Indigenes of Obateru village, near Ughoton, in Ovia North-East local council in Edo, have petitioned the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, over plans to instal Afona Isibor as a priest (Ohen) in the same council area.

In their protest letter, signed by the Uzukpogieva (second most elderly man), Emmanuel Uwagboe and secretary, Kevin Okunzuwa, on behalf of village elders, the indigenes claimed that there was neither a shrine nor a priest (Ohen) in Obateru to warrant such a position.

According to the petition, Mr Isibor and his cohorts, in their deceit and desperation to claim affinity to Obateru, a village they had claimed did not exist, chose another name, Obagbeni, to refer to the same Obateru to deceive the palace.

The Obateru people, who described themselves as the original settlers of the village, with affinity to Ughoton, said only one priest (Ohen Okun) was recognised by the palace.

They appealed to the Benin monarch to investigate Mr Isibor’s alleged deceit and sacrilege and suspend his installation. They alleged that Mr Isibor, in connivance with some influential individuals in the palace, manipulated facts to deceive the monarch by dragging in Obateru’s name in the controversy, pointing out that it “is currently a subject of litigation at the Benin Division of the Court of Appeal.

“Your Majesty, may we quickly add that Obateru is in court with its neighbouring village, Evbuorokho, over the same contentious issue of its existence as an autonomous village. While a Benin High Court has given judgment in suit No. HOCK/45/2008, in favour of Obateru village, the matter still pends at the appeal court in suit No. CA/B/609/2015,” the petition explained.

Speaking before palace chiefs, Mr Uwagboe noted that traditionally the Ohen Okun of Ughoton was the only recognised priest within the Ekenwan axis.

“This is the reason why Afona deceitfully corrupted Obateru to Obagbeni to get Oba Ewuare’s II approval to be installed as Ohen, a position that has never existed. Your Royal Majesty, Afona and his cohorts, on several occasions, have attacked members of Obateru with armed thugs to cause fear and overrun the leadership of Obateru for his selfish and pecuniary gains to further advance his haulage and land-grabbing businesses,” stated Mr Uwagboe.

He added, “Afona and his sibling, Osazee, have boasted several times that they will use their connections to some influential individuals within the palace to achieve their desire after their failed attempt to arrest elders of Obateru Village with operatives from police’s Zone 5.”

(NAN)