The Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers appears currently unsettled following recent comments credited to a revered monarch, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Keagborekuzi The First, in Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
The faceoff between the Council and the Dein NewsNet Nigeria learnt stemmed from when the Agbor monarch purportedly referred to himself and the Olu of Warri as the only first class kings in the state.
The development which did not go down well with the Council necessitated a meeting of traditional rulers in the state, after which a communique was issued.
The Council gave indication of an imminent suspension of the Dein should he continue to disparage and degrade his colleagues.
In the communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman of the Council, Obi of Owa, Dr. Efeizomor the second, the first Vice Chairman of the Council and Orodje of Okpe, Retired Major General Felix Mujakperuo, and the second Vice Chairman of the Council and Pere of Akugbene Mien, Kalanama the eight, the Council said, “all traditional rulers of the state as co-equals”.
The Traditional Rulers Council described as unfortunate, the publication on page 12 of the Vanguard Newspapers, dated 29th July 2021, where the Dein of Agbor, referred to himself and the Olu of Warri as the only first class kings in Delta state.
The Royal Fathers pointed out that all traditional rulers of the state remained co-equals, as declared by the provision of section 45, sub section 3A of the Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law Delta State, upon which the Dein of Agbor functioned as king.
The monarchs noted that in view of the cited law, there was no rating or special classification of traditional rulers in the state, as claimed by the Dein of Agbor.
According to the statement, the State Traditional Rulers Council had initially dismissed the said publication with a wave of the hand upon assumption that the Dein of Agbor, was quoted out of context, adding that it became pertinent to respond, following the confirmation that the publication was properly attributed to him.
They called on all traditional rulers in the state and members of the public to ignore the publication, as it was only targeted at self aggrandizement, to the irritation of the traditional institution in the state.
The communique’ in full below:
The attention of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council has been consistently drawn by the public to the rather unfortunate publication made by the Dein of Agbor, properly and legally known as the Obi of Agbor, referring to himself and the Olu of Warri as the only first-class kings in Delta State in a recent newspaper report.
The council had initially assumed that the Obi of Agbor was quoted out of context in the said publication and dismissed same with a wave of the hand, but after a careful and thorough investigation, it became clear that the publication is properly attributed to the Obi of Agbor.
In view of the above confirmation of the publication accredited to him, the council will respond as follows: ‘That by the express provision of Section 45(3A) of the traditional rulers’ council and chiefs law CAP T2, Delta State, upon which the Obi of Agbor is operating and functioning as a king, declares all traditional rulers of the state as co-equals.
The in view of the law cited in paragraph (A) above, there is no rating or special classification of traditional rulers in Delta State as claimed by the Obi of Agbor.
That all traditional rulers in Delta State and indeed the public are advised to ignore and disregard the said publication of the Obi of Agbor, as same is only targeted at self-aggrandizement to the irritation of the traditional institution in Delta State.
