There is growing tension in Evwreni Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, following a plot by some kingdom leaders to foist new cabinet members on the Olotu R’Ode, Chief Jabin Omoko.
The Olotu R’Ode of Evwreni Kingdom comprises six cabinet members with two members selected from the three communities that make up Evwreni town in the Evwreni kingdom.
It is one of the key organs of the kingdom saddled amongst others with the responsibility of intervening in acts of theft and land issues.
Confirming the development on Thursday, November 9, 2023, in an exclusive interview with NewsNet Nigeria, the Olotu R’Ode, Chief Jabin Omoko, and his Secretary, Mr. Elvis Udjuame, listed the leaders in the kingdom behind the plot as Chief John Iyu, Chief Efe Oshene, Mr. Clement Ishaka, Mr. Committee Omogero, Mr. Umukoro Solomon, Mr. Onosakponome Giant (King’s driver), Mr. Atiboko Edjere, Chief Joseph Adjuge, Mr. Omoyibo Emmanuel and Hon Arue Odeimor.
Chief Omoko and Mr. Udjuame alleged that the plot by the kingdom leaders is connected with the forthcoming election to usher in a new executive council of the Evwreni Clan Improvement Union (ECIU) slated for Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Giving details of the plot, Chief Omoko said he was summoned to a meeting by the leaders at Urevwe community on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, which he honoured with his Secretary, Mr. Udjuame accompanying him.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), they called me for the meeting but I decided to call my secretary to follow me to the meeting around 6:00 pm. When we got to the meeting, they said that they wanted to remove all the Ilotu and give me a new list of persons to work with.
“However, I rejected their request telling them that it is the people that I can work with that I have selected into the council of Olotu R’Ode of Evwreni Kingdom. Despite my explanation, they insisted that by today (Friday), they will force on me the list of five persons to replace the existing ones.
“This, their plan is all targeted at the forthcoming election of the Evwreni Clan Improvement Union (ECIU) since myself and the other five members of the Ilotu of Evwreni Kingdom are part of the delegates to vote in the election. They wanted me to change those that I have been working with me and accept those they believe will vote for their preferred candidates in the election,” said Chief Omoko.
Shedding more light on the matter, the Secretary of the Olotu R’Ode of Evwreni Kingdom, Mr. Udjuame said the ten leaders of the kingdom who summoned them for the meeting claimed that the five of them working with Chief Omoko were not capable of being in the executive hence, they wanted to replace them.
“When we got to the meeting, they said they themselves will appoint people to be the exco of Olotu R’Ode and warned that on the contrary, they will remove the cap from the Olotu R’Ode. They went on to say that by Friday, they will give the Olotu R’Ode the list of the people whom they wanted,” according to Udjuame.
Continuing, Udjuame explained that it has been the tradition for the people of Evwreni Kingdom to install the Olotu R’Ode and after that, he appoints his cabinet members just like the king, who appoints his Council of Chiefs.
Both Chief Omoko and Mr. Udjuame have therefore called on the Delta State Government and other critical stakeholders in Evwreni Kingdom to urgently intervene to halt the plan to foist new persons into the Olotu R’Ode cabinet for the purpose of compromising the November 18 election into the executive council of the ECIU for the sustenance of the fragile peace in the kingdom.
