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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
The traditional chiefs saddled with the responsibility of organizing the ancient annual Ohworhu cultural festival (masquerade dance) of the Unenurhie people in Evwreni kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, known as the ‘Inugbedjor,’ recently added a new feather to their cap as Mr. Simon Ighariemu, aka Okoloko, was installed with the traditional title of ‘Unugbedjor’.
Performing the installation at the temple of the Ohworhu Edjukpe, the senior ‘Unugbedjor,’ who is also the chief priest of the revered water deity, Olorogun Samson Ughojor Abrucha, said, “As the chief priest of Ohworhu Edjukpe, I hereby present to you again yet another young man to be installed as Unugbedjor. The door to increase the membership of this traditional institution is now open to our children.
“I’m aging already. Age is strongly telling on me now. I’m very happy to see young men like this that can boldly take up this challenge to join this noble society of traditional chiefs. As part of our culture, Mr. Simon Ighariemu is now to be known and addressed as ‘Olorogun’. He’s a recognized traditional chief in this community.
“However, let me correct this insinuation from some people in this community. The Inugbedjor are traditional chiefs (Ilorogun). It’s not established today. Even with my age now, I grew to meet it in this community before I joined it in later years of my life. They are not the gazetted type of chiefs as conferred on people by our clan head. Please, we shouldn’t misinterpret this to mean insubordination on the authority of our monarch at all. Once again, I congratulate our new Unugbedjor,” he said.
In a chat with our correspondent during the reception held in his residence, the celebrant who is also the assistant prime-minister, ‘Olotu-Ovwraghwa,’ of Unenurhie community, Olorogun Simon Ighariemu, expressed gratitude to the chief priest of Ohworhu Edjukpe and the friends and family members that supported him all through the ceremony.
“I’m overwhelmed with joy today seeing these crowds of people around me, my warmest greetings to the Olotu-Orode of Evwreni kingdom, the Olotu-Orode of Unenurhie community and the Olotu-Orode of Enhwe kingdom. I also thank all my family members especially my younger brother, Mr. Raphael Ighariemu, for being there for me. The same way I thank all my friends and well-wishers from different places that came to celebrate the moment with me,” Olorogun Ighariemu concluded.
The cultural ceremony was attended by the creme de la creme of the society including chiefs, men, women and large sections of community youths.
