Indigenes of Obarune village in Ovia North
East LGA of Edo State, have appealed to Oba Ewuare II, to intervene in the
planned attempt by some high-handed palace functionaries to foist non-indigenes
over them as leaders.
The elders appeal in a petition titled “
Protest
letter against attempt to foist leadership on Obarune village,”
and made available to journalists on Monday in
Benin.
The acknowledged petition by the Palace
registry, is signed by the village Ozukpogieva ( Second most senior elder), Pa.
Uwagboe Osamagioghomwenwi, and its, Secretary, Mr Osasumwen Kevin Okunzuwa, on
behalf of the people of Obarune.
Obarune indigenes claimed that though they had
earlier protested against planned installation of an imposture, one Afona
Isibor, as Ohen (Priest) of their village, the Oba had intervened by setting up
a fact-finding Committee to verify the authenticity or otherwise of the claim.
They explained that on May 16, 2023, Oba
Ewuare II, at Eguae ’ematon, (Sacred Court), ordered the members of the
Committee led by one Chief Uyi Okungbowa, the Ogua of Benin, to take an oath
(Ula’mwen) for the ancestors to bear witness, before embarking on the
fact-finding claim.
According to the petition, Oba Ewuare II, also
warned the said Isibor to stop parading himself as Ohen (priest).
“But, contrary
to your clear order and definitive directive on that day, the Palace Dispute
Resolution Committee has employed all manners of intrigues to subvert justice
by twisting the facts in the above subject matter.
“While the
Chief Ogua-led delegation, failed to carry out your Majesty’s directive. He
seems to have continued to encourage Isibor and his cohorts in their mischief.
“Isibor, who
still addressed himself as Ohen, summoned elders of Obarune before Chief
Victor Aigbovbiosa, the Ohen-Okun (traditional Priest) of Ughoton and Elders
of Unuode Ekenwan, in Ovia North East LGA over the same matter.
“Unfortunately
for them, the Ohen-Okun of Ughoton and the elders respectfully declined to
entertain the petition after perusing undisputed evidence in documents from us
and hearing your Majesty’s ruling in the matter.”
Obarune elders claimed in the petition that
the said Palace Chief Ogua and some members of the Palace Dispute Resolution
Committee had allegedly become biased in their decision, trying to subvert
justice in the matter.
“At Eguae
’ematon, after presentation of our case, the palace had on the said occasion,
in good faith, changed the name ‘Obaterumen’ to ‘Obarune’ village, which
parties in the dispute unanimously accepted.
“However, your
Royal Majesty, while we patiently awaited your gracious approval of our request
for Odionwere through the Committee, we were again invited by Chief Ogua to the
palace on May, 29, 2024.
“Only to
inform us that the Palace Committee has advised us to revert to the old name of
Obateru against your earlier directive, ostensibly to create confusion and
without any reasonable explanation,”
they said in the petition.
“Your Majesty,
at our last invitation on September 26, 2024, members of the Committee present,
already with a pre-determined decision, bluntly refused to heed our protest,
while
Chief Ogua in
particular openly declared that your Majesty’s directive was no longer relevant
to the matter before the committee.
“For the sake
of clarity, We had also rejected the Committee’s resolution to foist unknown
persons whom it tagged “interim leadership
” of Obateru/Obagbeni, because it’s alien to
Benin Customs and tradition.
“Your Majesty,
we had also reminded the Committee that Obarune has a subsisting judgment of a
Benin High Court which recognises the people of Obarune as the original
indigenes of the village.
“We provided
evidence to show that the village is recognised by the State Government,
particularly in the State Ministry of Environment, which also approved
Government forest reserved Areas to Obarune village as farmlands NOT Obagbeni.
“It’s also
important to note that despite our insistence that as long as members of the
fact-finding delegation neither swore to an oath nor carried out your Majesty’s
order, Chief Ogua neither had the locus to have entertained the said petition,
nor the Committee in the position to take its resolution, without your Royal
Majesty’s approval.
“Yet, the
Committee went ahead and sent us a text message through its Secretary, one
Comrade Henry Uwumagbuhun, informing us of its constitution of names of the
same interlopers as interim leaders of Obarune village by fiat without recourse
to its consequences.
“Your Royal
Majesty, from the foregoing, it has become clear to us that members of the
Committee mean no good as their actions and body languages portray them as very
biased and subjective.
“And as
interested parties, whose decision will ignite the already built up anger of
the people of Obarune exacerbated by the vexatious antics of Isibor and his
cohorts.
“We are
therefore appealing to your Majesty’s intervention to nip in the bud the
brewing crisis being fanned by Chief Ogua and the Committee.
“As your loyal
and law abiding subjects who do not want to resort to self help due to the
respect for the highly revered Benin monarchy, we still trust and believe that
only your Royal Majesty’s wise counsel and intervention will bring peaceful
definitive resolution in this matter to avert chaos,”
the people said.
Comments:
Leave a Reply