CHIETAINCY TUSSLE: Community writes Oshiomhole over alleged issuing of appointment letter

7 years ago

CHIETAINCY TUSSLE: Community writes Oshiomhole over alleged issuing of appointment letter

BENIN—CRISIS is brewing in Okhue-Esan Kingdom in Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State over an alleged letter of appointment issued to one of the claimants to the throne of the Onogieship of the community, one Emmanuel Ehikioya by the state government, who they said had not performed burial rites of the late traditional ruler of the town.

The community in an open letter to Governor Adams Oshiomhole by Chief Lucky Ighekpe, the Oliha of Okue-Esan and Chairman Council of Chiefs, Deacon John Emhonyua, Secretary to the Kingmakers (Okhue-Esan Kingdom), and Chief Patrick Inerie, Chairman (Okhue-Esan Development Association), said that it was an error on the part of the state government to have allowed Ehikhioya to be in possession of an appointment letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

They insisted that the appointment letter being in possession of the said Ehikioya was baseless and an error that the state government needed to correct urgently by withdrawing same in the interest of justice, respect for the collective value, custom and tradition as Edo people.

The community stated that the person whom the appointment letter was issued to was not the one recommended by the Kingmakers of Okhue-Esan Kingom to the Secretary to the Edo State Government, adding that, “the Kingmakers otherwise known as Okhue-Olenokhua is the only body empowered by the Law (Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979,B.S.L.N No.57) and the custom and tradition of Okhue-Esan people to clear, install an Onogie and recommend same to the government for recognition and appointment.”

According to the letter, “In the Esan and Benin custom and tradition applicable to Okue-Esan, no person can inherit a man’s title without performing the burial ceremonies. This fact is also contained in the Bendel State Traditional and Chiefs Edict of 1979 applicable to Edo State as a requirement for appointment as Onogie.

“The person whom the appointment letter was delivered to did not perform the burial ceremonies of our late Onogie”, just as the Odion-Egbe who is also the Ihaza of Okhue- Esan Kingdom, Chief R. Eyike, who has the responsibility for coordinating and supervising all activists in burial ceremonies in the Royal Palace and the Kingdom told Vanguard in an interview that the said Ehikioya did not perform the burial ceremonies of the late Onogie and was not in position to do so.”

The community explained further to the governor that the diversion of the appointment letter has been under investigation by Esan Traditional Rulers by a committee it set up, which membership included the Onogie of Ekpoma, the Onogie of Ewu, the Onogie of Ogwa, the Onogie of Orowa and the Onogie of Uzea and were yet to take a position on the Onogieship dispute due to the refusal of the said Mr. Ehikhioya to honour the invitations extended to him on four occasions by the Committee.

One of the traditional rulers who spoke to Vanguard on the issue on the condition of anonymity said that their committee was yet to take a position on the matter due to the continuous refusal of the said Ehikioya to honour the invitations so far extended to him four times.