Awarieta is our King, Ewu Community Kicks Against Approval of Ikolo

The people of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South local government area of Delta state, has expressed their displeasure to the Delta state government that Chief Clement Ikolo cannot and will never be Ewu traditional ruler, and government should not impose King on Ewu kingdom, pointing out that HRM Bernard Awarieta is their recognized king of Ewu.

The Ewu people who embarked on the protest following a recent approval of Chief Clement Ikolo by the Delta State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at government house, Asaba, adding that is unacceptable to have Chief Clement Ikoro as their king.

The Spokesman of Ahanvwa kingmaker’s family ruling house, Chief Anthony Okagbare (JP), said Ewu is a peace loving kingdom and that they are not known for any form except there is an action that want to truncate our only tradition, which this one is one of such.

Okagbare said he was out of town and l got a call that there was an announcement from the Delta State Executive Council that one Clement Ikolo has been approved as the king of Ewu Kingdom which is totally against the tradition of Ewu kingdom.

Speaking further, Chief Okagbare said, “The edit of 1979 spelled it out clearly tha it is only the Ahanwa ruling house has the power and authority to crown King in Ewu, and it was done according to the tradition and edit with all parties taking oath that whatever decisions taking by the family is final.

“We did everything to the satisfaction of all the communities and clans that makes up the kingdom. After every processes, His Royal Majesty, Bernard Awarieta was crowned on the 20th of May, 2021 and he has been performing all the necessary traditional rites since then.

“The kingdom has only one king and he is no other person but His Royal Majesty, Bernand Awarieta accepted Awarieta and he has attended several committee set up by the state government and that they were only waiting to be given Staff of Office, and to hear that Okolo was confirmed as king of where? We have have our king who is Awarieta, Ikolo can be a king in Olomu.

“We are saying that we can not accept the decision from the state executive council meeting because it’s against the wishes and desires of Ewu people. We will not take it likely with any persons who wants to truncate the aged long tradition of Ewu Kingdom for peace to reign.

“What we are saying is that the government should reversed its earlier decision for peace which is in the More Agenda of Delta state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. So the Ahanwa family decisions made to government is final, it is final according to the edit, as whatever decisions the Ahanwa family takes is binding on all. Government is not to select king for us (Ewu).

“We have done our work peacefully, and send to government for approval. There is no where government choose king for any kingdom. If government refused to reverse its decisions, Ahanwa family has chosen and crowned HRM Awarieta as our king who has been accepted by all Ewu people at home and diaspora.

“Anybody trying to truncate our tradition, our gods will surely visit them. HRM Awarieta has been performing all the rites this year and even in 13 days time, we will have our festival which he will be performing the festival rites. So the government should do the needful.”

The Ahanwa youth speaker, Mr. Omote Godwin Otogidi said he is from Ahanwa kingmakers family, Ewu kingdom, that HRM Awanrieta won the election contested by over seven persons and was crowned as the king.

Otigidi said it was shocking to a lot of people that the Delta state government sat and cleared one Clement Ikolo as Ewu king, saying that Clement Ikolo is not from Ewu kingdom, that all he has been doing is to use his brother who is a former commissioner and closed person to the governor from Olomu.

Speaking further, Otigidi said, “Chief Clement ikolo can never be our king. Governor Oborevwori should reverse his decision on the kingship and handover ot the rightful person, HRM Benard Awarieta and l expect that Delta shgovernment to come up with fact finding committee to look into the issues and reversed its decision.

“Since Awarieta has been crowned the king by our people, he has been participating in all traditional activities in the kingdom. Even the festival coming up in September he will be the one to participate.

Why don’t Chief Clement Ikolo drive straight to Ewu community after the king has approved his kingship after the state executive council, instead he went to Olomu since he knew Ewu people are not ready to accept Chief Ikolo as their king.

“ikolo is being imposed on Ewu kingdom through his kinsmen from Olomu whom friends of the governor and it will not be accepted. We which to state that there will be crisis in the kingdom if the government refuses to reconsider its decision because what the state government has done is wrong and should reversed the decision and give it to the people’s choice, Awarieta.

One of the contestants during the election, Mr. Independent Asawadegha, said they are eight in numbers that contested the kingship and that they were all given oral interview, and while seven of us failed HRM Bernard Awarieta emerged as the king of Ewu kingdom. On this, Ewu has only one king and not two kings.

He said that governor’s approval of Ikolo as Ewu king is not acceptable by Ewu kingdom. A stranger can not rule Ewu kingdom. Clement Ikolo can not enter this kingdom as a king. Since he failed during the kingship election, He has never stepped his foot in Ewu land or has he been part of any traditional activities since he failed.

“Therefore, we wish to state categorically that Benard Awarieta is the king of Ewu kingdom and he should be given the staff of office. If the Govenor can not reverse his decision.”

Another speaker, Chief Mrs Christiana Okwodje, the Okobaro of Eghweya (Womenfolk) in Ewu Kingdom said they are angry because their king is HRM Bernard Awarieta but we heard that the government has announced one Chief Clement Ikolo as king of Ewu kingdom but it will be resisted with our last blood.

“Ikolo is not from Ewu and he can not be our king. We reject Ikolo and government can not imposed stranger on us. Ikolo is from Olomu not Ewu so we will not accept Ikolo, Awarieta is our king and we appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to reverse the decision for the good of Ewu Kingdom, saying that there is no way Ikolo can come to Ewu to rule them.”