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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
The president-general of Unenurhie community, Mr. Peter Maison, has spoken extensively on why the Unenurhie people continue to agitate for their separate kingdom from the present Evwreni kingdom.
In a recent interview held at his residence in Unenurhie community, the president-general told our correspondent that, “We, as a community in this present Evwreni kingdom will continue to agitate for our own separate and independent kingdom other than this present Evwreni kingdom.
“As a peaceful and law-abiding community, we don’t want to do anything outside the scope and limit of the law. Therefore, we have placed our different applications seeking for our own kingdom to the different appropriate offices and ministries in the state.
“We are also shouting on top of our voices to seek the immediate attention of the Delta State government over our plight and broad-day slavery being melted on us over the years by the Evwreni leadership especially the traditional and the political classes.
“We thank God, the struggle for this independence and freedom is very much in progress. And we strongly believe that, we will soon arrive at the promised land after crossing the Red Sea. It’s a peaceful agitation. It can never lead both Unenurhie and Evwreni communities to crisis or enmity,” he said.
Speaking on the continued agitation for their own kingdom, the PG noted that, “Our continuous agitation today to have our own kingdom is not motivated or influenced by selfish or personal interest, divisive tendencies or traditional influence on the part of any Unenurhie man or woman. But it’s purely based on the activities of injustice, political marginalization, traditional degradation and infringement on our fundamental human rights, all by the leadership of Evwreni especially the traditional and political classes.
“First, the Evwreni Power have classified Unenurhie as a quarter. In this case, they have raised the three quarters they have in Evwreni community to the status of communities to measure height with Unenurhie community with her two major quarters and many accredited streets. They have done this to us as a result of intimidation and bribery on our bad leaders. Today, whenever they share anything in Evwreni kingdom, they usually share it into four. When we receive one, they have three.
“Secondly, since the creation of Evwreni Ward many years ago, no Unenurhie man or woman has ever qualified to become a councilor to represent the ward in the Ughelli North legislative council. It’s only the Evwreni people that are created for that position. Is this not a clear political marginalization on our people?
“Again, on party leadership, no Unenurhie person has ever become a chairman or secretary of any political party in the ward till today.
“Thirdly and most important to us is on our traditional institutions. This same Evwreni leadership wants to wipe away our identity and history as a distinct people because they are ahead of us in many endeavours. According to our historiographical records, the forebears of Unenurhie and Evwreni emigrated from the same abode and Usu, the forebear of Unenurhie community was the leader and senior of the fleeing group. Therefore, Unenurhie is senior in the making of Evwreni kingdom. But no Evwreni man or woman will ever accept this undisputed historical fact. This is why our traditional ruler today is not even recognized by the Evwreni traditional institutions, let alone the Delta State government.”
The Unenurhie president-general, Mr. Peter Maison, ended the interview by calling on the governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the members of the state House of Assembly to immediately approve and recognize Unenurhie as a “kingdom” in Urhobo land and in Delta State, so as to remove their people from “this modern day slavery and political marginalization on the part of the Evwreni traditional and political leaders which the Unenurhie people have suffered for so many years without remedy or hope of respite.”
