Favoritism was the order of the day, as king Udoka of Nkwo kingdom decided to install Prince Omekagu- his second son, instead of Prince Ugo - the heir to the throne. Being against the law of the land, the elders were not mute to what King Udoka has proposed.
Amidst knowing the implications of what he is about doing, and the warnings by the elders, he decided to go ahead with his plans. While Ugo does little or no talking as regards the throne, he often keeps to his Oja ( local flute) - which has been his only childhood friend in the kingdom. He has mastered the oja to the extent that he communicate to his chi - his personal legend, through the sound of the oja.
In Nkwo Kingdom, after the king has decided on who will succeed him, the custom of the land requires the prince to go round the kingdom on a horse while accompanied by the guards and town crier, who lets them know of the king's decision.
The time for Omekagu to go round the kingdom has come, and the king has brought his finest horse, with two of his highest ranking guards to go with him. While Omekagu commenced his outing, Ugo enters the nearby bush - where he spends most of his time, with his oja in his hands.
While in the bush, he took his oja and poured out his pain through the sounds that comes from it. He played the oja saying "ojam fugborum Omekagu, fugborum Omekagu, na Omekagu riri ji mmuo. I fugburum Omekagu kam were ebune gwo gi aka". Translating to: " my oja, kill Omekagu, kill Omekagu, for he has eaten the food of the spirit. If you kill Omekagu, I will use ram as sacrifice to you".
While going still going round the kingdom, Omekagu got struck by a lightening and he fell. One of the guards with him ran to the palace to let the king know what has happened. The eventful day suddenly turned to a mournful one, at a blink of an eye.
There was silence in the land, the sounds of the insects can clearly be heard aloud, as the kingdom goes into mourning. However, on consulting the seer, the king was told that Prince Ugo is the answer to they seek.
Ashamed to see Ugo, King Udoka sent the queen to go speak with him. She refused citing that her attitude towards Prince Ugo, has been worse than his. Witnessing what was going on, the elders decided t go beg Ugo. On seeing this, the king and his wife went on their knees begging Ugo to forgive them.
It was a hard test for Prince Ugo, but blood they say is thicker than water. Prince Ugo, stood from where he was sitting, took his oja and played, telling it to resuscitate Prince Omekagu. In no time, he sneezed from where he was lying and stood up.
from thence, the king called for a big celebration, as he sends Prince Ugo to walk round the village as the rightly heir to the throne.
