CRISIS OVER THE OVIESHIP OF IGBIDE

By Ufuoma Bernard

The kingship crisis of the peaceful Igbide community in Isokoland has reportedly escalated over controversy on which ruling house should produce the next King in the kingdom.

Trouble reportedly started after the demise of the monarch and the kingmaker or the Okpako of the only ruling House in the kingdom Prince Clarkson Obukeni invited adult males of the family who were physically and mentally sound to indicate interest in the stool according to the customary process.

Congress gathered that Prince Johnson Obukeni and Prince Eniyome Okoboba were the only princes that attended the selection process which complied with the Chiefs & Traditional Rulers Edict No. 16 of Delta State. Prince Johnson Obukeni carried the day and was designated the Ovie in waiting subject to the confirmation of the State Government. Meanwhile Prince Patrick Agre who didn’t participate in the selection process claiming lack of confidence in the Kingmaker was presented to the State government and approved as Ovie designate.

This plunged the community into crisis leading to burning of houses, criminal intimidation, bloodshed, vandalism of the flow station, and breakdown of law and order. The suspects who were arrested for the disturbances were alleged to have been bailed by the Commissioner of Lands, Survey and Urban Development and the investigation compromised.

The opponents of the emergence of Prince Johnson Obukeni who was selected following due process argue that the custom of Igbide concerning kingship is rotational and not primogeniture but there’s only one ruling house in Igbide and the history of Igbide is replete with primogeniture. The genealogy of the kingship deflates the assertion that kingship cannot pass from father to son. The requirements are basic. You must come from the ruling house, you must be mentally stable and you must be physically fit and good looking. Uheri (The 1st Ovie of Igbide) gave birth to Esaba (2nd Ovie) who gave birth to Asugo (3rd Ovie). Asugo (3rd Ovie) and Eruare were brothers, so two sons of Eruare named, Okiokiagho Ekru and Ewaje succeeded Asugo ( Okiokiagho Ekru 4th Ovie) and ( Ewaje 5th Ovie). Ewaje fathered Okoboba 6th Ovie and Obukeni who is the grandfather of Edward Obukeni 8th Ovie.

Who then is the 7th Ovie and how did a female bloodline become the 7th Ovie? Upon the demise of Okoboba the 6th Ovie, his son Igbre was crowned 7th Ovie but was rejected same day due to sacrilege committed by Akpoavodowo ( younger brother to Igbre) particularly for macheting a High Chief during the concluding part of presention of the Ovie to the community gathering at the palace.

Obukeni who was then the Okpako (eldest male) refused to nominate a replacement thus, a vacuum was created for some years.

This vacuum was what led to the selection of John Ogriki ( recognized 7th Ovie) who was maternally related to the Royal family (birthed by Princess Emahana who was married to Ugeh from Okpohro quarter.

John Ogriki were his personal names as it was impossible for him to bear his father’s name.

Four members of the community Onaudhe Arabome, Onomaise Ekpe, Otatha Obukeni and Kingsley Igrigri on behalf of the majority of law abiding citizens of Igbide and the ruling house are calling on the State government to halt the coronation process of Prince Patrick Okpomo Agre for three reasons. 1. There’s a pending Extended Order of Interlocutory Injunction & Ex-parte Order ( 1/7/2025) against his installation and receiving the staff of office. 2. Prince Patrick Okpomo Agre didn’t participate in the selection process and as something cannot be built on nothing he’s disqualified. 3. Prince Patrick Okpomo Agre was caught on video inadvertently linking himself to the burning of houses and breakdown of law and order that engulfed Igbide in the wake of the crisis.

They’re calling on the amiable Governor of the State Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to immediately set up a judicial investigation into the Igbide crisis as the planned hanging over of the Staff of office to Prince Patrick Okpomo Agre would further complicate and exacerbate the Igbide crisis.