By Festus Ahon
UGHELLI—THE people of Idjerhe Kingdom in Delta State, have stripped the Ezomo of the Kingdom, Chief Samuel Okoro of his title, following his alleged unguided media statement against the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The people, in a statement at the end of an emergency meeting at the instance of HRM Erhiekevwe I, also sacked him as the Unuevworo of Onyobru sub-clan.

According to the statement by the Iyasere of Idjerhe Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Emeje, “by Chief Okoro’s publication in  UrhoboVoice of 26 July 2010, ‘Do not come to Jesse – Ezomo tells Uduaghan’, he has demonstrated fragrant disregard to the Kingdom by that action, which has embarrassed the Kingdom by dragging the traditional institution of Idjerhe Kingdom into partisan politics and he has also misled the general public and government of Delta State by the said publication.

“He has, therefore, been suspended as a Chief of the Kingdom indefinitely with the title of the Unuevworo withdrawn while his case will be reviewed after compliance with the sanctions respectively.”

Chief Okoro is expected to retract the said report in the Vanguard, Pointer and the Urhobo Voice newspapers after apologising to the people of the Kingdom and the Governor.

Idjereh monarch speaks

Meanwhile, the King of Idjereh, HRM Erhiekevwe I, has appealed to Governor Uduaghan to disregard the publication.
Describing the media outburst of Chief Okoro as unfortunate, disturbing and embarrassing, he said there was no time such an issue was discussed in his palace to the extent of saying he (the Governor) should be barred from Idjerhe Kingdom.

He said: “the Governor has every part of Delta State as his own constituency. We did not bar the Governor from Idjerhe Kingdom so Chief Okoro’s statement was an over statement and it is unfortunate as we cannot bar the Governor from coming to Jesse.”

Advising politicians in the Kingdom to handle issues relating to party politics within their party level, he asked them not to drag the Kingdom into their political matters.