Trouble in Okpella as Council of Village Heads, Chiefs Reject New Okukpellagbe, Writes Governor Obaseki

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By Sam Ekhator

The people of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State have rejected the recently appointed Okukpellagbe of Okpella, Lukman Akemokue by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki

The protest was conveyed in a press statement signed by six Okpella Council of village heads and chiefs where they denounced the appointment of Akemokue for the throne.

Protests had earlier taken place in Okpella town, specifically, along Auchi-Abuja expressway where the community inhabitants were captured in video protesting against Obaseki’s choice.

The sstatement reads:

“We write as the highest body that oversees matters relating to customs and tradition of Okpella, a role bestowed on us following the demise of our late King, HRM Alhaji (Dr) A.Y.E. Dirisu, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella.

“We have received with shock news of Your Excellency’s imposition of one Lukeman Akemokue as Okuokpellagbe of Okpella against the clear provisions of Section 19 (1) of Edict No 16 of 1979.

“You may recall that this same body, vide our letter dated 4th September, 2019 drew your attention to a letter written by a body that described itself as ‘Okpella Body of Kingmakers’ dated 28th August, 2019 which desecrated our tradition and extant laws when it forwarded a list of three names to your office and urging you to choose any of the names as Okuokpellagbe of Okpella.

“Your Excellency, you will agree with us that the law did not assign any responsibility of choosing an Okuokpellagbe of Okpella on you, a situation that informed our decision to draw your attention to the bubby trap by authors of that unlawful and mischievous letterletter.

“Mr. Governor, Sir your appointment of Lukman Akemokwe as Okuokpellagbe, without reference to extant laws regulating the process is a desecration of our custom and tradition. Therefore, we view this decision of Mr. Governor as an affront on the people of Okpella, home and abroadabroad.

“Furthermore, your Excellency, you are aware that there are plethora of cases pending in court awaiting judicial pronouncements on the vacant Okuokpellagbe stool. Your decision to name an Okuokpellagbe without regards to pending Court cases, in our opinion, amounts to executive rascality and utter disregard for the judicial arm of governmentgovernment.

“Your Excellency, make no mistake about our rejection of your choice. Our position is that the process that threw up your choice is fundamentally flawed and a primitive attack on the clear provisions of Edict No 16 of 1979.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the law provides for the election of a successor to the throne of Okuokpellagbe by Kingmakers where more than one candidate aspire to the throne. The Edict did not assign any role to the State government, let alone the Governor, at this stage, in the process of choosing an Okuokpellagbe.

“It is worth mentioning that the fraudulent Committee that recommended three names to your office was imposed on the community by your good self to create crisis in Okpella community and little wonder same did not follow due process of electing an Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, in line with Edict No. 16 of 1979.

“We therefore view your action as an attempt to rig your preferred candidate to the exalted and revered office of Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, a situation the good people of Okpella will resist with all available lawful means.

“The people of Okpella earnestly need a King that meets the provisions of the law and not the one that emerged through the backdoor or political exigency. As of now, the stool of Okuokpellagbe of Okpella is vacant and shall remain vacant until the one that meets the provisions of Edict No 16 of 1979 emerges.

“The Okpella Traditional Council hereby call on your Excellency to immediately withdraw the recognition you have accorded your crony to avert any breakdown of law and order in Okpella, the consequences of which may be dire and untoward.

“We call on the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command and other Security agencies to take judicial notice of our outright rejection of this appointment in order to avert any avoidable crisis.”

The protest letter to Obaseki was signed by six chiefs namely: Chief Oneshiagbe Odabor
Ogute Oke Ruling Area; High Chief Joshua Ogene-Imiekuri Ruling Area, High Chief S.A.E. Garuba-Imiegele Ruling Area, High Chief Yekini Ahmed-Awuyemi Ruling Area, High Chief Momodu Jibril-Iddo Ruling Area and Chief Charles Ikhumetsomi-Ukhomunyio Ruling Area.