Ikpoba Waterside Attack: Odionwere Accuses Ohonre, Kenth of Inciting Violence
………As Accused Denies Allegation
Eben Enasco Reporting
Ikpoba Waterside Community is accusing a factional youth leader, popularly addressed as Okaighele, Imafidon “Kenth” Egbon and the Ohonre of the community, Chief Nosakhare Obasogie Obazee of fueling communal tensions.
Key allegations against them on Tuesday, include Indiscriminate land sales, Undermining palace decisions, and escalating internal crisis.
The Odionwere Dr. Otasowie Opri Omigie and Okaighele Odion Peter Odijie who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, described Sunday’s attack by what they claimed as “interlopers” during ancestral rituals at Oguedion as surprising.
They added that, those stoking the crisis were not installed as the Okaighele by the Benin Monarch but planning to upturn the decision of the palace.
While condemning their actions, they said despite few injuries during the Sunday attack incident, no casualty was recorded adding that the Security operatives had intervened, restoring peace.
Dr. Omigie warns trouble makers to eschew peace, or leave the community as they will no longer entertain such a crisis.
Chief Victor Eghobamien and Elder Obazee Obasogie also speaking with the press condemned Ohonre’s actions as “sacrilegious, saying the Monarch’s installation confirmation can’t be changed, thereby, affirming Odion Peter Odijie as the authentic Okaighele.
They claimed that there was a warning from the palace restraining the Ohonre from interference urging him to abide by the decisions of the revered Monarch who made him the Chief Priest of the Ikpoba waterside Community.
In a sharp Contrast, the Ohonre of Ikpoba Community, Chief Nosakhare Obasogie Obazee and Imafidon Egbon denied the allegations, citing Odion Peter Odijie’s ineligible installation as Okaighele as the reasons for the bickering.
They argued that Odion Odijie, being a non-Benin dialect speaker but from the Esan dialect, cannot be installed as the Okaighele in the Benin speaking community, according to the customs and traditions.
They explained that they have since drawn the attention of the palace on the issue, and awaits its interventions, calling on appropriate authorities to come to their aids urging the public to maintain decorum.
It was learned that eight years before the installation of the new Odionwere, Dr Opri OMIGIE and the Okaighele Odion Odijie in the community, Ikpoba Waterside inhabitants had existed peacefully after the demise of the former Odionwere, Pa Agbontaen Ugiagbe.