By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—THE crisis rocking Okhue-Esan Kingdom in Esan South- East Local Government Area of Edo State over an alleged letter of appointment issued to one of the claimants to the throne of the Onogieship of the community, one Emmanuel Ehikioya by the state government has taken a new dimension as Esan Traditional Rulers said that they were yet to take a decision on the matter following the absence of Ehikioya at several meetings called on the subject.

It will be recalled that Esan Traditional Rulers set up a committee, which membership include the Onogie of Ekpoma, the Onogie of Ogwa, the Onogie of Ewu, the Onogie of Orowa and the Onogie of Uzea to investigate the diversion of the letter of appointment to the said Mr. Ehikioya.

One of the traditional rulers, who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, said that the continuous refusal of Mr. Ehikioya to appear before their committee despite invitations to him four times had stalled their taking a decision on the issue.

He said, “We have not taken a decision on the matter because Mr. Ehikioya had refused to appear before our committee despite our invitation to him four times. As royal fathers and custodians of the culture and tradition of our people, we will not take a hasty position on a matter that the entire traditional rulers in Esanland asked us to look into. We have to take testimonies from all those concerned.”

It will be recalled that Okhue – Esan kingdom had in an open letter to Governor Adams Oshiomhole by Chief Lucky Ighekpe, the Oliha of Okue-Esan and Chairman Council of Chiefs, Deacon John Emhonyua, Secretary to the Kingmakers (Okhue-Esan Kingdom), and Chief Patrick Inerie, Chairman (Okhue-Esan Development Association), said that it was an error on the part of the state government to have allowed Ehikhioya to be in possession of an appointment letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

They insisted that the appointment letter being in possession of the said Ehikioya was therefore, baseless and an error the state government needed to correct urgently by withdrawing same in the interest of justice, respect for the collective value, custom and tradition as Edo people.

The community stated that the person whom the appointment letter was issued to was not the one recommended by the Kingmakers of Okhue- Esan Kingom to the Edo State Government, adding that, “the Kingmakers otherwise known as Okhue-Olenokhua is the only body empowered by the Law (Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979,B.S.L.N No.57) and the custom and tradition of Okhue-Esan people to clear, install an Onogie and recommend same to the government for recognition and appointment.”