Controversy Trail Chief Priest Position In Edo
Crisis looms in Idokpa village in Uhonmwode Local Government Area of Edo state over chief priest (Ohen) position, as self acclaimed Chief Priest designate, Prince Osakioya Obasohan raises alarm over plans by unknown persons to “deny” him the ancestral throne.
Prince Obasohan who raised the alarm during a chat with The Nigerian Observer in Benin city, appealed to the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare ll to intervene to forestall impending crisis in the village.
He asserted that the (Ohen Idokpa) throne is hereditary, and that as the eldest son to the former Ohen, Pa Odia Obasohan (now deceased), he deserve to succeed his late father to the Okhuaie Nu’Kpogie Shrine.
According to the self acclaimed chief priest designate, the Oba of Benin had on 20th February 2018 in his palace looked into the matter, with a view to settle the dispute.
He said, “what the Oba told us on that day in his palace was that he will verify the issue and after the verification he will call us to give final judgment.”
Obasohan said he has been reliably informed at the palace that a certain Benin Chief was sent to Ohen Nukoni to “verify” who the “rightful person” for the Ohen Idokpa position.
Ohen Nukoni who is the Head of Chief priests in Benin kingdom could not be reach, as it was gathered holder of the position is forbidden from speaking on related matters unless as directed by the revered Benin monarch.
Obasohan said his Counsel, Charity Eze Zekeri Esq had earlier in a letter sent to the Oba of Benin, affirmed his position as the “rightful person” for the disputed stool, and appealed to the monarch to grant his prayers.
An except of the letter dated 23rd July, 2018 Read: “as God sent son to rule his people, we know you are capable to finish the good work you started without blemish, may God Almighty and our Ancestors continue to give you the strength.
“Our father, we will be most grateful, if Your Royal Majesty approves our “Client” OSAKIOYA OBASOHAN as the OHEN of IDOKPA IN UHUNMWODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE. Oba Ghato Kpere, Ise.”
The self acclaimed chief priest designate said all effort to know the outcome of the findings since (February 20th 2018) when the revered monarch looked into the controversy, has been unsuccessful, hence he decided to reach out to The media (The Nigerian Observer).
Obasohan who displayed copies of receipt issued by different courier service operators as evidence of letters he sent to the Oba’s palace about the dissonance in Idokpa, added he now avoids the village even when his family still resides there.
When our correspondent visited the once predominantly agrarian community (a week after), it was learnt that the village had been without an Ohen since 2014 when the former Ohen joined his ancestors.
The head (Odionwere) of the village, Pa Iyekekpolor Omorogbe declined to speak on the issue. He asked our correspondent to visit the Idokpa town hall for information on the controversy.
“I can not speak on the matter because I am now a Christian, I now attend church. Please go and inquire from them at the town hall”, the Odionwere said in Benin dialect.
At the town hall, a member of the community asked our correspondent to come in the next 3-Days (72hours) when elders of the village would be seated, adding they will speak on the issue.
On the said day as advised, an elder who agreed to speak but pleaded anonymity said, “we cannot say anything on the Ohen Idokpa matter because the Omo’N Oba has already decide on it at the palace.”
When asked what was the decision, He added, “go to the palace and let them tell you with their mouth, we cannot be quoting the Oba.”
However at the palace, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Oba, Desmond Agbama said the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) was in a ‘better position’ to speak on the matter, directing our correspondent to the BTC Secretary, Frank Irabor’s office where he was asked by an official to write a letter to that effect, which was done.
Weeks after confirming receipt of the letter, the BTC’s secretary is yet to respond despite a text message sent by our correspondent to his mobile number 14-Days after.
The text message read: “Good morning, I am Emmanuel Ikhenebome, a Journalist with The Nigerian Observer working on a report surrounding the controversy over the chief priest (Ohen) stool at Idokpa village. I want to know the palace position on the matter, as there is already a letter before your office to that effect submitted on 24th of August 2018. Your timely response will forestall impending crisis. Thanks.”
Prince Obasohan who raised the alarm during a chat with The Nigerian Observer in Benin city, appealed to the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare ll to intervene to forestall impending crisis in the village.
He asserted that the (Ohen Idokpa) throne is hereditary, and that as the eldest son to the former Ohen, Pa Odia Obasohan (now deceased), he deserve to succeed his late father to the Okhuaie Nu’Kpogie Shrine.
According to the self acclaimed chief priest designate, the Oba of Benin had on 20th February 2018 in his palace looked into the matter, with a view to settle the dispute.
He said, “what the Oba told us on that day in his palace was that he will verify the issue and after the verification he will call us to give final judgment.”
Obasohan said he has been reliably informed at the palace that a certain Benin Chief was sent to Ohen Nukoni to “verify” who the “rightful person” for the Ohen Idokpa position.
Ohen Nukoni who is the Head of Chief priests in Benin kingdom could not be reach, as it was gathered holder of the position is forbidden from speaking on related matters unless as directed by the revered Benin monarch.
Obasohan said his Counsel, Charity Eze Zekeri Esq had earlier in a letter sent to the Oba of Benin, affirmed his position as the “rightful person” for the disputed stool, and appealed to the monarch to grant his prayers.
An except of the letter dated 23rd July, 2018 Read: “as God sent son to rule his people, we know you are capable to finish the good work you started without blemish, may God Almighty and our Ancestors continue to give you the strength.
“Our father, we will be most grateful, if Your Royal Majesty approves our “Client” OSAKIOYA OBASOHAN as the OHEN of IDOKPA IN UHUNMWODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE. Oba Ghato Kpere, Ise.”
The self acclaimed chief priest designate said all effort to know the outcome of the findings since (February 20th 2018) when the revered monarch looked into the controversy, has been unsuccessful, hence he decided to reach out to The media (The Nigerian Observer).
Obasohan who displayed copies of receipt issued by different courier service operators as evidence of letters he sent to the Oba’s palace about the dissonance in Idokpa, added he now avoids the village even when his family still resides there.
When our correspondent visited the once predominantly agrarian community (a week after), it was learnt that the village had been without an Ohen since 2014 when the former Ohen joined his ancestors.
The head (Odionwere) of the village, Pa Iyekekpolor Omorogbe declined to speak on the issue. He asked our correspondent to visit the Idokpa town hall for information on the controversy.
“I can not speak on the matter because I am now a Christian, I now attend church. Please go and inquire from them at the town hall”, the Odionwere said in Benin dialect.
At the town hall, a member of the community asked our correspondent to come in the next 3-Days (72hours) when elders of the village would be seated, adding they will speak on the issue.
On the said day as advised, an elder who agreed to speak but pleaded anonymity said, “we cannot say anything on the Ohen Idokpa matter because the Omo’N Oba has already decide on it at the palace.”
When asked what was the decision, He added, “go to the palace and let them tell you with their mouth, we cannot be quoting the Oba.”
However at the palace, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Oba, Desmond Agbama said the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) was in a ‘better position’ to speak on the matter, directing our correspondent to the BTC Secretary, Frank Irabor’s office where he was asked by an official to write a letter to that effect, which was done.
Weeks after confirming receipt of the letter, the BTC’s secretary is yet to respond despite a text message sent by our correspondent to his mobile number 14-Days after.
The text message read: “Good morning, I am Emmanuel Ikhenebome, a Journalist with The Nigerian Observer working on a report surrounding the controversy over the chief priest (Ohen) stool at Idokpa village. I want to know the palace position on the matter, as there is already a letter before your office to that effect submitted on 24th of August 2018. Your timely response will forestall impending crisis. Thanks.”
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