By Our Correspondent
Kalafiogbene community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State has denied claims by some individuals that Kalafiogbene belonged to Akugbene-Mein kingdom as published in one of the national dailies, calling on the general public to disregard such publications.
According to a press statement by Chief Monday Eregbene, Former Amayanabo of Kalafiogbene community and Mr. Frank Agbai, Warri Urban Kalafiogbene, and made available to newsmen in Warri on Monday, Kalabfiogbene is under the proposed kerebiri-Mein clan.
The statement categorically said communities and towns under the proposed Kerebirir_Mein clan were; Kalafiogbene, Kpakiama, Bomadi, Ekametagbene, Esanm, Ogbei-ama, Okoloba, Ogodobiri and Ezibiri.
It therefore appealed to the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, HRM Pere Stanley Luke Kalanama VII, to educate his subjects about the truth of the matter, adding that Kalafiogbene is not part of the ruling house of Akugbene-Mein kingdom.
It read, “The Akubene-Mein Kingdom has only one ruling house known as “Kalanama” and as such Kalafiogbene is not among the ruling house and cannot come under Kalanama as they are progenitors of Mein just as Akugbene is also the grandson of Mein.
“Sequel to the persistent agitation against the unilateral imposition by the Akugbene community on a new name as Akugbene-Mein to dominate the vast majority communities that are subjects of Kerebiri-Mein, necessitated the commission of enquiry set up by the defunct Bendel State Government, which stated that, there is only one ruling house in Akugbene town known as Kalanama. This limited the authority of the Pere of Akugbene community as published in B.S.L. No. 100 of 1977 in Gazette No. 64, Vol. 14 November 1977.”
The community also expressed their displeasure over recent unfair comments allegedly made by some misguided members of the community who tactlessly gave the leaders of Kerebiri-Mein Clan ultimatum and calling them dissidents.
They stressed that Kerebiri-Mein was not faceless and they refused to be coerced into the selfish ambition of conspirators in Akugbene-Mein kingdom, adding that they want it to be on record that Kalafiogbene and other communities mentioned above were not part of Akugbene Kingdom.
According to the statement, “The instrument creating Akugbene-Mein Kingdom does not put Kalafiogene under Akugbene-Mein and as such Kalafiogbene does not constitute the ruling house of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom and cannot also participate in the selection process of Akugbene King.
“The people of Kalafiogbene are part of the proposed Kerebiri-Mein Clan in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State by descent and the Akugbene-Mein kingdom has its own clear jurisdiction which constitutes main Akugbene town and its sister town, Oriagbene.”
