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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
The people of Unenurhie community, in Evwreni kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, have intensified call on the state government to separate them, as an autonomous and independent kingdom, “from the present Evwreni kingdom we were forcefully and unknowingly joined to.”
They alleged that the attachment to Evwreni was made possible by “some Evwreni political forces without the full consent of the entire Unenurhie elders and leaders years ago.”
In an interview with our correspondent recently, president-general of Unenurhie community, Mr. Peter Maison, gave “remarkable and cogent reasons” why his people have embarked on the agitations to have their own independent kingdom.
He said that, “From historical records available to us, the founders of Unenurhie and Evwreni were brothers. It’s undisputed fact that many Evwreni people can boldly attest to that Unenurhie was first founded before Evwreni.
“Again, the founder of Unenurhie, Usu was the eldest and leader of the fleeing group that founded Evwreni here in Ughelli North LGA and Enhwe with Emede in Isoko North LGA respectively.
“In fact, as a community, we are not just agitating or seeking for our own kingdom, from the present Evwreni kingdom, out of jealousy or hatred, but have a lot of convincing reasons for the agitations. First, Evwreni has shortchanged us in many ways since this our co-habitation and co-existence as one kingdom.
“Before now, the Evwreni clan head that was recognized by the then Mid-Western government with a 1962 gazette was the Odion’Rode from Unenurhie community. Many years ago, this traditional stool was forcefully replaced with the title of Ovie and stationed at Evwreni.
“Secondly, Evwreni as a kingdom is made up of two major communities and many adjoining villages. The two major communities are Evwreni and Unenurhie. Evwreni has three quarters while Unenurhie have two quarters. For many years now, Unenurhie is perpetually classified as a quarter and not as a community in Evwreni kingdom and it’s treated as such in every occasion or situation in the kingdom.
“Thirdly, Unenurhie and Evwreni are also created as one electoral ward. Since the creation of the electoral ward till date, Evwreni has never allowed any Unenurhie person to be elected as a councilor of the electoral ward. Fourthly, Evwreni Clan Improvement Union was created many years ago. If truly Unenurhie is a community in Evwreni kingdom or clan, then what prevents Unenurhie person to become the president-general of the said union? Till today, we haven’t produced the president-general of Evwreni Clan Improvement Union,” he said.
Speaking further, the president-general noted that, “Outside all these cogent reasons I just gave now, Unenurhie as an autonomous community also have all the features and qualities to seek or make a kingdom in the state.
“First, we are geographically separated from Evwreni with clear natural boundaries and demarcations between the two communities. Secondly, the adjoining villages I mentioned earlier to make the Evwreni kingdom are all located in our community and not at Evwreni itself. Thirdly, we as an autonomous community have our own distinct cultural festivals different from the ones of Evwreni. Fourthly, we have our own eldest man and woman, as our culture demands that are different from the ones at Evwreni. Fifthly, we have our own local market day different from the market day of Evwreni.
“Sixthly and most important, we have our own traditional institution as old as the Unenurhie community headed by the Odion’Rode and supported by other traditional positions or arms of traditional government in order of hierarchy. In the same way too, we also have our own union government called Unenurhie Community Development Union different from that Evwreni Clan Improvement Union. In fact, we have all the prerequisites for the Delta State government to consider us as a kingdom in the state,” Maison said.
The interview with the president-general was however concluded with a call to the state government to immediately consider the appeal and agitations of the Unenurhie people to recognize them as a distinct and independent kingdom from the present Evwreni kingdom in order to avoid continuous inter-communal crises and legal battles between the two communities over issues of clan head, political marginalization, autocratic and oppressive leadership and infringing on the fundamental rights of Unenurhie people as full citizens of Nigeria.
