Chieftaincy Crisis Brews In Okhuesan Over Govt Appointment Letter

Benin  – The letter of appointment allegedly issued to Emmanuel Ehikioya, one of the claimants to the throne of the Onojieship of Okhuesan Kingdom in Esan South-East Local Government of Edo State by the state government, is now causing ripples in the community, as the said heir apparent had not performed the burial rites of the late traditional ruler of the town.

The community in an open letter to Governor Adams Oshiomhole said that it was an error on the part of the state government to have allowed Mr. Emmanuel Ehikhioya to be in possession of an appointment letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Chief Lucky Ighekpe, the Oliha of Okue-Esan and Chairman Council of Chiefs; Deacon John Emhonyua, Secretary to the Kingmakers (Okhue-Esan Kingdom); and Chief Patrick Inerie, Chairman (Okhue-Esan Development Association), signed the letter to Governor Oshiomhole.

The appointment letter in possession of the said Ehikioya, according to the community, was therefore baseless and an error that the state government needed to correct urgently by withdrawing it in the interest of justice, respect for the collective value, custom and tradition of Edo people.

The community stated that the person whom the appointment letter was issued was not the one recommended by the Kingmakers of Okhue- Esan Kingom to the Secretary to the Edo State Government. It added that, “The Kingmakers otherwise known as Okhue-Olenokhua is the only body empowered by the law (Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, B.S.L.N No.57) and the custom and tradition of Okhue-Esan people to clear, install an Onogie and recommend same to the government for recognition and appointment.”

According to the letter, “In the Esan and Benin custom and tradition applicable to Okue-Esan, no person can inherit a man’s title without performing the burial ceremonies. This fact is also contained in the Bendel State Traditional and Chiefs Edict of 1979 applicable to Edo State as a requirement for appointment as Onogie.

“The person whom the appointment letter was delivered to did not perform the burial ceremonies of our late Onogie,” just as the Odion-Egbe who is also the Ihaza of Okhue- Esan Kingdom Chief (Dr.) R.E. Eyike who has the responsibility for co-ordinating and supervising all activists in burial ceremonies in the Royal Palace and the Kingdom told newsmen in an interview that the said Ehikioya did not perform the burial ceremonies of the late Onogie and was not in position to do so.

The community explained further to the governor that the diversion of the appointment letter has been under investigation by Esan Traditional Rulers by a committee it set up whose membership included the Onogie of Ekpoma, the Onogie of Ewu, the Onogie of Ogwa, the Onogie of Orowa and the Onogie of Uzea and were yet to take a position on the Onogieship dispute due to the refusal of the said Mr. Emmanuel Ehikhioya to honour the invitations extended to him on four occasions by the committee.

One of the traditional rulers who spoke to newsmen on the issue on the condition of anonymity said that their committee was yet to take a position on the matter due to the continued refusal of the said Ehikioya to honour the invitations extended to him four times.