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By Young E. Freeborn, Ughelli
The chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief (Barr.) Jaro Movudu Egbo, has said that the traditional positions of Odion’Rode and Osueghweya in Evwreni Kingdom are historic and recognised by the government.
He said: “The Odion’Rode of Evwreni Kingdom usually comes from Unenurhie Community, and it has been so from time immemorial, while Okpawha Community produces the Odion’Esiri of Evwreni Kingdom. On the other hand, the Osueghweya is the women’s leader of Evwreni Kingdom. She serves the entire kingdom and is not for Okpawha Community alone.”
Egbo made the declarations while announcing the resolutions reached at a peace meeting he convened at the council’s conference hall.
The meeting, held on July 30, 2026, brought together the various factions in Evwreni Kingdom over two important traditional leadership positions: Odion’Rode and Osueghweya.
In separate presentations at the meeting, the traditional ruler of Evwreni Kingdom, HRM Oghenekevwe Owin Kumane Eruvwedede III, and the president-general of the kingdom, Chief Kenneth Ukpebitere, said Okpawha Community could not unilaterally install a new Osueghweya without consulting the Ovie, who is the clan head, and the president-general of the kingdom.
The duo said the position of the Evwreni women’s leader was usually held for life and that a new leader could only be appointed after the demise of the incumbent.
On the position of Odion’Rode of Evwreni Kingdom, the Ovie and the president-general told the council chairman and other stakeholders at the meeting that there was an existing court judgment in favour of Unenurhie Community as the authentic and original producer of the Odion’Rode of Evwreni Kingdom.
After listening to all the contending sides, the chairman of Ughelli North LGA, Chief Egbo, and the other stakeholders said: “This judgment was delivered in 2000, and there was neither an appeal nor an alternative court judgment. Anyone who parades himself as the Odion’Rode of Evwreni Kingdom, apart from the incumbent, High Chief James Amuke, who is from Unenurhie Community, is fake and stands in contempt of a subsisting court judgment.
“Major John Ovwufeti (rtd.) should forthwith desist from addressing himself as ‘His Highness’ and the Odion’Rode of Evwreni Kingdom if he does not want to run foul of the law.”
Speaking with our reporter immediately after the meeting, Comr. Williams Ilayah, the president-general of Unenurhie Community, and Mr Peter Maison, the immediate past president-general of the community, expressed their joy and appreciation on behalf of the people of Unenurhie to Chief (Barr.) Jaro Movudu Egbo, chairman of Ughelli North LGA; HRM Oghenekevwe Owin Kumane Eruvwedede III, the Ovie of Evwreni Kingdom; Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, the Evwreni political leader; Hon. Samuel Mariere, SUBEB chairman and Evwreni political leader; Chief Kenneth Ukpebitere, president-general of Evwreni Kingdom; and all those present at the peace meeting for standing by the truth, justice and fairness.
The two leaders of Unenurhie Community, however, thanked the aforementioned Evwreni leaders and promised to protect and secure the traditional position of Odion’Rode of Evwreni Kingdom as their true inheritance and ancestral heritage at all times.
