Egbema Traditional Council/ Kingmakers Calls On Gov. Okowa To Withdraw Staff of Office From Mr Ese Ubabiri As The Agadagba of Egbema kingdom

 

By Wilson Macaulay

Warri

The Egbema Traditional Council / Kingmakers of the ancient Egbema kingdom has called on His Excellency Senator Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa the Executive Governor of Delta State to withdraw the staff of office given to Mr Meshack  E A  Ubabiri as 

HRM. Amb. Meshack E. A. Ubabiri, Bini Pere IV, the  Agadagba of the Egbema kingdom on  Thursday 19th January 2023 for peace and tranquility  to reign in Egbema kingdom.

The Egbema  Traditional Council / Kingmakers averred in a terse message to  Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa  that

giving a staff of offíce to someone that is not selected and endorsed by the Ogbudugbudu Ruling House, the Egbema   Traditional Council/ Kingmakers , the Local Government Council Chairman    is a taboo which runs contrary to the spirit and letter  of the Egbema Traditional Council gazette.

The King makers  Who issued a communique and made their position known  in an open letter addressed to Gov. Okowa    signed by Chief David Makaraba   Bubor ,the Torupuwei of Egbema kingdom / Chairman  Egbema Traditional Council , Chief Simeon Igbedikuru (JP) the Pere Koriwei of Egbema kingdom , Chief William B lgbiriki (JP) Isomunweniwei of Egbema kingdom,  Chief Joseph Owilly (JP,)  the Funpuwei of Egbema kingdom , Chief Lucky E Tiemo , Chief Newton E Tiemo and others  made available to  Daily Independent Newspaper  reads in part:

 " We the Egbema Traditional Council,/ Kingmakers Wish  to make it abundantly  clear that we are not in support of the presentation of staff of offíce which was given to Mr Meshack Ese A Ubabiri  as the Royal Father of Egbema kingdom.

The Egbema Traditional Council  / King Makers posited: " We call on His Excellency , Senator Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, the  Governor of Delta State  to   withdraw the staff of offíce given to Mr Meshack Ese A Ubabiri as the Agadagba of Egbema kingdom and set up a panel of inquiry   because the  decision by the State Government  to subvert the will of Egbema people and to completely destroy the  Long existing Traditional Council of Chiefs of Egbema kingdom/ Presentation of Staff of Office to the wrong candidate is an invitation to anarchy as it is against the four pillars

of peace justice, equity and fairness."

The Kingmakers pointed out that the Local Government Chairman ,Hon Capt  Smart Yomi Asekutu  in line with due process officially recommended the name of Barr Napoleon S Egin as   the Agadagba Elect to the offíce  of  the Directorate of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs for the purpose of presentation of staff of offíce.

 The Egbema Traditional Council / King makers  added:  " Before taking such a vital decision, we expected the Governor to set up a panel of inquiry to unravel the truth instead of rushing straight to presentation of staff of offíce in a hazardous situation within three weeks  when Egbema kingdom is on fire."

The Egbema King makers  pointed out saying : " We are indeed dismayed and astonished that the Egbema Traditional Council / King makers who have their chieftaincy certificates issued by the Delta State Government  were completely  put aside as  the people who carried out the Staff of Office Presentation on Thursday 19th 2023   relied  on impostors to handle such a sensitive matter capable of jeopardizing the well being of Egbema kingdom, Which denotes the denial of the heir apparents of Egbema kingdom by the Delta State Government."

Continuing further ,  the King makers remarked: " We understand that your decision was influenced by external forces due to considerations for Political patronage concerning the 2023 election Which is not the mind of God.However, It is important to note that your decision is against the will of the Traditional Council of Chiefs of Egbema kingdom Which is  saddled with the sole  responsibility to install a king  in Egbema kingdom as  the kingmakers and the Gazetted Chiefs of the kingdom who have already  endorsed, declared , pronounced and installed   Barrister Napoleon E. Egin as the Agadagba

elect of Egbema  kingdom on the 17th of October 2022, with all necessary documents  signed accordingly and submitted to the  Góvernor's offíce  and the respective ministries for  Presentation of Staff of Office ."

The Egbema Traditional Council which   further expressed dismay said: " We are surprised to find  out that the Governor  ignored the position of the Ruling House  of Ogbudugbudu, the kingmakers of Egbema kingdom, the advise of the Local Government Chairman, and the laid down procedures of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs to endorse and give  someone else staff of offíce  based on a video clip that was stage managed for public view."

Contending further , they noted: "  Your decision may have been informed by advise from persons with little or no knowledge of the laws of Delta State as it affects Local Govt and Chieftaincy affairs. These persons are anarchists, moral delinquents that are worst than street criminals. We are disappointed that you could listen to such persons and completely ignore the advise of those empowered by law to install a king in Egbema kingdom ."

The Egbema Chiefs who emphasized the need to reverse the decision reiterated saying ; "  We request that  you  reconsider your decision for the sake of Peace and justice  because following the way you made your decision, it means that anybody can make anybody king in any kingdom in Delta State. 

They stressed that the Governor's  decision is a slap on the face of the King makers, the Hon Chairman of  WNLGA,

who ensured that due process was followed , the  elders ,particularly the Amakosuowei  ( oldest man) of the Ogbudugbudu Ruling House of 103 years   Who approved, endorsed and appended  his signature  for  Barr Napoleon S Egin as the Agadagba Elect before  passing on to join our ancestors.

 The Egbema King makers Posited: " ln  the light of the foregoing, we the peace loving people of Egbema kingdom and  on behalf of the poor elders of Egbema, we urge your Excellency ,  Governnor Ifeanyi  Okowa of Delta State   to direct your deputy governor Dcn Kingsley Burutu Otuaro to rescind

on the wrong path he has taken in Egbema kingdom, because every evil

embarked upon by man must attract

repercussion.

They    reaffirmed with clarity that  

Kingship and the entire process is the right of elders and kingmakers. Your Excellency Sir, your decision will affect the elders of the kingdom if not reconsidered. We urge you to review your decision as soon as possible not to over burden the elders of the kingdom.

 The  Egbema King makers who harped on the need for the reversal of the offensive decision said: "We believe that on the strength of this message Gov. Okowa  will have a second thought on this thorny issue and withdraw  the 

Staff of offíce which is wrongly given to 

Mr Meshack Ese A Ubabiri and give same to our Agadagba Elect, Barr Napoleon S Egin  Bini Pere lV."

The Egbema Traditional Council of Chiefs in their summation said : "We wish you  Gov. Okowa the best in your future endeavours as you bid for the position of Vice presid5ent of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."