By SouthernVoicenews,
The Ahavwan king-makers family group in Ewu Kingdom, in Ughelli South Local Government area of Delta States, has send an SOS message to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over what it described as an attempt to rape the tradition and culture of the kingdom by alleged troublemakers.
They also faulted media publication in the Vanguard Newspaper of 19 July, 2021, page 20, where it was stated that one Mr. Bernard Awarieta has been accepted as the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom.
The kingmakers in an open letter addressed to the governor and signed by Mr. Ibadan Ivwidiotu, Awotu of Ahavwan king-makers family for Ekrugavwe kindred, Mr. Solomon Ighorepha for Ekromowha kindred, and Mr. Peter Ighorohwa for Uduogbo kindred, described the report as a calculated attempt by the authors to mislead the governor to gazette and present staff of authority or office on Bernard Awarieta as traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, which they alleged was an impostor and a pretender to the throne of Ovie of Ewu Kingdom.
The letter obtained by this medium reads in part; “The publication in the said newspaper came as a shock to majority of the illustrious sons and daughters of the Ewu Kingdom and the public. All what it contained were after-thought, concocted lies, manipulation and misrepresentation of facts”.
Among the seven discrete, faithful and humble candidates screened by the Ekade Ruling House, none is mentioned by the King-makers family group in their publication for reasons not farfetched, but cleverly avoided.
In order to prevent reoccurrence or repetition of the past and to heal old wounds, Gabriel Macaulay was presented by the Ekade Ruling House and crowned by the male adult descendants by birth and resident in the family quarter of the King-makers family group to right the wrongs done by Chief Michael Ohwofaria.
Secondly, he is from a female descendant and traditionally has no right to crown an Ovie for the Kingdom.
Chief Michael Ohwofaria and his collaborators in the Ahavwan King-makers family group were completely out to snub and undermine the functions of the Ekade Ruling House by screening, selecting and crowning a candidate not presented by the Ruling House which is completely against the letters and spirits of the Edict regulating the Ovieship of Ewu Kingdom. Their unilateral actions were characterized by falsehood egotism and self-aggrandizement.
Consequently with a view to finding a lasting solution; key members of the King-makers family group and the Ekade Ruling House met with the traditional rulers’ council and chairman of the Ughelli South LGA. The King-makers family group led by Chief Michael Ohwofaria was frankly told that they erred in their action and all parties were advised to go back home to maintain peace and order, awaiting the decision of the Local government and the traditional rulers councils. Instead, the contrary was the case as one could find in this mischievous publication.
Furthermore, the traditional instrument of authority (Usheri) got lost thirty years ago and the High Court; Otu-Jeremi was informed in writing by the Ahavwan King-makers family group and lbada lvwidiotu who was one of the signatories is still alive. Whatever the injustice, they are out to perpetuate would be resisted for posterity to judge.
The only rightful candidate to occupy the vacant Ovieship throne is Gabriel Macaulay as the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom. Accepting Bernard Awarienta as the Ovie is a taboo and will be a bad precedence in the history of the Ewu Kingdom. Additionally, it will do the kingdom more harm than good as it is sacrilegious to jettison the long age tradition of the kingdom.
We humbly appeal to Your Excellency the Governor of Delta State to disregard the devilish call of Chief Michael Ohwofaria and his collaborators and do what is just and right for peace to reign in the kingdom by issuing the staff of office to Chief Gabriel Ohwodje Macaulay who is the rightful person.”