Stranger Tag: Call Ovie of Udu to order - Team 1979 Edict, tells Okowa

The people of Udu, under the aegis of the ‘Team 1979 Edict’ in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, have called on Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to call the Ovie of Udu to order, so as to halt the perceived fragmentation of Udu Kingdom, into several kingdoms.

Fresh Angle International can authoritatively report that the call was made Thursday December 2, when they took their grievance through a peaceful protest, to the governor, regarding alleged move by the Ovie of Udu to jettison the 1979 Edict, on the order of succession to the throne of Udu Kingdom and profile a section of the Udu people as strangers.

The protesters, who were drawn from 6 of the 7 Ruling Houses in Udu, maintained that for Udu to continue to remain as one, the 1979 Edict on order of succession to the throne of the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, must be retained.

One of the protesters, addressing newsmen

‘’Your Excellency, we have had real compulsion in the recent past to write to you, at least in two correspondences, about our predicament as caused by Barr. E. B. O Delekpe, Ohworhu I, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, our king.

‘’We are happy to note that you have not left us alone, rather you have responded in various ways. But as the saying goes, it is not over, until it is over. The reasons for which we wrote those letters are still very much with us. Our king is still pursuing his personal agenda of abrogating the 1979 Edict, which created Udu kingdom and enthroned him as King.

“After 25 years of his enthronement, he all of a sudden, wants to jettison the Law, which is very clear on succession to the throne. He now plans to turn it to a father-to-son type of monarchy. In a manner most unbecoming of a king, that is occupying an uncontested throne, he refers to 6 out of the 7 Ruling Houses as category B, C, D citizens and strangers, quite unlike what is expressly stated in the law creating the Kingdom.

‘’Many peaceful moves have been made on our part as we do not want to rock the boat of the kingdom and the peace of our dear State. We have therefore resolved to carry out this peaceful demonstration to further draw your attention to the threat to this Edict that was put in place years ago and which many other old kingdoms have been operating very successfully.

‘’The purpose of this demonstration, your Excellency, is to request you to help the state uphold a well-meaning law and direct HRM, Barr. E. B. O Delekpe to strictly comply and uphold the status-quo-ante and keep his position as king and reign quietly over Udu kingdom. We acknowledge that this request of ours is within your purview and power. Udu kingdom is fast degenerating into a state of anarchy.

“You can stop it if you will, before it infects other kingdoms and kings of which Barr. Delekpe has also spited by throwing their appeals and advice overboard. Any other king in the state is within your reach and is able to confirm our claims. Your Excellency, we believe Enough is Enough and therefore invite you to step in and this time with a decisive statement of finality’’, the letter which was signed by Chief John Magba, Chief Maxwell Osiobe, Comrade Udoji Rioka and Gowon Iyasere read.

The protesters also took the protests to the Delta State House of Assembly, where a copy of the protest letter was lodged with the Speaker and another copy given to Hon. Peter Uviejitobor, the member representing Udu in the State House of Assembly. The protest was also taken to the Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council, where they were received and their complaints lodged.

One of the protesters, stating their demand

Those who spoke to newsmen in Government House, Asaba include; Comrade Ese Ogboru, Comrade Udoji Rioka and Revd. D.N Obasuyi from Enerhen in Urhedjor Sub-Ruling House of Udu.

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