development he later shared with Governor Oborevwori, who welcomed the outcome. This anecdote underscores the monarch’s willingness to engage across party lines for the benefit of his people—a pragmatic approach consistent with his pre-throne career.
From Legal Luminary to Renaissance Monarch
Born on 13 November 1957 and hailing from Ugbomanta quarters in Asaba, Epiphany Azinge brings an unusual intellectual depth to the Asagba stool. He attended St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, earned a Second Class Upper law degree from the University of Lagos, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980, obtained an LL.M in comparative constitutional and shipping law from the University of London, and completed a Ph.D at the London School of Economics on electoral laws in Nigeria.
His career included lecturing at the University of Benin and University of Abuja (where he pioneered information technology law), serving as Special Assistant to the Attorney-General of the Federation (1991–1997), elevation to Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2006, and tenure as the fifth Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (2009–2014). He has also served as a judge on the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal.
Married to fellow SAN Dr. Valerie Azinge, he previously held the title Okilolo of Asaba before emerging as the 14th Asagba in October 2024, succeeding the late Obi Professor Joseph Chike Edozien.
In two years, his reign has been associated with community projects including a 1,000-capacity event centre at the permanent palace, a smart nursery and primary school at Akwuose (handed over to the state), beautification of public spaces, and a new cemetery. Governor Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and others have publicly praised the period as one of transformation, peace, and intellectual leadership. President Tinubu himself congratulated Azinge on his 70th birthday in November 2025, describing him as a “Renaissance monarch.”
Funkekeme Solomon and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Push
Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, a former Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, has emerged as a key grassroots mobiliser. As state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA)—a platform focused on explaining federal reforms and building support for the APC—he has led extensive engagements across all 25 local government areas. These have involved traditional rulers, professional bodies (NBA, NMA, NUT, NULGE), student groups, religious organisations, and community leaders, emphasising initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), electricity sector reforms, and security improvements including oil asset protection.
Solomon, who has lived in Asaba since Delta State’s creation in 1991, congratulated Azinge on an “impactful and transformative” reign, noting greater royal distinction and improvements in the state capital. He prayed for continued wisdom, health, and a long, peaceful tenure.
Recent RHA activities under Solomon have included briefing South-South Coordinator (and former Governor) Ifeanyi Okowa, inaugurating local structures, and appealing directly to traditional rulers for support—precisely the context of the presentation Azinge referenced. Solomon has argued that the reforms, though challenging, aim to reposition the country, and has linked state alignment with the federal centre to greater developmental opportunities following Oborevwori’s political shift.
Broader Context and Implications
Delta State’s political realignment has been notable. Once a PDP stronghold, the state has seen high-profile movements toward the APC, with traditional rulers increasingly engaged as stakeholders in policy communication. Azinge’s endorsement adds weight in Asaba, the state capital and an Anioma cultural centre, at a time when the 2027 general elections loom. Earlier in 2026, the Asagba had already expressed support for developmental efforts by both Tinubu and Oborevwori while stressing the non-partisan ideal of traditional institutions—yet affirming community backing for results-oriented leadership.
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Analysts note that such palace endorsements can influence grassroots perception, particularly in a multi-ethnic state where traditional authority retains significant moral capital. Solomon’s work bridging policy explanation with political mobilisation reflects a deliberate strategy to counter reform fatigue by focusing on long-term benefits and local gains.
The visit itself forms part of wider anniversary activities that have drawn congratulations from Governor Oborevwori, political figures across divides, and community groups. For Asaba, the convergence of a scholarly monarch, active policy advocacy, and explicit political support signals a traditional institution actively positioning itself as a partner in governance rather than a mere ceremonial presence.
As Nigeria navigates economic reforms and pre-election dynamics, the Asagba’s clear declaration—“We are in total support of President Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and all candidates of the APC”—offers a concrete illustration of how traditional leadership is engaging with contemporary political realities in Delta State.
Whether this translates into broader electoral or developmental dividends remains to be tested at the polls and through sustained policy delivery.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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