OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO/GODWIN AYOBAMI RACHEL
Council of Chiefs of Idjerhe Kingdom of Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State have said that HRM Monday Obukowho Whisky, Udurhie 1 is the Ovie-elect of Idjerhe Kingdom just as they called on Delta State Government to arrest and prosecute anyone laying claim to the revered throne.
They specifically warned one Chief Angus Omasoro to immediately desist from parading himself as the ovie-elect of the Kingdom, warning that his actions contradict the customs and traditions of the Idjerhe people.
The chiefs stated this on Thursday, October 1, 2020 during first Council of Chiefs meeting held at the Ovie’s Palace since the emergence of King Monday Whisky, Udurhie 1 as the new traditional ruler of the second largest kingdom after Okpe in Urhoboland.
HRM Udurhie 1, a senior journalist and former South-South editor of National Daily Newspapers, emerged the new monarch on Monday, September 28, 2020, two years after the demise of the former king, HRM Edward Igho Otadaferua, Erhiekevwe 1, who joined his ancestors in 2018.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of Idjerhe Council of Chiefs at the Palace, Chief Emmanuel Umukoro, Unuevworo of Idjerhe Central, one of the Ruling Houses in the kingdom called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and security agents in the state to quickly nip in the bud plot by some persons to cause breach of peace in the kingdom.
Chief Umukoro noted that all ruling Houses in the kingdom including Idjerhe Central, Oyonbru and Boboroku sub-clans screened and selected HRM Udurhie 1 as the new Idjerhe Kingdom in line with the gazette and tradition of the Idjerhe people.
He said the only viable option left for Omasoro and his cohorts is to embrace peace and seek forgiveness for their alleged inimical actions to embarrassed the people of the kingdom.
According to Umukoro, “I want to put it straight to you that Omasoro is not a king and will never be a king. The king has emerged and it is in the person of Hid Royal Majesty, King Monday Obukowho Whisky, Udurhie 1, Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom.”
He added, *Monday Obukowho Whisky was picked because of equity. The Idjerhe kingdom has produced two kings before and these two kings came from Idjerhe Central, hence we zoned the kingship to Oyonbru where Monday Whiskey is from for equity sake.”
The Unuevworo of Idjerhe Central added, “he has been installed as a king and a king forever. Nobody can remove him from that position. Therefore, Omasoro should stop parading himself as the Udurhie of Idjerhe kingdom else the wrath of the law will fall on him”.
Also speaking, Unugbrogodo of Oyonbru sub-clan, Chief William Atiti, Omasoro and his group are no longer chiefs in Idjerhe kingdom having been stripped of their chieftaincy titles some months ago, adding that the purported midnight action to unlawfully install Omasoro as a king in Idjerhe was both unlawful and alien to the customs and traditions of the kingdom.
Chief Atiti debunked claims by Omasoro that he was unqualified to crown a new king, insisting that it was clearly within his prerogative, as the most Senior Unugbrogodo (kingmaker) of Idjerhe kingdom to crown a new king following the demise of the reigning one.
The Unugbrogodo of Oyonbru sub-clan also cautioned Omasoro over his alleged unguarded statements aimed at tarnishing the public image of prominent people in Idjerhe kingdom, noting that an appropriate petition has been forwarded to the Delta State Government on the issue.
He added, “Idjerhe is one. We have Idjerhe Central, Oyobru and Boboroku have been working together. To my surprise, two days ago, Omasoro and his agents went to the press to spoil our leaders and chiefs’ names. This is very wrong. We have de-robed them and they are no more chiefs.”
He spoke further, “we went to Oghara, the Council chairman, Him. Solomon Golley told him to go pull anything in his leg, that he is not a chief. Up till now, he has not taken them off. They are still wearing our Iru (beads) on the neck. The normal thing is, when a chief is suspended, he removes the bead. Upon all the instruction the chairman gave to them, Omasoro and his agents still parade themselves as king and chiefs of Idjerhe kingdom.”
Speaking further, Chief Atiti said, “what we did last Monday, everybody was there. All the chiefs from Central, Boboroku and Oyobru were there when we did the installation. It wasn’t hidden. Our respected politicians were there. Omasoro saying all those rubbish, we don’t even know him in Idjerhe kingdom. That means he does not know the customs of Idjerhe people. He has never came to Oguedion any day.”
“We have told the Council chairman and written to the State Government to call them to order because they want to cause anarchy in our land. And we do not want bloodshed. Everyone here has to be very careful with them,”the most senior Unugbrogodo in the kingdom said.
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