67 Years After, Ellu Community Gets New Monarch – As Utuama Calls On Deltans To Take Advantage Of Delta Micro Credit Programme

Francis Sadhere

There was wild jubilation in Ellu community in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, as the people of the kingdom came together and crowned a new king, 67 years after the demise of the last king, thus restoring the monarchical system of administration in the community.

Presenting the staff of office to the new king, HRM, Othuke Murphy Urugbezi, Ogwara I, the Ovie of Ellu Kingdom, the Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, in his address, appealed to the new monarch to carry out his duties in a transparent manner by being open-minded and just to all.

Prof. Utuama who commended the process leading to the coronation/presentation of staff of office to the monarch, advised the monarch not to do anything that will make his subjects doubt his ability to uphold the sanctity of their tradition.

He urged the people of Ellu kingdom, in particular, and Deltans in general, to take advantage of the state’s micro credit programme, saying taking advantage of such programme will help improve the domestic capacity of the people.

“I urge you all to key into the policy of Delta Beyond Oil; which means we must key into agriculture, industries and other areas apart from oil. I want to use this opportunity to urge all sons and daughters of Ellu Kingdom to take advantage of the various programmes of government, particularly the Delta micro credit programme, to improve on your domestic capacity,” he said.

 He said; “ I have no doubt that the institution is very significant to the Ellu people and that is why they have all been working hard to make this day come to reality and it has indeed come to reality. Your Royal Majesty, I appeal to you to discharge all your responsibilities in transparent manner by being open-minded and just to all. You are the father of all your subjects, so you should be fair to all.”

The Deputy Governor congratulated the monarch for successfully ascending the throne after so many years of vacuum, appealing to him to imbibe democratic virtues of dialogue and consultation in dealing with his people.

“I want to congratulate his royal majesty on his successful ascension to the throne because after 67 years without a king, today the kingdom now has a new traditional ruler. This is a new beginning and it is particularly commendable that the process leading to the ceremony were carried out peacefully in spite of the long gap,” he said.

Earlier, the President General of Ellu Community, High Prince Johnson Eniforo Akpomalue, while expressing gratitude to the state government for its infrastructural development  in Emu-Eni Grammar School, noted that more still needs to be done in the science laboratory and other structures undergoing renovation that are yet to be completed.

He lamented that despite being one of the major oil producing communities in Isoko land, Ellu community has not benefited from the proceeds of the oil, adding that most projects embarked upon by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had long been abandoned.

Prince Akomalue, also called on the state government to come to the aid of the Ellu people by appointing their sons and daughters into NDDC Board, DESOPADEC, and other Federal and State positions, appealing that the Governor should use his office to rehabilitate, redistribute and take over the management of the Ellu water project.

He said; “We are grieved that despite the fact that Ellu kingdom is one of the major Oil Producing Communities in Isoko land with a flow station jointly owned with Ozoro Kingdom, eleven oil wells, an appreciable distance of pipeline right of way and an access road, we have not commensurately benefited from the proceeds of the oil.”

Also addressing the crowd, the Transitional Committee Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Area, Hon. Samuel Idise, said his administration holds the traditional institution in high esteem because of its important role in the governance of the people at the grassroots.

He said; “To this end, the Local Government has always and will continue to accord traditional rulers and chiefs the pride of place in the scheme of things. I therefore  enjoin the traditional rulers to work assiduously with Government in creating necessary awareness of Government policies and programmes to avoid communication gap.”

Hon. Idise also implored all traditional rulers to continue to act as stabilizing factor by promoting peace and unity amongst the diverse ethnic groups in their domains.

“As Royal Fathers of the people, I strongly advise you to steer clear of partisan politics in order to uphold the dignity of your high office in your respective domains. It is only by so doing that your fatherly role can best be appreciated and beneficial to all and sundry,” he said.

He thanked Governor Uduaghan for taking out time off his busy schedule to present the staff of office to HRM Murphy Othuke Urugbezi, Ogwara I, the Ovie of Ellu Kingdom, adding that the presentation of staff of office marks another milestone in the history of the Kingdom.

There are three ruling houses in Ellu Kingdom, namely; Isi, Agwa, and Uwabor ruling houses. The Kingship stool in Ellu Kingdom is rotational and not by primogeniture or hereditary. HRM Othuke Murphy Urugbezi Ogwara I, is a philanthropist and astute and seasoned businessman who has traversed the length and breadth of the country.

Owing to serious disputes on recognition of patrilineal succession, there have been many litigations, claims and counter claims on the rightful successor to the throne. The stool has remained vacant for sixty seven years.