KINGSHIP TUSSlE EGBUDU AKAH
April 21, 2023
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Subject: Kingship tussle: Egbudu-Akah people protest to Govt House
Kingship Tussle: Delta Community March on Govt House, Demand Justice over Stool
*Delta Govt assure right, lawful step will be taken
The people of Egbudu-Akah in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest to the Government House Asaba demanding the intervention of the state government in averting looming crisis over the lingering kingship tussle in the kingdom.
The protest became inevitable because they had it on good authority that some influential members of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council were trying to pressure the state government to present Staff of Office to another person as Obi of Egbudu-Akah while an Obi was still alive and on the throne of his forefathers.
"By the tradition of Egbudu-Akah none of the Obi's children has right to right to proclaim himself the Obi without tge proclamation or affirmation of the elders of the royal family", they noted, adding that a similar situation in the past where the state government presented a staff of Office to an unqualified prince led to serious crisis, deaths and disruption of socioeconomic life in Egbudu-Akah.
They protesters, comprising traditional title holders, leaders of community development association as well as women and youths, carried placards with various inscriptions urging the state government to end arbitrariness in recognising their traditional ruler but to respect the culture and traditions of the place.
They also alleged that the traditional ruler of the neighboring community of Ubulu-Unor was masterminding the resort to circumventing due traditional process of Egbudu-Akah to install unqualified persons as king using his own influence.
Some of the placards read: "Obi Solomon Remains the King of Egbudu-Akah"; " Government Please Respect Egbudu-Akah Culture"; " Obi Chikachukwu, Your Impunity Must Stop!" and, " Obi Kikachukwu, Egbudu-Akah is Not An Integral Part of Your Ubulu-Unor Kingdom".
The spokesman of the protesters and member of the royal palace of Egbudu-Akah, Chief Anthony Egbune, later presented a "Position Paper" to the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Festus Ovie Agas, on behalf of the Egbudu-Akah Development Union (EDU).
Egbune, who also presented a copy of the gazetted rules and processes on the installation of Obi of Egbudu-Akah Kingdom.
They warned that the jurisdictional competence of HRM, Obi Kikachukwu does not extend to
Egbudu-Akah, and as such he should stop meddling in the affairs of their community on the matter of who was fit and proper to ascend the royal throne and adorn the crown as Obi of Egbudu-Akah Kingdom.
Responding, the Chief of Staff to the Governor assured that the government would leave out nothing to ensure that the right and lawful step is taken to resolve the lingering kingship tussle in Egbudu-Akah community in the interest of peace and progress in the community.
Agas expressed delight at the peaceful manner the protesters conducted themselves during the demonstration to the Government House, urging them to continue on the peaceful trajectory when they returned home while Government looked into their grievances.
He promised to present the matter before the Deputy Governor as well as collaborate with appropriate agencies of Government to address the whole issue.
Governor Okowa has never deviated from laid down rules and regulations in addressing traditional and community matters, including succession to royal stools, Agas observed.
Meanwhile the of Ubulu Unor, Obi Afamefuna Kikacwuku, says there was no time he tried to impose King on Egbudu Akah Kingdom, stressing that he only advised them to respect tradition.
Obi Kikacwuku advised Egbudu Akah Kingdom to embrace peace as no com
