I was traditionally presented as Olare-Aja of Omadino, Pa. Ekpoto insists

The controversy over who is the authentic Olare-Aja (Eldest Man) of Omadino in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, seems unsettled as Pa. Samuel Mene Ekpoto, says he was traditionally presented as the Olare-Aja of Omadino in the community town-hall.

Recall that Pa. Omasan David Edukugho, reported to be the Olare-Aja (Eldest Man) of Omadino Community, had on Saturday September 12, demanded immediate end to all factional groups in the oil-rich Warri Community, during the inauguration of a 30-member Omadino Council of Elders’ Forum.

But in a reaction to the reported inauguration of the 30-member Omadino Council of Elders’ Forum by Pa. Edukugho, Pa. Samuel Mene Ekpoto, said the action was: 'Borne out of willful intent to foment trouble or of a malicious intent to create the impression that Omadino Community is in crisis. Warri Area Commander of the Nigerian Police, instructed that all parties should maintain Status Quo, pending our next meeting with the Command. Despite the instruction from the Area Commander, Pa. O. D. Edukugho and others went ahead.

"Event of such magnitude, must hold at the Nenuwa Hall of the Community and not the resident of any individual. We are not ignorant of the false information being peddled by Pa. O. D. Edukugho and his group against the current Olare-Aja of the Community (Pa. Samuel Mene Ekpoto) who was traditional presented to entire community on 18th of June, 2019, by the Chief Priest Teminor at Nenuwa Hall, a process that span over three months, before the final traditional presentation on 18th June, 2019. Furthermore, Omadino Community Council of Elders, disassociate itself from the activities of Pa. O. D. Edukugho and advice the general public to disregard the purported installation of new Elders’ Council by him at his residence, because he does not have the capacity to remove, dissolve or appoint Elders’ Council members. All Elders’ Council members’ position are for life".

Pa.  Ekpoto said: “As the head of Elders’ Council of Omadino, there's only one Elders’ Council, therefore people should disregard any other purported body apart from the one under my supervision”.

He maintained: “In the history of Omadino Community, Pa. Edukugho, is the first to claim he is an Olare-Aja of the Community, even when the position of the Olare-Aja was not vacant. He has been claiming he is the Olare-Aja of Omadino Community since 2016, during the period of late Olare-Aja".

While insisting that no inauguration can take place in Omadino without his consent, Pa. Ekpoto commended the Warri Area Command of Nigerian Police for the ongoing efforts to ensure peace in Omadino and thanked Omadino indigenes as well other well-meaning Itsekiris for their support.

Pa. Ekpoto (middle) & others, at the front of  Nenuwa Hall, after he was reportedly presented as Olare-Aja of Omadino, 18th of June, 2019

×