By Matthias Ogbagah
Pandemonium in Delta State as the agrarian and peace-loving community of Ewu kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State berated Delta State Government for imposing a foreigner on them as the new King of the Kingdom.
Our correspondent reports that trouble started when the Delta State Government announced the official presentation of staff of office to one Mr. Ikolo as a crowned king- elect.
Our reporter who monitored the situation reports that after the demise of the former King, the Kingdom’s kingmaker asked the Ruling House to bring somebody to be crowned as a King fit the ancient Kingdom of Ewu as the law, tradition, and custom of the people of Ewu Kingdom demands.
Speaking to newsmen, the Osuvie of the Ewu Kingdom, Olorogun (Chief) Michael C. Ohwofaria (JP) expressed a total disappointment in the Delta State Government for imposing a non-Indigene on the good people of the Ewu Kingdom, neglecting the crowned King.
His words:”We are gathered here to embark on a peaceful protest against the wickedness of the Delta State government Ewu kingdom, the person recognized by the government is not a native of Ewu Kingdom, he is not a resident of the town, he is from Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
I am the Osuivie of Ewu Kingdom, and am an Executive member of the Committee that screened this contest for the position of the King of the Kingdom. Eight persons were screened and one person passed the screening of the Committee and he is Chief Benard Evumevwerhaye Awarieta , he was crowned and his name was forwarded to the state government for necessary actions.
Three days ago, to the surprise of the communities of Ewu Kingdom ,they heard the news that instead of the state government announcing the presentation of staff of office to the person crowned by the Kingmaker of Ewu kingdom, it announced another person who was screened out on the basis that he is not from Ewu Kingdom.
You can not use another Kingdom’s son to rule another Kingdom, it is unacceptable, we will resist it with our last drop of blood, we will not open the roads, and we will ground both government and business activities of the council if the government of Delta State fails to revert its wicked decisions of imposing a King on us. He added
Also speaking to newsmen are the duo of Chief Christianah Ofuedje, the Okobaro R’ehweya (Woman leader) of Ewu Kingdom worldwide, and Mr. Christopher Onurhe. They berated the Delta State Government for marginalizing and depriving the Kingdom of its rights. According to them, they have traditionally and officially crowned Chief Benard Awarieta as the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom and urged the government of Delta State to present staff of office to the crowned King.
*Delta State Government Is Unwittingly Setting Fire On Ewu Kingdom – Barr. Edudje
Speaking to journalists at the palace of the crowned King, the former Permanent Secretary of the defunct Bendel State now Delta State, Olorogun (Barr) Akpoevwrhe Edudje berated Governor Sheriff Oborevwori saying, the state government is unwittingly setting fire on Ewu Kingdom. Olorogun(Barr.) Edudje who is a member of the Kingmaker’s family of Ewu Kingdom who collaborated the position of Osuivie said, HRM Benard Evumevwerhaye Awarieta was crowned as a King- elect( the 28th King of the Kingdom) according to the extant law at Ahavwa Ancestor Home adding, he was crowned on the 30th of May 2021 and since then, he has been playing his role as the King in the Kingdom.
Olorogun (Barr) Akpoevwrhe Edudje who retired 27 years ago said:” Delta State government is unwittingly setting fire on Ewu Kingdom, great disruption is coming to Ewu and Ughelli South Council as a whole. The Ahavwe family, the King maker of the Ewu Kingdom crowned only one person and has never crowned another person to be a king of the Ewu Kingdom apart from HRM Benard Evumevwerhaye Awarieta”.
When contacted in his palace, HRM Benard Evumevwerhaye Awarieta, the Ekade Aroh 1 of the Ewu Kingdom collaborated with the Osuivie, Olorogun (Barr) Akpoevwrhe Edudje, and others, adding, that the Delta State Government has hitherto cleared him waiting for presentation of staff office only to hear that he has been shortchanged by the same state government by purportedly planting a stranger on the good and peace-loving people of Ewu kingdom.