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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has waded into the leadership crisis in Ehiozevbaru community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, assuring that the crisis will be resolved peacefully.
Three Benin palace chiefs, Moses Iyamu, the Ezama of Benin, Oseazegioba Ikpomwonsa and Chief Uyi Esere, the Esere of Uselu, conveyed the Oba’s assurance to protestesting members of the community in his palace in Benin City, adding that due diligence would be followed in revolving the conflict presented in separate statements by some aggrieved indigenes of the community.
One of the elders in Ehiozevbaru village, Mr. Humphrey Agbonavbare, explained that the passive resistance to excesses of Mr. Sunday Ediagbonya, self-acclaimed Odionwere (village head), reached a tipping point after Ediagbonya allegedly failed to account for the development fund of the village, running into millions of naira which was kept in his custody.
He listed other atrocities against Ediagbonya to include, missing ancestral staff at Ehiozevbaru elders porch as well as bestial act that was reportedly committed by one of his children in the village.
Agbonavbare, the Ozukpogieva (second most senior elder) in the village, explained that these unlawful acts made most of the elders of the village to severe their relationship with Ediagbonya.
Agbonavbare who pledged his loyalty to the Oba of Benin, also alleged that the self-acclaimed Odionwere has neither attained the position of Odionwere nor performed the necessary rites as required by Benin Customs and Tradition.
“When we (elders) summoned him to account for the money that was kept in his custody, he replied us that it has been overtaken by events.
“We did not sell Oba of Benin land. Our loyalty is to him (Oba). We did not destroy houses or economic crops…Sunday Ediagbonya left the village voluntarily after the people abandoned him”, Agbonavbare added.
Responding, the embattled self-acclaimed Odionwere, Mr. Sunday Ediagbonya, accused some disgruntled elements in the village of being responsible for his travails, adding that his suspension was done partly through deception to usurp a constituted authority.
Another elder in the village, Mr. Henry Osaigbovo, highlighted the developmental strides in Ehiozevbaru village including electricity and water supply within a short period the self-acclaimed Odionwere was shoved aside.
