“Comedy is just one aspect of what I do,” he said, describing his work as a blend of acting, stand-up, and public speaking. “Becoming a king does not mean retiring from meaningful work.”
On his emergence as monarch, he rejected the notion that traditional leadership is a destination for those winding down. “We’ve wrongly framed traditional leadership as something for people who are tired,” he said. “While you’re still strong and connected, you can leverage those connections to uplift vulnerable people and put your community on the map.” He noted that when he first searched for Umuihuocha online, the community had virtually no digital presence. That, he says, is already changing.
As for critics who question his decision to continue hosting events as a sitting royal, Bakassi had little patience for the skepticism. He pointed to what he sees as a broader Nigerian tendency to rank professions unnecessarily, arguing that honest, legitimate work deserves respect regardless of one’s title. “Kings are public speakers,” he said simply, “and that’s what I do professionally. So I’m well within my lane.”
