The Story of Esara (Sara)
Before Esara's arrival in Kula, another group from Ikordi (Opu-Oguro and Kuro) had already come to Kula for protection. Esara, Oguro, and Kuro hailed from the same location. After a prominent person died in Ikordi, their family was fingered, forcing them to flee an "eye for an eye" justice system.
Esara fled to Ipokuma (Degema), then to Bille. In Bille, he was banished for playing the Akuma drum in praise of his deity, Boloba, offending the Bille people. He fled to Kula, where King Igbaniye-Oko spared him because he could tap palm wine for the Kaka festival. He was settled at Opu-Konbio, which he renamed "Kula Otome" (Thank you, Kula).
Chief Kroma Eleki's Ambition
Chief Kroma Eleki, a descendant of Esara, wrote a book titled "Destined to Rule" attempting to rewrite Kula's history. He claimed Sara founded Kula and that Sara Okorosa was the first King. This is historically false. Esara was a fugitive, not a chief, and certainly not a king.
In his book, Chief Eleki admitted he was "installed" in less than 20 minutes with no photographs, no cultural rites, and without cutting a goat. He then ran to Bille to perform the "enuensua" rites — completely alien to Kula kingship. He could not answer the Kula deity, Fenibeso, nor perform the Ama Agba cleansing rite.
"It is a rule in Kula that a Chieftaincy stool ceases to exist if the original Chief dies at warfront, is a convicted thief, a known rapist, dies with insanity, commits suicide, or is buried outside the kingdom without the feguma rite."
The Fall of Chief Igbe Sara
During the reign of King Ikpo Oko XXIII, Chief Igbe Sara attempted to hijack the throne. The King was suspended for being too lenient on fishing law offenders. Chief Igbe was made Regent. However, when the deity Fenibeso called out "Kula oooo!!!", Chief Igbe could not answer, as only the true King can say "ikiabo" (my friend). The people had to beg King Ikpo to return. Shortly after, Chief Igbe became mentally unstable and committed suicide in Odioma — terminating the Sara chieftaincy stool under Kula law.
The Sara Syndrome
The "Sara Syndrome" describes the unrepentant attempt by the descendants of Esara to usurp the throne of Kula. Esara was a lawless man who could not remain within the laws of any land. Instead of showing gratitude to the Kula people, his descendants, driven by ambition, attempted to take the throne by force and deception.