Sapele: Public condemnations by indigenes of Sapele-Okpe have continued to trail the court suit instituted by the erstwhile Caretaker Committee Chairman, Sapele Okpe Community, Mr. Moses Ogodo against the traditional ruler of Okpe kingdom- HRM, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom following the recent removal of the community leader from office.
A cross section of stakeholders in Sapele Okpe community and executive of the Sapele Okpe Land Trust Association, while giving their approval to the new executive of the community and fully backing the action of the Okpe monarch, stated that the unguided recourse of the former care taker committee chairman is a sacrilege, most unfortunate and an insult to the integrity of the traditional stool of Okpe kingdom by a subject.
The condemnation of the action of the former Sapele-Okpe community chairman came at a reception organised by members of the Sapele Okpe Land Trust Association under the leadership of Chief Ede Dafinone while recognizing and giving full approval to the newly sworn-in members of Sapele Okpe community led by its interim chairman, Mr. Anthony America Ayomanor.
While defending the action of the Okpe monarch for removal and appointments of executive and members into Sapele Okpe community, Chief Ede Dafinone stated that the Orodje took the decision following avalanche of protests from different quarters of the community on the overstay in office and other allegations against the Moses Ogodo led interim administration.
Chief Dafinone explained that the decision by the Orodje was taken in order to avert another crisis in the community, especially the clamour by the protesters calling for a change in the interim executive, after five years in office, apart from lingering issues from previous court cases which the out-gone leadership failed to address.
The former Senate aspirant disclosed that the swearing-in process of the new executive of the community was performed by the Orodje, who is the chief custodian of Okpe tradition and was observed by members of the four quarters of Sapele-Okpe community with relevant security agents, including members of the Nigeria Armed Forces, the Police, the Navy and the State Security Services- SSS present at the ceremony.
He pointed out that it is the oversight function of Sapele Okpe Land Trust Association to supervise the role of Sapele Okpe community and it was on the strength of the endorsement of the new team by the Orodje that the Land Trust is giving its blessing and support to the newly elected team of the community.
Chief Dafinone, charged them to be good ambassadors and be conscious of the mandate assigned to them, stressing that in order to foster peace, progress and development in the community, the new executive should strive to reconcile all aggrieved persons and groups back to the centre, thereby allowing the community to function as one.
According to the Okakuro, ensure that the four quarters of the community are brought to the centre and work towards conducting a free and fair election within the one year tenure of your administration.
Among those who lend their supports for the new team were, Prince Ogodo, who berated the action of his brother- Moses, describing it as an insult by a son on his father, however pleaded that plans are on the way to appease the monarch by calling the offender to render
unreserved apology to the king, in the process of purging him of his wrong doings.
Also, Chief Geofrey Dafinone, chastised the action by the former community chairman. describing it as a sacrilege by an ungrateful subject insulting his king after benefiting much by his overstay in office, while the Financial Secretary of the new team, Mr. Victor
Abeke equally condemned the action against the monarch by the erstwhile community chairman.
According to Mr. Abeke, Moses ought not to allow power and greed to becloud his respect for the monarch, advising the he ought to have mellowed down and start thinking of working with the new executive towards achieving a common goal of peace, prosperity and development of the community.
Nobody actually allowed him to stay that long in office and his overstay was occasioned by the lingering court action by a former elected chairman, Mr. Michael Egbejule, advising the new Exco to ensure that they carry everyone along in the activities of the community and resolve all pending issues.
Earlier, the new chairman, Sapele Okpe Community, Mr. Anthony America Ayomanor (AAA) pledged to work according to the mandate assigned them as he promised not to disappoint the Orodje and the entire quarters that form the community.
He promised to be fair and just, by uniting all interest groups and to ensure peace and progress, stressing “just now, we are going to move Sapele forward and usher in peace, progress and development”.
Several efforts through phone calls made in attempt to get Mr. Ogodo comment were abortive, as he refused to pick calls, however in a current edition of the Urhobo Voice newspaper, he averred that he remains the Chairman of Sapele Okpe Community.
