By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
A Lagos-based business consultant, Prince Juakine Ukpebitere, and his siblings have distanced themselves from a publication purportedly made by some members of the Ukpebitere family in Evwreni kingdom, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, and published by a local newspaper prior to the elections of the Evwreni Clan Improvement Union.
The publication had claimed that Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere, the present president-general of Evwreni kingdom, was not the chosen candidate for the Evwreni people.
In a telephone interview with our correspondent over this alleged publication by the Ukpebitere family, the young Evwreni prince said, “The emergence of my elder brother, Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere as the president-general of Evwreni kingdom is not only a blessing to the Ukpebitere family but also to the entire Evwreni kingdom.
“He’s a right peg in a right hole. My other siblings and I, especially from the fourth gate of late Prince Smart Ukpebitere have no hand in the said publication done against our elder brother, Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere during his preparation towards the ECIU elections. We were never consulted for the purported publication done by some members of the Ukpebitere family.
“Anybody who is against his/her own brother for good, such a person is not better than a witch or wizard. Such a person is an evil person. Me and my siblings were never part of such evil plans or meetings. Only a few people can’t soil the name of the Ukpebitere family with evil. Again, no candidate in the ECIU elections need endorsement of his/her family before he/she is voted for. There is no such provision in the ECIU constitution. This is why that endorsement they made couldn’t hold ground,” he said.
Speaking further during the media chat, Prince Juakine Ukpebitere described his elder brother, Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere as a man of unquestionable character that has the development of Evwreni kingdom at heart.
Hear him: “I want to at this time, assure our elder brother, Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere that me and my siblings are fully in his support as the president-general of Evwreni kingdom. We are solidly behind him for success and great achievements throughout his tenure. No doubt, our brother was able to win the election into the president-general of Evwreni kingdom because he is a man with many track records.
“His emergence as the PG will therefore usher in development, unity, peace and huge success to the entire Evwreni kingdom. Let me also use this medium on behalf of the entire Ukpebitere family to send our warmest appreciations to all those that considered our brother worthy to be voted into power despite the various allegations, publications and intimidation put up by some of our brothers and sisters in the family. We are always here and there for the success of our elder brother in his tenure as the president-general of Evwreni kingdom.”
Prince Juakine Ukpebitere however called on those members of the Ukpebitere family that made the said publication to “immediately tender unreserved apology to the entire family and try to turn a new leaf by changing their evil thoughts and plans against their brother, Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere for good.”