Evwreni kingmakers reject Kumane as king; reaffirm the removal of monarch

By Ovasa Ogaga,

The 9 ruling houses of the Otioghare royal family has rejected HRM, Oghenekevwe Owin Kumane, Eruvwedede III, as the king of Evwreni kingdom, reaffirming his removal as king.

This position was parts of the resolution reached at a meeting of the Otioghare royal family convened by Chief Smart Paul Ohwepia Ukpebitere (JP), held at the Otioghare family hall, Evwreni on the 10th day of April, 2021.

The kingmakers in a communique issued and signed at the end of the meeting by Chief Smart Paul Ohwepia Ukpebitere (JP), Chief Wilfred Ororho Utuedor, Prince Sunday Arekevwe Dolor, and others,  alleged that the Kumane’s are paternally not from Evwreni but from Iyede kingdom, a neighboring kingdom to Evwreni kingdom, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

They also asserted that the kingship by the Kumane’s family (Eruvwedede) was forced on the Otioghare Royal Family by a prominent lawyer whose father was also from Ovurienrien Osia family from Iyede kingdom, and that, the Eruvwedede’s kingship was based on deception.

The Otioghare royal family, therefore, reaffirmed their call for the removal of HRM, Oghenekevwe Owin Kumane, Eruvwedede III, as a king of Evwreni kingdom, on the grounds of illegitimacy, terrorism and abdication of the throne in the face of serial crises he allegedly created in the kingdom.

The Royal Family also renewed its call on the Delta State Government to withdraw the staff of office presented to HRM, Oghenekevwe Owin Kumane, Eruvwedede III as a permanent measure to stop the continuous terrorism, killings, riotous act, arson and other forms of destructions, in order to restore peace to Evwreni kingdom.”

They equally stated that an Obah (Regent), Prince Sunday Arekevwe Dolor, has been installed, who is currently vested with the powers to handle the traditional affairs of Evwreni kingdom for a period of about six (6) months before a new king will be announced and presented to the Delta State government for an issuance of a new staff of office.

The communique signed by Chief Smart Paul Ohwepia Ukpebitere (JP), Chief Wilfred Ororho Utuedor, Prince Sunday Arekevwe Dolor, and others also read: “We called on the Executives of Evwreni Clan Improvement Union (ECIU) under the leadership of Mr. Bright Adjogbe to liaise with the State Police Command to establish a genuine vigilante group in Evwreni kingdom or a dedicated police security in the interim.

“We call on the Delta State Police Command to carry out immediate and detailed investigation into the day to day terriorism, killings, rioteous, burning down of dwelling houses and business places in Evwreni kingdom. This is even as the gods of the land are angry over the blood of Evwreni indigenes being sacrificed for ritual purposes and vendetta of all sorts by the monarch, who is currently standing criminal trial at a Federal High Court in Warri.

“Save the soul of Evwreni kingdom. Let the kingship stool and crown be returned to the original owner, which is the Otioghare Royal Family of Evwreni for peace to return back to the kingdom.

“We equally disassociate ourselves from the hidden motive of the so-called Peace Committee set-up by the killer squad of the kingdom who are currently floating Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON as the Peace Committee Convener. We are therefore, not comfortable with Hon Samuel Ambrose Mariere and the Kumane’s family being party to the Committee as you cannot be a judge over your own case. Even though, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON may have meant well for the kingdom but Hon Samuel Ambrose Mariere and the Kumane’s should not be included as Co-convener and/or members of any sub-committees to the Evwreni Peace Committee initiated by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON.

“We call on all Evwreni sons and daughters in diaspora to join hands with Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON in this long awaited peace process and also feel free to return home and develop our much cherished kingdom so that our brotherly love bestowed on us by our ancestors would be restored,” the communique added.