By Emmanuel Ajibulu & Lekan Bilesanmi

Stakeholders in Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State have cautioned Christopher Ike Kebordin to stop telling the world that he is the traditional ruler of Illushi Kingdom. They also took  exception to some of the statements credited to Kebordih in an interview  he granted Sunday Vanguard on August 3, 2014.

Mr Enye Richard, a two-time Chairman of Illushi Progressives Association of Nigeria, who is currently the Chairman of Edo/Igala Foundation on behalf of his people, took a swipe at  Kebordih narrating that he (Kebordin) lacked the right to make such misleading claim.

Enye said:

Mr. Enye Richard

“I found it preposterous that Christopher Ike Kebordih will claim in an interview he granted a reputable media house like Vanguard at  page 42 of August 03, 2014 that he is a monarch of Illushi Kingdom. He is not a monarch of Illushi community.   There are nine quarters and 14 villages including Illushi which is originally called (Ojigono) before the year 1896 agreement with the Royal Niger Company. Uroh (Uloshi) Kingdom is made up of the quarters and villages that I mentioned earlier.”

Speaking during a visit to Vanguard headquarters in Lagos, he stated that it  was important to put things in the right perspective so that the unsuspecting members of the public will not be misinformed. He described Ebije 1, which Kebordin is purportedly using as his traditional title, as mere greeting and that it is not in any way recognized.

“There are four different identification greetings for each quarters that is made up Uroh (Uloshi) kingdom. Ebije is used for people from five quarters of the nine quarters. Ameche use the greeting of one of the quarters, Ojoko for another  and Igweh use the greeting of Ocheche quarters,” he said.

“These are mere greetings and not traditional titles.   Ebije 1 of Illushi is illegal and not known to the entire community and must not be recognized by the Edo State government or any traditional institution in the local government or by any group of persons. Illushi has no kingmakers because it is one the villages under Uroh (Uloshi) Kingdom.”

Enye disclosed that Kebordih was only being economical with the truth when he said governments in Edo at the state and local government levels as well as the security agents are not doing anything to address youth restiveness in the community.

He went on: “It is most uncharitable for him to assert in the interview that the government of Edo State under the leadership of  Comrade Governor  Adams Oshiomhole, our local government  council chairman, the Nigeria Police, and the DSS have not done anything to address the communal clashes in our community. Presently, there is peace in that community simply because the government of Edo State set up Crises and Peace Resolution Committee under the chairmanship of our revered elder, Chief Eduwo Ekhato (the Obasogie of Benin Kingdom). If the government and the police and other security operatives have not done anything, what about the meeting held in January 15, 2014 at Obiaja where all concerned stakeholders were physically present?,” he said.

“Several  people came for that meeting, including APC and PDP members. Christopher Ike Kebordih and Jonathan Imawa as well as their loyalists were also in attendance. It is also important  to correct the misgivings that  government abandoned our community. Today, we have good schools with excellent infrastructure and dedicated teachers, pipe borne water, good road networks and many other amenities championed by Governor Oshiomhole’s administration. Rather than commending the good efforts of the DPO,  the Area Commander, down to the Commissioner of Police as well as the state government, Kebordih is blaming them. This is unfair and regrettable.”

He was appalled by another statement  credited to  Kebordin that he (Kebordin) ran into exile in 2013. Enye pointed out that Kebordin had been in exile since 2003 following the crises of Odugume  and Illushi youths. He  however called on all concerned parties to eschew violence and embrace permanent peace in the overall interest of the community.

“I also take serious exception  to Kebordih’s claim on his self-exile tales. It is not true that Kebordih ran into exile in 2013. He has been in exile since 2003 when Odugume  and Illushi youths had  crises that led to the death of a young man called Anone Agwumede.

Permit me to use this medium to show appreciation to the great people of our community, particularly the Chairman of Esan South-East LGA, the DPO, the Area Commander, the state Commissioner of Police, DSS and the youths in our community for maintaining peace and orderliness thus far. I implore them to continue in this good spirit,” Enye pointed out.

“However, my advice to any aggrieved party, including Kebordih, is that if he is not satisfied, he should approach the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee to seek redress rather than going to the press. Illushi is fed up with crises and we do not want to be seen anymore as crises-prone community. I am also appealing to Kebordih and other stakeholders to let us come together in order to create an atmosphere for sustainable peace to foster meaningful development in our interest and in the interest of our unborn generations.”