By Cletus Opukeme, Warri
Some aggrieved persons i in Ogbe-Ijoh community have called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to intervene in the Ogbe-Ijoh community chairmanship election crisis by calling the monarch, to order HRM Monbere 111, the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom before his vested interest in the community politics may set the already tense community on fire.
When Daily Watch called the monarch on phone Tuesday why he is showing interest his the commmunity politics over who becomes chairman, His Royal Majesty told our reporter that he was in meeting at Asaba at the time we called and therefore invited the reporter to his palace Wednesday (tomorrow) to clear the air over the allegation..
In an open letter written to the executive governor of Delta state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa signed by the following aggrieved persons, MR. ESQUIRE DEDETOLU, MR. LUCKY ZAUDUMUCHAIRMAN, SECRETARY,OTURUBIRI QUARTER OTURUBIRI QUARTER CHIEF ISAIAH AFEDOLOR MR. IBRU OKPOGAN CHAIRMAN ASANGBAWARE IMMEDIATE PASSED CHAIRMAN OTURUBIRI QUARTER OTURUBIRI QUARTER
complained bitterly that if the monarch is not called to order, his interest in who becomes chairman of the community may set the community ablaze.
The petinoners also copied Chief E.K Clark, President, jaw National Congress Professor Benjamin Okaba, Delta state police commissioner, DSS director Delta state and several other notable oeronalities to draw their attention to the imminent danger ahead of the community
The petitiiners accused Ogbe-Ijoh monarch of denying the man Chief David Omare who was duly screened by electoral committee from being inaugurated as chairman of the community.
See full content of the open letter:
His Excellency, 7th FEBRUARY, 2022Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa,Governor of Delta State,AsabaSirACTS CAPABLE OF CAUSING BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER IN OGBE-IJOH AND ITS ENVIRONS BY HRM MONBENE III THE AMA-OKOSU OF OGBE-IJOH WARRI KINGDOM: CALL FOR INVENTION Your Excellency we wish to draw your attention to looming crisis in Ogbe-Ijoh and its environs perpetuated by HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh as it relates to nomination of persons to fill the various positions of Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council. The Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom has a constitution that spelt out how the various positions are filled in every two years.The constitution under reference requires the respective quarters to nominate person(s) to fill positions zoned to them and such nominees are forwarded to an Electoral Committee constituted for that purpose. It is the Electoral Committee that can disqualify a quarter nominee as clearly stated in the constitution. For the 2022 – 2024 session of the Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council, the positions of Chairman and Assistant Secretary were zoned to Oturubiri Quarters to fill. And the Quarter nominated Chief David OMARE and Mr. Odonrubo Francis Owei for Chairman and Assistant Secretary of Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council 2022-2024 session respectively. And they were all screened and cleared by the Electoral Committee and to be inaugurated by the Traditional Council.Unfortunately, HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh called for Traditional Council meeting on Sunday the 6th February 2022 and informed the Traditional Council that the Oturubiri Quarter nominee for the position of Chairman of the Governing Council will not be inaugurated on 7th February 2022 as required. For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogbe-Ijoh constitution as mentioned above do not give HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh the power to disqualify any candidate. HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh since assumption of the throne, is always imposing candidates as against the collective agreement of quarter for the past six (6) years.The Traditional Council of Chiefs, respected opinion leaders within and outside Ogbe-Ijoh have all talked to HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh to respect the Ogbe-Ijoh constitution but HRM is conducting himself in a manner that is likely to cause breach of the peace and order in Ogbe-Ijoh and its environs, hence this letter to your Excellency to call HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh to order. HRM did same in the outgoing Governing Council where he singlehandedly picked Chief Roland Takembo and that action was greeted with series of petitions. That the silence of Delta State Government and Delta State Traditional Rulers Council over the persistent and consistent manner of interference by HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh to deprive quarter each time the Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council is to be constituted and has inaugurated Chief Victor Okiri instead of Chief David Omare. The action/conduct of HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh will lead to break down of law and order in Ogbe-Ijoh and its environs.We therefore call on the Delta State Government, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and security agencies to do the needful before the situation gets out of control. HRM Monbene III the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh has no regard for the Ogbe-Ijoh constitution and has violated the constitution in the last six (6) years.
Signed:
MR. ESQUIRE DEDETOLU, MR. LUCKY ZAUDUMUCHAIRMAN, SECRETARY,OTURUBIRI QUARTER OTURUBIRI QUARTER CHIEF ISAIAH AFEDOLOR MR. IBRU OKPOGAN CHAIRMAN ASANGBAWARE IMMEDIATE PASSED CHAIRMAN OTURUBIRI QUARTER OTURUBIRI QUARTER
Cc: CHIEF DR. EK CLARK OFR, CON, TONKEPA OF OGBE-IJOH WARRI KINGDOMPROF. BENJAMIN OKABA,PRESIDENT IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS.THE COMMISIONER OF POLICE,DELTA STATE COMMANDTHE DELTA STATE DIRECTOR,DEPARTMENT OF STATE SECURITY (DSS)ASABATHE NIGERIA POLICE, BURUTU AREA COMMANDC% OVWIAN POLICE STATIONTHE CHAIRMAN,DELTA STATE TRADITIONAL RULERS COUNCILOFF MARYAM BABAGIDA WAY ASABA
