HRH Okpeki 11 remains Oroseun of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom leaders tell Okowa

Leaders of Okere Urhobo Kingdom Warri, Delta State have reiterated their position that HRH Barrister Christopher Okumagba Okpeki 11 as the Oroseun (King) of the Kingdom.

The adding that Okpeki 11  “is still the rightful and lawfully selected and appointed Oroseun (King) of Okere Urhobo Kingdom whose process was submitted to the Delta State Government since September 2017and still pending with the Government.”

They explained that since 5 out of the 9 Kingmakers spread across the 3 ruling Houses of Idama, Sohworubve and Owhotemu participated in his selection and appointment process which had the blessing of the Okpako Orere (Oldest man) of the Kingdom as laid down in the Native Law and Custom of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, “we urge the Delta State Government to properly look into the said process and grant staff of Office to His Royal Highness Barrister Christopher Okumagba as Okpeki 11.”

They also advised the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to take a critical look on the issue at hand and handle the Oroseunship tussle of the Kingdom with utmost care by avoiding those who have no legal right to be part of case.

According them, the governor should rather follow due process as laid down by the Custom and Tradition of the Kingdom this time around in order to bring lasting peace to the kingdom.

They equally enjoined Governor Okowa and Government of Delta State to be “weary” of the activities of Chief Wilson O Eboh who is parading himself as the Regent of the Kingdom since according to them, the title of a “Regent and Statutory Kingmakers” is alien to the Kingdom .

The kingdom leader in a letter sent to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Governor of Delta State signed by Apostle Isaac Eraivor, the Okpako Orere of Okere Urhobo Kingdom and Head of the 3 ruling houses of Idama Sohworubve and Owhotemu and Pa Churchill Oki (JP) for Sohworubve ruling House for and on behalf of  Okere Urhobo Kingdom ,  expressed bitterness over what they described as the “wrongful presentation of staff of Office to  Professor Paul Okumagba whose appointment process was rift with several irregularities,” as against “HRH, Barrister Christopher Okumagba, Okpeki 11, whose selection process was in accordance with the Native Law and Custom of Okere Urhobo Kingdom.”

Justifying their call  on the Governor  to reprimand Chief Wilson Eboh by calling him to order, the leaders went into memory lane and explained that the “wrongful” presentation of staff of Office to Professor Paul Okumagba was championed by him.

They added he is at it again by trying to mislead the Delta State officials and members of the general public through the media by claiming that he is the “Regent” of the Kingdom so that he and his cohorts can install a new Oroseun by October 2019 without the participation of the Okpako Orere  and the Heads of the three Ruling Houses who are the rightful and legitimate people to select, appoint and crown a new Oroseun.

The Leaders while calling on Governor Okowa not close his eyes against the many alleged atrocities committed by Chief Wilson Eboh against the Kingdom; he also allegedly handpicked “4 selected Kingmakers from one Ruling House of Idama as statutory Kingmakers which is against the norms of the kingdom.

They challenge Chief Wilson Eboh to provide the law that gave him such power, accusing breached the mandatory three months mourning period for a monarch; he disregarded the tradition of the kingdom to annouce the passing on of Prof Paul Okumagba.

They further stressed that the wrongful presentation of staff of Office to Professor Paul Okumagba has led to instituting a lot of cases pending in the courts. And more worrisome is the threat by Chief Wilson Eboh to commence the installation of a new Oroseun by October 2019 without the “consent and approval of the Heads of the 3 Ruling House.”

They therefore  draw the attention of Governor Okowa to the fact  that Chief Eboh actions are subjudice as a result of cases in courts relating to the Oroseunship which may likely cause fracas and breach of the fragile peace not only in the Kingdom but in the entire Warri and its environs.