By EBUN SESSOU
Saturday, April 7, 2012 will remain a remarkable day in the lives of indigenes of South Ibie, Etsako –West Local Government Area of Edo State. On that day the Aidonogie’s Royal Palace, Iyakpi, South-Ibie council was filled to capacity by a large crowd of indigenes as well as friends, relations, well wishers, who came from far and wide to celebrate the maiden edition of South Ibie Day Celebration. The day also provided them an opportunity to categorically demand from the state government a staff of office to the newly appointed Aidonogie which will translate to a substantive king.

The colourful event saw the people speaking with one voice   unlike in the past where many indigenes, relations and friends kept away for fear of possible breakdown of law and order as evidenced by the more than 10 fratricidal clashes arising from unnecessary chieftaincy tussle in the community.

The event was marked by dancing and singing with both old and young embracing each other irrespective of their religious background. Waziri Oshoimoh band was on hand to spice up the event with soul- enlivening, sonorous songs in local dialect to the admiration of the gathering.

*South Ibie chiefs, community leaders, indigenes waiting for a new king to be crowned

The Aloaye Cultural Dance Troupe, amongst others, also added colour to the occasion. There was also a lot to eat and drink. The atmosphere became charged when Prince Umoru Inusa-Umoru, the Aidonogie designate, stormed the ancient palace to join his people in the spree. The shout of ‘Your Highness!’ ‘Zaikhi!’, ‘Zaikhi!!’ rented the air, as he acknowledging the cheers with a wave of his hand before he was ushered to a seat beside 34 chiefs of the community.

The Chief Imam of South Ibie, Chief Jafary Saliu Okhayole, flagged off the ceremony with an Islamic prayer. Professor Inusa Bright Bello-Imam of the Department of Political Science and Conflict Resolution, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State set the agenda for the festival with the demands of South Ibie people to have Prince Umoru as their next King.

Delivering a lecture titled: “Some Perspectives on South Ibie Development”, Bello-Imam, a prominent indigene of the community and a renowned political scientist, said since the demise of His Royal Highness, Alhaji IMJ Umoru on November 26, 1997, development in South Ibie had gone on recess.

To him: “It’s not that the community did not appreciate development; they still do”, as he blamed the cause on the alleged injustice in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute and the need to recognise the newly appointed king in South Ibie. “It is a globally accepted common knowledge and indeed fact that when justice is disrespected on any issue at stake, peace voluntarily goes into exile while those who are unable to tolerate the injustice inevitably resort to war,” Prof Bello-Imam stated.

He said succession to the throne of Aidonogie alternates between the Ogiator and Danesi according to the provisions of the customary declaration which also specifies that a contestant must be the eldest surviving son of the last Aidonogie from the branch of the ruling house whose turn it is to produce the Aidonogie to succeed the one who passed on to join his ancestors in November 26, 1997.

Bello-Imam said after the death of the first Aidonogie, it was the turn of the Danesi branch to produce the next Aidonogie. But unfortunately, the Danesi branch disqualified their candidate, Chief Momoh Danesi by “a spurious affidavit”.

In his place, the branch presented Alhaji Aliyu Kelvin Zibiri Danesi who incidentally, according to Bello-Imam, “is the son of  Zibiri Danesi, who was himself never a previous Aidonogie of South Ibie at any time, thereby making the candidature of Alhaji Kelvin Zabiri Danesi invalid” .

He said based on this his nomination and presentation was stoutly opposed by the Oghiator branch, adding that the Danesi was given the second opportunity by the Etsako West Local Government to present another qualified candidate.

The political scientist said the Danesi branch forfeited that gesture and the Oghiator branch was contacted to fill the vacant post. This development led to controversy and the Danesi branch rushed to the High Court. Along the line the then Military Administrator of  Edo State, Navy captain Anthony Onyearugbulem, allegedly gave recognition to Kelvin Zidiri Danesi as the next Aidonogie of South Ibie.

One month after the  coronation, an Edo State High Court in Benin City declared that Kelvin Zibiri Danesi was not a qualified Aidonogie and declared Prince Momodu Inusa Nworu of Oghiator as the Aidonigie.

Subsequently, tussle upon tussle had been the order of the day. This development restricted the choice of the next Aidonogie in the Oghiator branch to the living male children of  his late father, HRH Alhaji IMJ Umoru ‘JP’ who was the last Aidonogie of South Ibie, in both fact and law.

Also speaking, Chief Ikhazuagbe said: “Prince Umoru is the rightful owner of the throne of South Ibie Kingdom. Any other person presenting himself as king is a counterfeit. I am using this medium to call on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to install Prince Umoru Inusa- Umoru as our king. He is our choice and the courts also said he is the legitimate heir to the throne”.

The Secretary of the Royal Palace of South Ibie Kingdom, Mr Ibrahim, said: “The voice of the people is the voice of God. We want Prince Umoru as our king. The kingmakers and more than 80 per cent of the people in South Ibie kingdom say they want him as their king. I am also using this occasion to call on our amiable Governor Oshiomhole to please install him as our king because he is the people’s choice”.