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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
The revered traditional ruler and Odion’Rode of Unenurhie community, HRM, Moses Inore, has again added his voice to the pleas of his subjects to the Delta State government to recognize the community as an independent and separate kingdom from the Evwreni kingdom.
The Odion’Rode made this call during a traditional council meeting with his chiefs and elders in the community town hall recently.
The meeting which was presided over by the Otota’Rode (speaker) of the community, Engr. Chief Frank Imudje, on behalf of the monarch, attracted leaders from the various arms of government in the community including the president general of the community, Mr. Peter Maison, his executive committee, women leaders and youth leaders.
During the meeting which lasted several hours, the Otota’Rode said, “Unenurhie is long overdue for this kingdom we are talking about. The Delta State government is just denying us this our sole right to be independent and autonomous. The legal process is already on before now. We want to appeal to the ministries of chieftaincy affairs and that of justice to present our case and application letters to the office of the executive governor of the state for immediate approval and recognition.
“Let me at this time also correct the wrong impression by some groups of people here in Unenurhie community that we want to create enmity and division with Evwreni people. We have no problem with Evwreni people. In fact, they should even be happy that we want to go on our own at this time. They should support us to achieve our dream. I think Evwreni people should emulate Enhwe in Isoko in this race. If Enhwe, a one community could split into two independent kingdoms through understanding, what prevents Unenurhie community, that’s separate from Evwreni in geographical location not to be a kingdom of its own? Once again, we call on the Delta State government to grant us approval and recognition as a kingdom.”
Also speaking during the meeting, the Akpohor (deputy speaker) of Unenurhie community, Olorogun Dr. Johnson Abrucha, said that, Unenurhie community have everything that is needed to create a kingdom in the state, ranging from geographical location, local market days, celebration of cultural festivals, traditional marriage institution and other many prerequisites.
He however called on those in the ministries of chieftaincy affairs and justice not to delay the legal process again as Unenurhie community was already recognized as an independent and autonomous community in oil and gas matters by the government and oil companies.
In his remarks, the president general of the community, Mr. Peter Maison, on behalf of his executive lauded the efforts of the Odion’Rode and his traditional council of chiefs and elders for their pragmatic and proactive approach to seek government recognition and approval in the push to become their own separate and independent kingdom.
“I want to report to you here that, we are deeply on top of the matter with the Delta State government. We won’t relent on this race. The government has seen the picture very clearly. From our letters of application and appeal, the government knows that, Evwreni people are being oppressive to us in all ramifications. They have been treating us as slaves in our own land and inheritance. They never want us to grow as people in politics and in other areas. In fact, we have suffered a lot of humiliations and oppression in their hands especially with their king.
“In this case too, I still want to commend some good people of Evwreni community. They see the beauty and importance in our agitations to separate from Evwreni kingdom. These are well educated and civilized people. They are very conversant with the law. We want to commend those Evwreni people once again for taking the right stand with us as a people. They don’t want to toe the part of ignorance and violence like what some of them are doing to us at the moment. I want to plead that, the Delta State government should finally cut this long old rope to separate the two communities to bring peace and harmony between the two communities,” he said.
