Asaba: The people of Umukwata in Ukwani Local Area of Delta State, Friday 11 November, 2016 stormed Delta State House of Assembly, Asaba, protesting against an executive bill changing their traditional stool from Okpala Uku (gerontocracy) to Kingship (monarchy). 
The protesters, who besieged the Assembly complex at 10 am, claimed there was never a time they agreed to change their community declaration from gerontocracy to monarchy.
In a protest letter to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, the people said: “We disassociate ourselves from the executive bill sent to the House of Assembly and passed into law on November 9, 2016 to our community declaration from ‘Okpala-Uku’ (gerontocracy) to ‘Ukwata’ (monarchy)”.
In a similar development, the Okpala-Uku of the community, HRH Philip Okolocha has called on the Delta State Government to rescind its decision to change the traditional declaration from Okpala-Uku to Ukwata of Umukwata.
He claimed that a curse had been placed on any person behind the change to monarchy, adding that it was alien to the culture of the people.
Meanwhile, a prominent son of the community and a lawyer, Chief Matthew Egwuenu, has urged the State Government to tread with caution on the matter.
Egwuenu in a statement advised the state government to withdraw the said bill in other not to create crisis in the community, expressing belief that “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as an upright and God fearing man, will do the right thing.”
