RE: DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT RESOLVES OKERE-URHOBO KINGSHIP DISPUTE

May 17, 2020

RE: DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT RESOLVES OKERE-URHOBO KINGSHIP DISPUTE

Our attention have been drawn to a publication in the Pointer Newspaper of Friday May 15, wherein an attempt was made to deliberately deceive members of the public, particularly Deltans, that the protracted kingship dispute in Okere-Urhobo kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area, has been resolved.

Ordinarily, we would have ignored the concocted publication targeted at creating mischief, but experience has shown over time that lies repeatedly told, are often consumed by unsuspecting members of the public as truth, especially when such falsehood are credited to people with known identities.

While we do not intend to bore members of the public, including those at the helm of affairs in government as well as security agencies, it must be strongly stated that the Delta State Government has not resolved the protracted kingship dispute in Okere-Urhobo kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area.

For the records, permit us to recall that Okere-Urhobo Kingdom was created and gazette accordingly based on five families (5 Quarters) factoring the population and joint properties of the 5 families.

When the kingdom was about to be created, all the families agreed to put their resources, properties and lands together for the purpose of creating the kingdom.

The Five Families – Olodi, Itifo, Makro, Ighogbadu and Oki, were born of the Same Father. We all are the children of Okpeki, who migrated from Okpari to Okere-Urhobo Kingdom.

We must put it on good record that the Itifo and Makro Families, did not accept any purported recommendation of the Peace Committee headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, at the Government Annex, Warri.

As far as we know, the Peace Committee headed by Chief Edwin Uzor, has not made any final recommendation regarding the Okere-Urhobo Kingship dispute, hence members of the public should out-rightly disregard the Friday May 15 publication, claiming otherwise.

We are also certain that His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has not endorsed any report, knowing fully well that peace building is one of his priorities.

Any attempt to exclude Itifo and Makro Families, will lead to anarchy and subsequently produce two kings in the Okere-Urhobo Kingdom.

Itifo and Makro families have equal rights in Okere-Urhobo like the other three families as laid down by our founding fathers.

Kingmakers must emanate from the five families: Olodi, Itifo, Makro, Ighogbadu and Oki- with asterisk on Oki family, since they don’t have any Chief in Okere-Urhobo Kingdom.

A kingdom cannot be founded by five families, for only three to claim ruler-ship.

It is imperative to state at this juncture that Chief Edwin Uzor, had in a chat, denied authorizing the May 15 misleading publication, since the final report is yet to be completed and released.

The statement credited to Head of Itifo Family, Pa. Franklin Akporiaye, during an interview with Government Officials, was misconstrued.

While he said that he does not want to be king himself, Pa. Akporiaye noted that Itifo family, as one of the founding members of the kingdom, should participate in producing a king, by being appointed as kingmakers.

Members of Itifo and Makro families, have always been appointed into key traditional positions in the kingdom.

The immediate past Okpako’orere (eldest male in the kingdom) late Chief Sajimi Eburu from Makro family, was a Chief and a Kingmaker of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom.

In keeping with laid down traditions of our founding fathers, it is only fair that members of Itifo and Makro families should be appointed as Kingmakers in Okere-Urhobo Kingdom.

  Signed

Pa. Chief Franklin Akporiaye          

Head of Itifo Family

Pa. Chief Austin Ighorue

Head of Makro Family

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