People Of Evbuobagbeni Debunks Media Publication
…appeals to Oba Ewuare II to invite both parties to prove who the bonafide indigenes of the village is
By Simeon OSAJIE
The people of Evbuobagbeni village in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State have debunked a recent publication in some social media with the headline “Edo Community Petitions Benin Monarch Over Plot to Impose Non-Native as Leader, Warns of Looming Crises”.
Speaking on behalf of Evbuobagbeni village to journalists at the state secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on the publication, Prince Don Isibor Obanosa said what was published in the said publication were not the correct events that happened at the Palace and the village as alleged and that it is on record that there is no village called Obarune or Obateni in Benin kingdom.
According to him, the great Oba of Benin kingdom constituted a four man committee of Chiefs with high reputation to investigate the information brought before the Palace by one Mr. Emmanuel Uwagboe who he said is not from the village and another of their maternal relatives by name Kelvin Okunzuwa.
Continuing Prince Obanosa said the committee was to go and verify if actually there is a river called Oriaza in the land which he said these same people claiming to be Obateru/Obateni now Obarune.
He noted that the people of Evbuobagbeni village have been waiting for the four man committee constituted to do the needful adding that they have also written a petition to the Palace due to the delay an action he said now enabled their maternal relatives and the Urhobos inhabitants in the village to be making moves in renaming their ancestral homeland from its original name of Evbuobagbeni to Evbuobateru, Obateni and now Obarune.
He further said the position of where they are now is that as the people of Evbuobagbeni were waiting for the outcome of the petition written to the Palace, they heard some persons claiming Obateru/Obateni allegedly connived with some chiefs so as to consent to and approve Odionwere for them, the people of Evbuobagbeni got the information and had to write to counter it because these same people are maternal relatives, Urhobos and in-laws, not qualify to be made Odionwere.
He subsequently said when the Palace first mediated on the matter, it was resolved that those claiming to come from Obateru/Obateni especially the said Emmanuel Uwagboe who the people know is from Ikpako village and the one claiming to be the Odionwere to come with their first son to swear to an oath, but to everyone surprise they started to misbehave
“I do not bribe people from what is right and i do not see where bribes can bring about a good community or can lead to a good society.” he stated.
“We are appealing to our great Oba who is our father to call both parties so as to get the real facts of the issues and also to find out if they can swear to an oath and also find out, if Oriaza river exists or not, if the said Emmanuel Uwagboe is not from Ikpako and if they are the original owner of the land they are claiming.”
He also added that they are willing to prove their claims of being the original descendants of the lineage of Evbuobagbeni village , founded by High Priest Ogbeide Obanosa, one of the sons of Oba Obanosa of Benin kingdom by swearing to relevant oaths that maybe approved by the Palace.
“The people of Evbuobagbeni are law abiding and would not take the laws into their hands as they have great respect for the great Oba Ewuare II CFR, the custodian and traditions of the land.
“Our prayer is for our father, the great Oba to call both parties to prove who truly is the bonafide indigenes of the said village, this will restore divine peace, development and unity to Evbuobagbeni village.”
He then urged the general public to disregard the publication as it is not the true facts of what is happening at Evbuobagbeni village and also not to have any business transactions or any other transaction with Obateru, Obateni or Obarune as such a person(s) does so at his, her and their own risk.
