*He remained Suspended, says Inone
Gov.Okowa
Warri- The lingering crisis in Agbarho town has turned a different dimension as the embattled President General Chief Igho Gbenedio who was under suspension has resumed duty amidst controversy.
The embattled President General said an Effurun High court granted him an order to resume duty. He noted the court restraining the Agbarho traditional council of Chiefs from suspending or harassing him and his executive in any form.
But the Agbarho Chairman of the traditional Council, Chief Awala Inone who spoke with journalists at the Palace of the monarch claimed that the Chief Igho Gbenedio and his executive members remained suspended until further notice.
Chief Igho Gbenedio while throwing light to his resumption asserted that ‘‘we did not open our office on our own. It was the court order that allowed us to resume office. They called a mass meeting that our executive has been suspended. We went to court as law abiding citizens and the court restrained the traditional council of Chiefs from suspending us’’ He told Daily Watch.
He noted that he is not dragging or challenging the office of the monarch and he remained a loyal subject and pledged to remain loyal and join hands with the new monarch to move the kingdom forward.
But noted ‘The different offices between the President general and monarch will be separated as none cannot usurp the other. This is an old kingdom and this is the first time the kingdom is experiencing this challenges. This is the 19th Osuvie of Agharho Kingdom and we pray God should intervene for peace to reign’’
Meanwhile, the Agbarho traditional council of Chiefs led by Chief Awala Inone who responded to Daily Watch inquiry on the lingering crisis, said that the President general and his executive council were under suspension and remained until proper investigative panel was set to determine their case, and when proven otherwise, before they can either be considered to be allowed to resume duty.
But said, ‘‘ Untill now, they remained suspended. The said court order did not ask them to resume duty. A suspension order has been placed by the council and that is still effective. We had that Chief Igbenedion has broken the keys to the office and had resumed duty. We as lawful members of the Agbarho community will not want to create undue scene and that is why we remained calm, until allow the court process to pronounce its verdicts’’ he said.
