The Delta State Government has approved the selection and appointment of a senior journalist and former South-South Editor of the National Daily, His Royal Majesty, King Monday Obukowho Whiskey, Udurhie 1, as Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
The state government announced the confirmation of his appointment on Tuesday at the end of the State Executive Council presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the Government House, Asaba.
This State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, disclosed that the approval was part of resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting.
Aniagwu noted that the Presentation of the Staff of Office to the new Idjerhe monarch would soon be announced by the government.
The Idjerhe kingmakers had selected and installed Udurhie 1 as the new traditional ruler of the second largest Kingdom in Urhoboland.
His selection came after several months of traditional processes between contenders for the revered Idjerhe stool.
Udurhie 1 emerged almost two years after His Royal Majesty, Edward Igho Otadaferua, Erhiekevwe 1, joined his ancestors in 2018.
The new traditional ruler, who had his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, is a current PhD student at the Delta State University, Abraka.
Idjerhe Kingdom is the second largest Urhobo kingdom with over forty communities and rich in crude oil production.
The new Idjerhe king is a reputable and fearless journalist with over three decades of active journalism practice where he rose through the rank to become South-South Regional Editor of National Daily Newspaper.
He was the first Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the pioneer executive chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) between 2007 and 2010.
