The kingship tussle (Okueokpellagbe stool) in Okpella community, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State has taken another dimension following the loss of three people in the community.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that aside from those who died, many residents of the community who allegedly sustained bullet wounds are said to be receiving medical attention in an undisclosed hospital in the area.
The development, it was learnt, has thrown residents of the area into palpable fear, as suspected cultists allegedly supporting some of the aspirants to the Okhueokpellagbe’s throne, are attacking opponents of their preferred candidate.
It will be recalled that Okpella community had been without a monarch over the years as the last occupier of the Okhueokpellagbe stool, Alhaji Yusufu Dirisu, died in 2019 and the people claimed that it was the turn of Ukhomunyio ruling house to produce the next Okhueokpellagbe of the Okpella.
Since then, there have been agitations, lobbying and several meetings among dissidents of the community on who to succeed the former Okhueokpellagbe as three names instead of four were said to have been submitted to the state government to pick from.
While the people claimed that Haruna Ahmed (from Imigba kindred), Michael Sado (from Immiamune kindred), Lukman Oghehemhime Akemokhue (from Imioko kindred) and Victor Balogun, names were submitted to the state government, Sunday Samuel Afemikhe was allegedly omitted from the list.
The state government through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Monday Osaigbovo, on September 27 issued a letter of appointment and staff of office to one of the contestants, Lukman Oghehemhime Akemokhue as the new Okueokpellagbe of Okpella.
The commissioner, during the occasion said that efforts had also been taken for the publication of his appointment in the state’s Gazette.
The ceremony was later moved to Akemokhue’s house in Benin City where the Staff of Office was officially presented to him.
The development later sparked protest among the people, just as they claimed that due process was not followed by the state government in the appointment of Akemokhue as their new monarch.
Earlier on Friday morning, protests erupted in Okpella town on Auchi-Abuja highway where the community inhabitants were seen in video protesting against Akemokhue’s appointment.
The people said the situation was later ignited when the news filtered into the town that Akemokhue was to be crowned.
This, the people claimed never went down well with the majority of Okpella residents.
Okpella council of village heads and chiefs in a letter signed by Chief Oneshiagbe Odabor (Ogute Oke ruling area); Chief Joshua Ogene; (Imiekuri ruling area); Chief S.A.E. Garuba (Imiegele ruling area); Chief Yekini Ahmed (Awuyemi ruling area); Chief Momodu Jibril (Iddo ruling area) and Chief Charles Ikhumetsomi (Ukhomunyio ruling area) called on the state government to withdraw its appointment letter and staff of office issued to Akemokhue.
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