The 13th Disciple

In the shadow of lions and legends, a boy destined for kingship becomes a disciple of survival. His weapon is a story that bridges continents, shatters silence, and rebuilds worlds from ruin.  

Solomon’s legacy begins in the heart of the West African rainforest, where his grandfather, Chief Ogbu-Agu Enweh Eyah, known as the "Lion Slayer", reclaimed a stolen royal lineage. His tales of courage, wisdom, and leadership laid the foundation for Solomon's identity. Yet his father Elias’s push for modernization clashed with these traditions, leaving Solomon caught between two worlds, the mystical, story-laden palace of his grandfather, and the harsh, poverty-ridden city life of his father’s polygamous household of twenty-one children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Determined to escape the cycle of poverty that trapped his siblings, Solomon grasps an opportunity offered by his sister, Nneka, in Europe. However, upon arriving in Paris, his dream turns into a nightmare. Betrayed and imprisoned by human traffickers, Solomon becomes a pawn in their scheme to extort Nneka. 

Locked away, hope fades, until a stolen chance at freedom ignites his courage. With sheer determination and stolen euros, he escapes into the Parisian night, beginning a desperate journey to Bologna, Italy, where he hopes to reunite with Nneka. 

A brief reunion with Nneka ends in fresh devastation. She is framed and imprisoned, leaving Solomon homeless and destitute on Bologna’s unforgiving streets. Forced to sell goods under a harsh master, he quietly saves coins to secure her release. 

Salvation comes not from the legal system but from strangers who extend compassion. Stefanie, a lawyer who listens to his story, and later, Paola, a philosopher, and Domenico, a mathematician, who formally adopt him. For the first time, Solomon finds stability, love, and the chance to dream. He masters Italian, excels in athletics, and immerses himself in art, theater, and architecture under their nurturing guidance.  

Tragedy follows him. Domenico’s dying warning, “Be careful. Italians will come after you.” proves prophetic. After his adoptive father’s death, Solomon faces betrayal in the profession he loves. Architectural firms exploit him, withholding wages, while unions and legal channels fail to offer justice. Branded a troublemaker, he becomes unemployable and homeless, sleeping in his car while hiding his despair from Paola.  

Encouraged by Paola, Solomon seeks refuge in Germany, where he works as a hotel receptionist and clings to hope through their daily calls. Soon, this fragile peace is shattered. On his birthday, Solomon receives a call summoning him back to Italy. At the same hospital where Domenico died, he finds Paola gravely injured, her head shaved and stitched. For two agonizing weeks, Solomon battles indifferent hospital staff, only to lose her. Her death is followed by legal threats over the family home and a funeral marked by shocking indifference of the family members. 

Grieving and penniless, Solomon endures more loss. A near-fatal car crash, denied insurance claims, and the forced authorization of Paola’s organ donation, a choice he believes sealed her fate. Homeless, heartbroken, and haunted, he returns to Berlin with only his dog, Jimmy, as his companion.  

From this abyss, Solomon begins to rebuild. Drawing strength from his Igbo heritage and inspired by Paola’s dream of a sanctuary for all, Solomon co-founds Pesarch Construction in Nigeria. He empowers marginalized youth and pioneers Enugu’s first digital urban plan, blending innovation with social purpose. His vision grows with The Arch’Triangle initiative, a global concept symbolizing connection and collaboration, inspired by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Triangular Trade.  

Through his journey, Solomon has gained a unique cross-cultural perspective, shaped by interactions with world leaders and changemakers, including President John Mahama, World Bank VP Arunma Oteh, and Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana. He advocates for architecture and literature as vital tools for unity, integration, and sustainable progress.  

The 13th Disciple is Solomon’s testament, a saga of royal blood, unthinkable betrayal, improbable kindness, and the relentless act of rebuilding. The story connects deeply with readers across continents, offering hope and a path forward in an ever-divided world. It is a call to remember that kings are not only born, they are made - through fire, through purpose, and through the future they dare to build.