₦airaland Forum

lionshare:
A popular adage states: “A stitch in time saves nine.”

Softmirror:
I give police the thumbs up for being very PRO-ACTIVE no amount of mouth twisting can change the establish narrative.

lionshare:
A popular adage states: “A stitch in time saves nine.”

shortgun:
Rumor has it that the police acted on orders of the promoters business rival.
The promoter is a certified Engineer, he's educated enough not to publicly promote illegality.

Softmirror:
And who is this rival?!

shortgun:
The recent arrest of Engr. Chibuke Azubike and others in connection with the so-called “installation of the Obi of Lagos” has stirred controversy across Nigeria. While police authorities have claimed the organizers were attempting to install an unrecognized traditional ruler, a closer look at the facts especially the official invitation suggests that the police acted in error. What was branded as a criminal attempt at impersonation was, in reality a business event centered on real estate development.

The widely circulated invitation card for the September 13th event bore a Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number (RC: 11,534) — an unmistakable indicator that the promoters were registered as a business entity. No traditional chieftaincy installation in Nigeria is conducted under a CAC business registration. This already distinguishes the event as corporate, not traditional.

The invitation also explicitly described the program as “The Unveiling of the Prototype of a ₦1.5 Billion Palace.” The key word here is prototype — a technical business and architectural term, referring to a design model for real estate projects. It is standard practice in property development to unveil prototypes to attract investors and showcase planned facilities....prototype in simple terms means a sample.

Far from being a purely cultural or traditional agenda, the project as listed in the invitation included:

An Office Complex

An Event Center

A Guest House for Igbos in Distress

A Shopping Plaza


These are clearly commercial facilities forming part of a real estate project. They bear no resemblance to the paraphernalia of a traditional stool.

Critics have pointed to the use of the title “Obi of Lagos State” and the reference to “Ofala Festival” as proof of an attempted installation. However, such phrasing can reasonably be interpreted as cultural branding, not a legal or political claim.

In Nigeria, it is common for individuals and organizations to adopt nicknames, cultural identities and festival themes as part of business promotions. From “King of Boys” in the entertainment industry to “Argungu Festival” branding in Kebbi, culture and commerce often intersect without implying impersonation or usurpation of authority.

It is important to distinguish between impersonation, which involves deliberate deception for unlawful gain and self-acclamation, which is an expression of identity. The invitation never claimed official recognition from Lagos State’s traditional council.
Instead, it framed a business prototype launch using cultural expression as a promotional hook.

By storming the venue, sealing it off, and arresting the organizers, the police may have acted prematurely and without sufficient evidence of criminal intent. If there were concerns about the use of the title “Obi of Lagos,” the appropriate step would have been a civil petition or injunction, not a heavy-handed crackdown that undermines both business and cultural freedoms.

Nigeria cannot afford to criminalize entrepreneurship and innovation especially in a struggling economy. If every business that incorporates cultural themes into its branding is treated as criminal, it sets a dangerous precedent.

What the “Obi of Lagos” saga demonstrates is not a crime of impersonation but rather the dangers of misinterpretation and overreach.
The event was by the evidence of its own invitation, a business prototype unveiling with cultural flavoring.

The police would do well to distinguish between genuine threats to public order and the lawful exercise of business and cultural expression. Anything less risks eroding public trust and discouraging investment in Nigeria’s business landscape.

Factcheck0001:
whatever u want to do, go n do it in d south east.

I believe that's not too hard to ask

Hampers001:
I am igbo but make una small small dey lie

shortgun:
You are not Igbo. Every Igbo man is permitted to do new yam feast in his house and invite friends and family...this is nothing but a business strategy to attract Igbo investors to his real estate business.

budaatum:
Sounds like an excuse to be stitching your uncut clothe, to me.

Shouldn't you at least wait for a tear to appear so you know where to stitch?

Softmirror:
Also building Palaces and bestowing Kingship in another's Kingdom?

shortgun:
Where did you see that the engineer is building a palace. The invite said "prototype type palace"...this simply means he intend to build many buildings and name them "palace". The event was to showcase one of such buildings!!!!

Seriously, situations like these make feel ashamed to be called a Nigerian sometimes. You'll have to explain basic simple things to adults over and over again.

gidgiddy:
There is King of Fulani in Lagos, the 'Sarking Fulani of Lagos'

Even in 200 years, nobody dare arrest him

But as soon as they hear anything Igbo, they will rush in with guns to make arrests

This is for my fellow Igbos who still think there is anything like 'one Nigeria'

Softmirror:
How did the "OBI OF LAGOS" come into this story?

shortgun:
You are not Igbo. Every Igbo man is permitted to do new yam feast in his house and invite friends and family...this is nothing but a business strategy to attract Igbo investors to his real estate business.

shortgun:
What office of authority does "Obi of Lagos" occupy in Lagos state. Or is there any title of Obi of Lagos in Lagos state? Who is he impersonating?

Obi of Lagos is just the name his friends and business associates know him with. It's just a nickname like "Edu brazil" Ifeanyi Malaysia " chukwudi South , "Ebuka Cyprus" and many more

Softmirror:
Impersonating?! He wants to make himself above all of them put together.

So what does 'OBI OF LAGOS' mean?!

Softmirror:
I give police the thumbs up for being very PRO-ACTIVE no amount of mouth twisting can change the established narrative.

gidgiddy:
There is King of Fulani in Lagos, the 'Sarking Fulani of Lagos'

Even in 200 years, nobody dare arrest him

But as soon as they hear anything Igbo, they will rush in with guns to make arrests

This is for my fellow Igbos who still think there is anything like 'one Nigeria'

shortgun:
Every business has rivals and competitors.
Healthy competition is expected but using the police to harass other businesses to gain advantage is illegal

alanto:
Who wrote a petition about him. You guys like to take people for a ride. He wants to celebrate new yam festival na that one be business meeting?