“The Governor knows that he won’t be there forever; let him not allow desperate people to use him to destabilize the state. It is our state and we must stand up to speak truth to power.
Human rights activist and Global President of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor has appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki to rescind its decision to dethrone the traditional head of Uzanu Clan in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, HRH Benjamin Ikani, for the purpose of peace, unity and progress of the state.
Eholor, in a chat with THE WHISPERER in Abuja, urged the state governor to demonstrate the spirit of forgiveness as a Christian and not allow politics of bitterness by some people around him to cause unnecessary tension and crisis in the state.
Eholor, described the dethroned Oliola of Uzanu Clan, HRH Benjamin Ikani as a good royal father being hunted by some traducers on account of his humane, modesty and being the father of the Honorable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba.
He lamented that some group of people who don’t want peace and progress of the state are trying to capitalise on the political differences between the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiohole.
“If we see ourselves as Edolites and not as PDP or APC and not as a Christian or a Muslim, then and only then we would have a hope to the future of our children and grand children else we may continue in the dark and darkening the future of our children through the kind of politics we play in the state. Therefore, I urge the state governor to consider the peace and the progress of the state above all by restoring the dethroned Oliola of Uzanu Clan, HRH Benjamin Ikani.”
According to Eholor, the issue of the boundary dispute between Uzanu and Igiode, had long been resolved through the court up to the Supreme Court, hence that could not be a justifiable reason for the government’s action.
“The Governor should know better the impact of crisis and unrest in a state. Therefore, I am appealing to him not to allow politics decide the issue that has been on for over 50 years and were fully settled through series of litigations initiated by Igiode community in Weppa Wanno clan through Chief Augustine Alimikhena in Suit No. HAU/28/78 delivered by the Hon. Justice J.B. Amissah of the Auchi High Court on 20th November 1979 and Suit No. HAU/13/72 delivered by Hon. Justice J. Omo-Eboh on 10th August, 1973. All the decisions in these suits were in favour of the Uzanu community. The appeal to the Supreme Court No. 386/74 filed by Igiode community in Weppa Wanno clan was dismissed for want of diligent prosecution on 26th January 1976 as presided over by Justice G.S. Sowemmimo while another appeal No. SC/111/74 was struck out.
“He is a Christian and I would like to admonish him to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness as exemplified by Jesus Christ by restoring the dethroned monarch. Let’s not take politics into our traditional institutions and allow it to destroy them for posterity sake.
“The Governor knows that he won’t be there forever; let him not allow desperate people to use him to destabilize the state. It is our state and we must stand up to speak truth to power.
“It must be noted that every society grows in response to the socio-cultural and political environments that create it, therefore, l urge the governor and the people around him to embrace the spirit of forgiveness and shun political vendetta as a prerequisite in creating harmony, peace and progress.” He said.
