Elders of Obarune village in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to the Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Oba Ewuare II, to intervene in an alleged attempt by some palace functionaries to foist non-indigenes on them as leaders.
The elders’ appeal is contained in a petition titled ‘Protest letter against attempt to foist leadership on Obarune village, copies of which were made available to journalists in Benin, on Monday.
The petition by the palace’s registry is signed by the village Ozukpogieva ((Second most senior elder), Pa. Uwagboe Osamagioghomwenwi and the secretary, Mr Osasumwen Kevin Okunzuwa, on behalf of the people of Obarune.
Obarune indigenes claimed that though they had earlier protested against the planned installation of 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 members of the committee led by the Ogua of Benin, Chief Uyi Okungbowa 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).
The petitioners further alleged: ”But, contrary to your clear order and definitive directive on that day, the Palace Dispute Resolution Committee has employed all manner 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 Local Government Area over the same matter.
“Unfortunately, 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.
“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 reasonable explanation,” the petitioners alleged.
“Your Majesty, at our last invitation on September 26, 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 is 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 is 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,” they further averred in the petition.
“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.
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