By Samuel Ogude
The women of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area Delta State, in numbers, stormed the palace of Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I, Major General Felix A. Mujakperuo,(Rtd) , to protest against forceful installation of Clement Ikolo as their King in Ewu Kingdom saying, they would resist this with the last drop of their blood for the state government to present staff of office to him which is scheduled to hold on next week.
The women, on Monday , carried different placards with different inscriptions such as:” Ewu is a peaceful kingdom, we don’t need crisis, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, do the right thing”, HRM, the Orodje of Okpe, the people of Ewu, Urhobo Kingdom appeal to you to use your good office to advise your son, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to do the right thing” among others. They said the crowned King of the Kingdom of Ewu Kingdom is HRM Awarieta Bernard and not Clement Ikolo.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Okobaro of Ewu Kingdom, Chief Mrs Christiana Ofuedje said when the first king of the Kingdom died five years, they have to install HRM Awarieta Bernard as the king saying, only to hear later that Clement Ikolo is to be presented staff of office as a King when he was not chosen by the people. According to her, they earlier protested against this in the month of February by barricading the road adding, in the process, Clement Ikolo mobilised security officers to brutalise them and in the process, one of the illustrious sons of the Kingdom was shot dead.
According to her, while they are still in state of mourning as the deceased is yet to be buried, they got wind of the presentation of staff office to Clement Ikolo by the Delta State government led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
She said:” Sheriff Oborevwori can not give staff of office to Clement Ikolo to be our King because he is not from Ewu Kingdom but he is from Olomu. They can not force King on us, we have the right to choose our king”
She said they have come to see HRM the Orodje of Okpe to advise the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori not to present the staff office to Clement Ikolo as scheduled.
Responding, the Unukpe of Okpe Kingdom, Okakuro Michael Affe told the protesters that the Orodje whom they have come to see was not around. He however charged them to remain calm that he would relate their message to the Monarch when he would come back home.