The Leadership of Ahavwa Kingmakers’ Family of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom led by Chief Michael College Ohwofaria, Chief Anthony Okagbare, and Evang Solomon Emotitiri have vowed to resist any attempt to foist a king on the people of the kingdom, reiterating their resolve for staff of office be given to His Royal Majesty, HRM. Bernard Ivuvmevwerhaye Awarieta, as their bona-fide royal Majesty.

This was contained in a statement issued Thursday at Ahavwa Kingmakers Family Hall in Ewu Kingdom, a copy of which was made available to journalists.

According to the visibly livid king makers who took turns to address journalists at the well-attended briefing, the leadership of the king makers family on behalf of the kingdom noted with “grave concern” the concerted and coordinated efforts allegedly being made by one Clement Ikolo who was described as an impostor and an agent of disharmony in connivance with his collaborators are hell bent on throwing the kingdom into anarchy in their attempt to undermine peace and harmony that the community is known for as they resolved to forcefully impose the said impostor on them.

Ewu-Urhobo clan the statement said will not pander to the whims of foreigners in the affairs of who becomes their king as it called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori not to yield to the quest of a ‘desperado who wants to take the kingdom on a journey to anarchy adding that the time has come for the governor to toe the line of peaceful transition to a new royalty led by HRM Awarieta.

The Kingship of Ewu kingdom has been traditionally and culturally decided by the kingmakers family, and this practice it stressed has been the heritage of the people of the kingdom for decades.

The statement reads:

“We got a workable intelligence that same Ikolo Clement through his brother Dr. Richard Kofi, Chairman Ughelli South LGA, Delta State and Dr Ebenezer Okorududu both of Olomu kindgom are hell bent on foisting their brother Clement ikolo through the back doors as King of Ewu Kingdom an action that already claimed the life of Augustine Joseph Obiuwevwi on the 9th day of September 2023 when Ikolo led thugs and Nigeria policemen to the Ewu-Urhobo town in a bid to foist himself as king on the kingdom is at it again for the second time attempting to armrwist the Presidents of Ewu communities one by one on phone to propose a meeting where he would be endorsed as king. In his calls, pictures of such meeting will be taken to the government of Delta state to show them that all is well, that he has been endorsed.

“There’s urgent need for us to inform the governor and the general public as we state for the upteenth time that the crown king of ewu kindgom remains HRM Benard Ivumevwerhaye Awarieta and that, any other person outside this established procedure is an impostor. The government of Delta State is further advised that the plan of Dr Richard Kofi and Ebenezer Okorodudu and co. to mislead the government the second time into taking a wrongful decision will be resisted by Ewu people who have agreed and resolved that Ikolo should be given staff of office is untrue and that only the authorized traditional organ or body that is saddled with the responsibility of electing a king is the Ahavwa Kingmakers Family of Ewu kingdom as enshrined in the edict of 1979 of Bendel as applicable in Delta State.

“We call on the governor of Delta state, Right (Hon.) Sheriff Oborevwhori to do the needful by presenting the staff of office to the rightly crowned king of ewu kingdom who has been functioning both traditionally and customarily in the capacity of a full fledge king since May 30, 2021 till date. Ewu-Urhobo Kingmakers authority stated.

Pointedly, the Ahavwa Kingmakers Family on behalf of Ewu-Urhobo
called on the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army and other law Enforcement Agencies to resist being used by the ‘impostor’ and his cohorts to cause mayhem in Ewu Kingdom in that, Ewu Kingdom both home and abroad will resist any imposition through legitimate means.

The Kingmakers stated further: “the royal transition is the reason we are in court in suit no HCG/55/2023 today and that invalidates the unlawful pursuit of same royalty by Ikolo, his co-travellers and this under the law amounts to contempt of court which must be taken seriously by all constituted authority. Again, no man born of a woman can make a man who lost out in the Kingship contest a king over us.

“We are all respecters of the law, and we won’t allow anyone goad us into lawlessness under any guise. There is a king in place. Therefore, the stool of Ewu Kingdom is not vacant and can never be occupied by a loser. Not even his confederate can impose him on our people.”

Recall that, on May 30, 2023, the kingdom in a keenly contested election organised by the kingmakers family elected HRM Awarieta as King followed which traditional rites were carried out awaiting the nod of the state government that is expected to issue a staff of office to the new monarch before the lingering conflict of interests which is currently threatening the peace of the agrarian community.