The kingship institution as described by Richard Henderson in his seminal work on Onitsha:
The King in Every Man, is a fusion of Onitsha values. In this regard, the Obi of Onitsha, is considered the father of the clans, a servant to spirits, and a spirit himself, a god, and a warrior. All of these values find expression in the various names of the monarch. He is thus greeted as follows:
| Names | Description |
|---|---|
| Agbogidi | The voice of thunder and one without anger |
| Agu | The greatest of all ‘’killers’’ hence his identification with the leopard (Agu) which is the animal most dangerous to man and called king (Eze) of the forest |
| Aka M’elu Igbo: | The commander of the victorious Onitsha army or warriors |
| Igwe | The sky, arising from the emergent notion of the king as god (chi) of Onitsha people |
| ‘Muo: | The ever- knowing spirit with mystical powers and who, by initiation, symbolizes life and death |
| Ogbuefi | The one who initiates ceremony by the killing of a cow |
| Ogbu Onye Mbosi Ndu Na guya: | The one who can take life when it is most desires it |
| Ogbu Onye Mbosi Ndu Na guya: | The one who can take life when it is most desires it |
| Ogbondu Na Eji Ntu: | The cannon containing powder |
| Okwusie Obee: | The one with the final decision; the ultimate judge. |
| Onye Nwe Obodo: | The supreme and maximum ruler of Onitsha |