…Debunks allegation levelled against him over destruction of Oba Shrine at Okhuoromi
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Ohen of Okhuoromi Community in Oredo local government of Edo State, Kelvin Ovbokhan Igbinovia on Saturday appreciated the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom on proclamation and putting to rest the lingering crisis bedeviled the community.
Recall on Thursday 2nd of October, 2025 at the Oba Palace, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom maintained that Pa Oghagbon Edosomwan remains the Odionwere and all the administrative work in the community is under his control on behalf of the Palace.
Speaking to journalists in Benin, the Ohen of Okhuoromi, Kelvin Igbinovia while pledging his unalloyed loyalty to the Oba Ewuare II and Governor Monday Okpebholo noted that as spelt out by the Reverend Benin Monarch that the authority of the Okhuoromi Community is in the hand of the Odionwere, Pa Oghagbon Edosomwan, further appreciated the Monarch for the respect and privilege invested on him as the Ohen and promised to continue to promote the rich cultural heritage of the great Benin Kingdom through his position.
On the allegation levelled against him in a trending socio media platform accusing him over the destruction of the community shrine, Ohen Kelvin Ovbokhan Igbinovia noted that the last time he visited the Okhuoromi community after Oba’s proclamation was when delegates from the Benin palace went with him to formally installed him as the Ohen. According to him, “it was when arrived with the delegates from the Oba Palace that we discovered that the Oba Shrine at Okhuoromi had been destroyed by unknown persons.
Speaking in Benin dialect, Ohen said, “Since I was restored as the Ohen of Okhuoromi Community, I have never one day call the Odionwere on phone, neither did I reached out to the police to arrest anybody in the community – Not at all. Is like they are not happy that the Oba has restored me as the Ohen of the community? It is the Oba who appoint somebody to lead; Oba owed everything in Benin Kingdom. What Oba say is the final.
“Recall that I was told not to appear on socio media as regard to anything that relate to Okhuoromi Community, but the trending socio media video alleging that I, Ohen Kelvin Ovbokhan Igbinovia went and destroyed Oba Shrine at the Okhuoromi Community necessitated this video to debunk the allegation against me, that I have no hand in the destruction of Oba Shrine at Okhuoromi Community.
“I made bold to state here that I can never go against the decision of our reverend Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom over the leadership of Okhuoromi Community.
“Also the issue that I am threatening some members of the community is a big lie, I can never do no such things. Whoever said that I threatened him through phone call and the issue of who destroyed the shrine should come to the palace of the Oba with his first son to swear who is responsible for the destruction and the alleged phone call to any members of the community.”