…Send Strong Words To Governor Oborevwori, Says Ikolo Is Not An Indigene Of Ewu-Urhobo
Palpable tension has gripped the ancient Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, as Women from the Kingdom, on Monday, November 13, 2023, have through a protest expressed their anger, firm resistance against the forceful imposition and installation of one Clement Ikolo as their King.
The women in their numbers, carrying placards bearing different inscriptions such as; “Ewu is a Peaceful kingdom”, “We don’t need crisis”, “Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, do the right thing” ” Ikolo is not from Ewu” amongst others, called on the Orodje of Okpe kingdom to use his office to advise the governor, who is also his subject, to do what is right and stop the wrongful imposition of a non indigene on the people as their king.
The women avowed that they would resist the imposition and installation of Clement Ikolo whose presentation of staff of office by the Delta state government is scheduled for Thursday next week with the last drop of their blood undermining the forces and powers that will be use by Clement Ikolo and the Delta state government.
“We will resist the installation of Clement Ikolo as our king because he is not the the chosen person and he is not the right person to occupy the throne.
“The Delta state government is being misled through the influence and connection of Clement Ikolo who believe he can buy the throne with his money.
“We have a crown King in the Kingdom of Ewu and he is HRM, Awarieta Bernard, but not Clement Ikolo.”
Addressing journalists present on behalf of the group, the Okobaro of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom, Chief Mrs. Christiana Ofuedje disclosed that with the demised of the former king five years ago, the kingdom through a due process installed HRM, Awarieta Bernard as the king, but was astonished to hear an announcement of the name of Clement Ikolo to be presented staff of office as a King when he is not the chosen one by the people.
According to her, they earlier protested against this in the month of February by barricading the road, revealing that in the process, Clement Ikolo mobilised security agents to beat, brutalized us and in the process, one of our illustrious sons in the Kingdom was shot dead.
According to her, while they are mourning the deceased who is yet to be buried, they got wind of the presentation of staff office to Clement Ikolo by the Delta State government, is he trying to cause crisis and war in the Kingdom, she asked.
In her words; ”Oborevwori should not present staff of office to Clement Ikolo as our King because he, Clement Ikolo, is not an indigene of Ewu Kingdom, but an indigene of Olomu Kingdom. He shouldn’t be forced on us, we have the right to choose our king according to age long tradition.
“We have come to see HRM the Orodje of Okpe who is the chairman of the Delta state traditional rulers council to prevail and advised the Governor to shun the presentation of staff office to Clement Ikolo as scheduled to avoid the breakdown of law and orders.
Responding, the Unukpe of Okpe Kingdom, Okakuro Michael Afe told the protesters that the Orodje whom they have come to see was not around, but appealed to the protesting women to remain calm as their messaged will be related to the monarch as soon as he returned back to the Kingdom.
Sources from the kingdom revealed that a larger number of people in the Kingdom are oppose to the choice of the Delta state government and said, should the government go on with the plan presentation of staff of office to Clement Ikolo, there maybe a serious crisis that may take time to settle. The source also revealed that the people are aggrieved as one person has already lost his life as a result of the kingship tussle.