Ekowe Indigenes Passes Vote Of Confidence On Pa Alfred Agbontaen
…Says he remains the Odionwere of Ekowe Community
By The9JaTREND
The elders and the entire people of Ekowe Village, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State have reaffirmed and passed vote of confidence on Pa. Alfred Aiguanomwan Agbontaen’s leadership quality as the Odionwere of the community.
The reaffirmation was made during an enlarged meeting of the people at the village (Oguedion) sequel to the recent announcement in one of the broadcast station in Benin, by a group of people who stated otherwise.
According to them, these people are non indigenes, they do not even reside in Ekowe, they are from Ekiadolor Community, five communities away from Ekowe village, but unfortunately have turned mischief makers for reasons best known to them alone.
“Since 12th December, 2003, Pa. Agbontaen had been in the saddle as the Odionwere of Ekowe village, and there have been no contention of whatever kind, the people have been living peacefully.
“It is surprising that these group of people suddenly woke up for the purpose of mischief, decided to misinform, deceive and mislead members of the public,” they said.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, secretary to Ekowe village, Mr. Friday Osayande said, “We heard some persons who are not indigenes of Ekowe village, went to give false information in the media saying, Pa. Alfred Aiguanomwan Agbontaen is not the Odionwere of Ekowe village.
“It is our duty to put the record straight that we are here today, to reaffirm and and pass vote of confidence on Pa Agbontaen’s leadership quality as the Odionwere of Ekowe village. He has been the Odionwere since on the 22the of December 2003 subject to the great Oba’s approval
and there had been no contention since then.
“I therefore urge members of the public to disregard the information from the mischief makers, it is totally false and ill intended to cause disharmony among the inhabitants of Ekowe village.”
Mr. Osayande urged the people and the general public to disregard such information while describing Ekowe as a very peaceful community and the people are very accommodating and any person interested in coming to the community to settle down should feel free to do so.
To corroborate Mr. Osayande’s statement is Enobakhare Odaro who appeal to the Oba of Benin Kingdom, HRM Ob Ewuare II to call the people he termed, ‘trouble makers’ to order.
Also speaking Mr. Jude Idemudia pointed out that his father was the formal Odionwere, that when his father died, Pa Alfred Agbontaen became the Odionwere, that is how it has been since and the people of Ekowe village have been living peacefully.
He added that when the present Odionwere was installed in 2003 subject to the approval of the Oba of Benin, it was the the Enogie of Umua village that came to install him on that day as directed by the Oba of Benin.
“They have been living in peace, the Odionwere (Pa Alfred Agbontaen) is a father to all in the village, but that they were surprised that recently some persons who are far away five communities away from Ekowe village went to announce that the Odionwere is not from Ekowe. We want the people to know that these persons are only out to cause problem and misinformed the people.
“We also want to use this opportunity to call on our father, the great Oba Ewuare II and the relevant security agencies to call these persons to order and that they should leave Ekowe village alone and face their community; enough is enough. Ekowe is very peaceful and those interested in coming in to help develop the place are always welcome to do so,” he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the alleged persons for reaction, was not successful as at the time of filing this report.
