• As Acting Odionwere engenders open, all inclusive administration
Kingsley Abavo, (Managing Editor), Benin
From (L) acting Head (Odionwere), Pa. Igbinogun Felix Osevbunu, flanked by other elders' Council members of Isibor-Ewuare Village in Edo state.
The people of Isibor-Ewuare Village, a sub-urban community in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, have asserted that the coming of the Village acting Head (Odionwere), Pa. Igbinogun Felix Osevbunu, has brought cohesiveness, unity of purpose and peaceful coexistence amongst them.
Speaking with journalists shortly after their weekly meetings in the Village recently, they maintained that the Village hitherto under the leadership of the former Head, (Odionwere) experienced alleged multi faceted abominable challenges; causing them a lot of discomfort.
The people said that the acting Odionwere's policy of an open door, and all inclusiveness in his administration has engendered the new lease of life.
According to the acting Odionwere (Head) of the Village, Pa. Osevbunu, to galvanize the much desired peace and unity amongst the people, we had to resort to the inherited traditional ways of our ancestors; subjecting all residents and indigenes to oath taking of maintaining peace and harmony before the ancestral sanctuary.
"Promising to abhor any act inimical to peace, unity and progress of Isibor-Ewuare Village. Disobedience to this oath attracts severe traditional consequences".
He asserted; in collaboration with the council of elders, youth and women groups and all stakeholders; that in no distant time, Isibor-Ewuare Village will be ranked amongst the best Villages in Benin Kingdom in terms of doing things the right way, and avoiding all acts that encourages crises and violence.
"Presently, we are working to amicably resolve all crises caused by the Community Development Association (CDA) related activities of the former Odionwere as it is our collective resolution, that peace must reign here to ensure the much desired development and growth.
"The people of Isibor-Ewuare have strictly adhered to the directives of the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II, that all forms of land speculation is highly forbidden, hence, developers are safe in the Village".
Osevbunu therefore called on developers to come with the documents of their property in Isibor-Ewuare Village for verification, adding, it is not intended to witch-hunt anyone but for the purpose of righting all the wrongs of the past.
Under his leadership, he said that there are plans to make available some essential social amenities in Isibor-Ewuare Village as town hall is almost completed.
"Water, electricity, market and health centre are some of the projects we are embarking on in the Village and to achieve these, we have reserved some portions of land for these projects. So, we are not waiting for Government", he said.
The Second-In-Command, Pa Ogieriakhi Okpugie and others in their separate remarks, commended the acting Village head for bringing peace and harmony.
The people had previously appealed for the quick intervention of the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II and all other relevant authorities over an headship (Odionwere) tussle that they claimed was tearing them apart.
They alleged the use of armed thugs to sack the entire Village by the former Head of the Village, in an alleged fight back to remain in office.
The people in an enlarged meeting presided over by Pa. Osevbunu, acting Odionwere told journalists that the appeal became necessary, as they had been under an abominable leadership of the former Head of the Village since 2019.
"He (former Head) has been removed as the Odionwere of the Village. This is because he was not the eldest man in Isibor - Ewuare as prescribed by the age long tradition of the Edo people.
"Unfortunately, his tenure had only caused the people more pains, tears and sorrow as indulgence in illegality; land grabbing activities and vices inimical to peace and progress had always been his stock in trade.
"Apart from not being the eldest man as prescribed by the tradition of the Edo people, hence not qualified to be Odionwere, he is also been accused of gross financial impropriety and embezzlement, including running a one man show ably aided by his men at arms.
"In the prevailing circumstances, faced with series of daunting challenges and calamities, the elders of the Village decided to go spiritual and findings revealed that it is because we allowed abomination to reign amongst us, allowing a younger person as Odionwere to lead us in prayers to our ancestors", the people claimed.
But in a swift reaction, Pa. Edosa Imafidon Obazee, denied all the allegations against him, claiming that he remains the Odiowere of the Village, as it is forbidden in Benin tradition to remove a Village head (Odiowere) through what he described as traditional coup.
He alleged that the people claiming the new leadership of the Village are not only impostors, but also mischief makers, who he alleged are hell-bent in causing crisis in the Village.
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