• Appeals for Oba Ewuare II intervention
From our news desk, Benin
The people of Evbuobagbeni Village in Ovia North East Local Government area of Edo State have debunked a recent publication in some of the social media news platforms with the headline; 'Edo Community Petitions Benin Monarch Over Plot to Impose Non-native as Leader, Warns of Looming Crises.'
At the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benin, Prince Don Isibor Obanosa on behalf of the people of Evbuobagbeni Village spoke to journalists explaining what he said, was the true story.
Prince Isibor said what was published in the said publication was not a true representation of the events that happened at the Palace of the Benin Monarch, and the Village as alleged.
Saying, that it is on record that there is no Village known and addressed as Obarune or Obateni in Benin kingdom.
According to him, the Oba of Benin, HRM Oba Ewuare II constituted a four man committee of Chiefs with acknowledged high reputation to investigate the information brought before the Palace by one Emmanuel Uwagboe; who he said is not from Evbuobagbeni Village, supported by another of their maternal relatives by name Kelvin Okunzuwa.
The committee; he said, also was to go verify if there is actually a river called Oriaza in the land.
Prince Isibor pointed out that the people of Evbuobagbeni Village have been waiting for the four man committee to do the needful.
Adding; that they have also written a petition to the Palace due to the delay; an action he said now enabled their maternal relatives and the Urhobo inhabitants in Evbuobagbeni Village to be making moves in renaming their ancestral homeland from its original name of Evbuobagbeni to Evbuobateru, Obateni and now Obarune.
Continuing, he said; "while awaiting the outcome of the petition written to the Palace, we heard some people who tried to adopt the name of Obateru/Obateni in place of Evbuobagbeni Village allegedly connived with some Palace chiefs to consent and approve an Odionwere (Village Head) for them.
"The people of Evbuobagbeni got the information and had to write to counter it because these same people are maternal relatives, Urhobos and in-laws; and not qualified to be made Odionwere in Benin.
"When the Palace first mediated on the matter, it was resolved that those claiming to come from Obateru/Obateni; especially the said Emmanuel Uwagboe who the people know is from Ikpako Village, and the one claiming to be the Odionwere to come with their first son to swear before ancestral shrines in the Palace but to everyone surprise, they started to misbehave.
"l do not bribe people for what is right and I do not see where bribes can bring about a good community or can lead to a good society.
"We however are appealing to our great Oba; our father to call both parties to be able to get the real facts of the issues and also to find out if they can swear to an oath and also find out, if the Oriaza river exists or not, if the said Emmanuel Uwagboe is not from Ikpako Village and if they are the original owner of the land they are claiming."
Prince Isibor also added; that they are willing to prove their claims of being the original descendants of the lineage of Evbuobagbeni Village; said to have been founded by High Priest Ogbeide Obanosa; one of the sons of Oba Obanosa of Benin kingdom by swearing before relevant shrines of deities that may be approved by the Palace of the Oba.
"The people of Evbuobagbeni are law abiding and would not take the laws into their hands as they have great respect for the great Oba Ewuare II CFR, the custodian of the customs and traditions of the land.
"Our prayer is for our father, the great Oba Ewuare II to call both parties to prove who truly is the bonafide indigene of the said Village, this will restore divine peace, development and unity to Evbuobagbeni Village."
Prince Isibor therefore urged the general public to disregard the contentious publication as it is not the true representation of what is happening at Evbuobagbeni Village.
Also; not to have any business transaction or any other form of transaction with any person or group of persons subscribing to the name; Obateru, Obateni or Obarune Village as such person(s) does so at his, her and their own risk.
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