Francis Sadhere

THE people of Orhuwhorun Kingdom in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have embarked on total traditional cleaning rites aimed at wading off evil activities and restoring the lost glory of the ancient kingdom.

The Ovie in Council of Orhunwhorhun Kingdom, HRH. Okaka X, Hon. Sam
Mukoro(front row: clad in white from right), Mr. Godwin .A. Dile,
Chief Joseph Tefue, President General of Orhunwhorhun Community, Chief
Ehine Ebiwiehor, Chief Priest of Orhunwhorhun Kingdom and a cross
section of Egweya(Women Group) dancing during the traditional
cleansing rite for Orhunwhorhun Kingdom( front row:2nd to 5th from
right).

The once serene, peaceful and habitable kingdom had been turned into a theatre of war, leading to lost of so many lives.

But in an attempt to stamp out such evil tendencies, men and women folks in the kingdom, in unison, yesterday trooped out to undertake some traditional steps to restore peace and productivity back to the ancient kingdom.

Our correspondent observed that commercial activities were grounded for several hours while the cleansing rites led by the Ovie-in-Council, HRH Okoka X, Hon. Sam Mukoro lasted.

The Egweya (Women Group) led by the Otota, Spokeswoman of the Kingdom, Mrs. Mwomwo Vwigharohwo danced through Akoto, Ekrejegbe, Ekrabe, Ekrovie, Bughere, Ekrekun, Ekreseha, Oku Layout, Old Egini road and Odjikpata Quarters in Orhuwhorun chanting traditional deliverance songs with green leaves in their hands to cleanse the land.

The Ovie in Council, the Egweya and girls of Orhuwhorun Kingdom danced at the entrance of the community in observance of the cleansing rites.

Chief Public Relations Officer to the Ovie in Council of Orhuwhorun Kingdom, Chief Tataunu.Y. Akporhobor appealed to the people of Orhuwhorun Kingdom to cooperate with the Ovie in Council, HRH. Okaka X, Hon. Sam Mukoro and foster good relationship with non-indigenes in their midst for the overall development of the Kingdom.

He explained that the Orhuwhorun people decided to cleanse the kingdom and restore same to its peaceful state following the degree of killings of its indigenes and non-indigenes, cult activities and other social vices.

He lamented that there had been high rate of criminalities in Orhuwhorun Kingdom, but he was optimistic that “the cleansing of the Kingdom will restore the wealth, health, productivity and development of its people”.

While noting that the cleansing rite is an accepted norm by the people of Orhuwhorun Kingdom, Chief Akporhobor pointed out that Christians and non-Christians partake in the exercise saying, “there is nothing fetish about the cleansing except for those directly performing it.”

He added that the cleansing is usually performed by the aged men, women, girls and the Ovie in Council of Orhuwhorun Kingdom.

According to him, “In those days, once things are going wrong, the eldest woman (egweya) is asked to go and find out what has gone wrong traditionally and when she returns, a cleansing is usually performed by the people of the Kingdom to restore its peace and lost glory.”

President General of Orhuwhorun Community, Chief Joseph Tefue called on parents to caution their children against cultism and social vices in the community in other to make the Community a “peaceful” place to dwell in just as he warned that it will be government versus whoever that is caught in the act and not against the community.

While noting that there are bad eggs who do not want Orhuwhorun Community to be cleansed, Chief Tefue expressed beliefs that, “peace will be restored in the kingdom after the cleansing”.