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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
As a result of the protracted intra-communal crisis that rocked the Evwreni kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State over alleged failed leadership, Unenurhie community, a distinct member of Evwreni kingdom, have started agitations to have their own separate and independent kingdom.
Speaking to our correspondent after a meeting of Evwreni kingdom with the secretary to the state government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, on the implementation of the government white paper on the crisis, in his office at Asaba, the president-general of Unenurhie community, Mr. Peter Maison who represented the Unenurhie people at the meeting said, “Unenurhie is long overdue to be a kingdom of her own.
“As a group of people, we have all it takes and the needed characteristics to make a kingdom in this state. Agitating for our own kingdom is not to create crisis or violence in the land. We are peace loving people. This is why, we are pursuing this in the right way as laid down by the Delta state government. Because we are law abiding citizens of the state and also disciplined people, we won’t do anything to seek the approval of the Delta state government on our request and demand to be our own independent kingdom outside the laid down laws and regulations of the concerned government department,” he said.
The Unenurhie PG further said, “At least, as citizens of this country, we have the fundamental right to seek for our own kingdom and integrity as a people. This is not a matter of creating division and enmity amongst the people as some mischief makers from both Unenurhie and Evwreni communities are defining our struggle. We have our own reasons why the leadership of our community decided to seek for a separate and independent kingdom.
“First, as a member of Evwreni kingdom, Unenurhie community has never produced the president-general of Evwreni Clan Improvement Union till today. They don’t even consider any member of our community for any position in that union. Yet, we belong to one kingdom. Secondly, because we are in the same kingdom as same indigenous people, the government also classified and created us into one electoral ward known as Evwreni Ward. Since this electoral ward was created till date, no Unenurhie man or woman has ever qualified to be elected as the councilor of the ward. This political position is perpetually reserved for only the Evwreni people. Is this not political marginalization on our youths?
“Thirdly, under the hierarchy of the traditional institutions and leadership of Evwreni kingdom, our traditional head which is the Odion’Rode of Unenurhie community supposed to be the second in command. This respect and honour was never allowed by the Ovie of Evwreni kingdom to be accorded the Odion’Rode by his subjects especially those from the main Evwreni community. These are some of the ways Unenurhie people are being victimized, marginalized and oppressed by the Evwreni leadership over the years in our co-habitation as people of one kingdom.
“Based on the above reasons and others I couldn’t mentioned here, the leadership of Unenurhie community have decided to seek for their own separate and independent kingdom from the Delta state government in a lawful manner. In fact, we are not the first community to start these kinds of agitations. Some other communities across the state have done it before and got the approval and recognition of the state government. For instance, Enhwe in Isoko South LGA have two separate and independent kingdoms situated in one inseparable geographical location. It’s the same with Abraka in Ethiope East LGA. So if these places could be approved and granted autonomy and independence, we strongly believe that, the Delta state government will also listen to our excruciating pains and unending tears under the autocratic leadership of Evwreni kingdom and grant us our own separate and independent kingdom to allow us have peace and happiness as a people,” he said.
