Uzanu Community Kings Remove Traditional Ruler and Notify in Petition to LG President

 

 

The Kingmakers of Uneme-Uzanu in Etsako East Local Government Area of ​​Edo State have sent a notification/petition to the Chairman of the Area Council, Hon Benedicta Attoh, directing her to the removal of Benjamin Ikani as Oliola of Uneme-Uzanu.

The petition dated September 22, 2024 was endorsed by the Onotu of Uzanu, Chief Emmanuel Ikemeh, the Anogie of Uzanu, Chief Peter Ajegba and the Vice President of Uzanu Progressive Union, Benjamin Salami.

The petition, a copy of which was sent to the Area Commander, Agenebode; Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Uzanu Divisional Police Headquarters; Clan Chief, South Uneme Clan; and the Director of State Security, Agenebode, came in the wake of an earlier petition addressed to Oliola of Anegbette and head of the South Uneme clan, dated September 2, 2024, signed by six Uzanu chiefs and three other prominent Uzanu sons.

The signatories of the petition were the Onotu of Uzanu, Chief Emmnauel Ikeme, the Anogie of Uzanu, Chief Peter Ajegba, the Ogievhokha of Uzanu, Chief Jimoh Shaibu, the Osese of Uzanu, Chief James Aluigbe, the Ogiegbai of Uzanu, the chief Ephraim Abu.

The other signatories included Chief Kasimu Kadiri, Joseph Momoh Jn (youth president) and Sani Momodu (former youth president).

In the petition dated September 2, 2024, titled: “Petition for the Removal of Banjamin Ikani as Oliola of Uzanu”, the petitioners called for the immediate removal of Benjamin Ikani from his position as Oliola of Uzanu.

They based their removal of the traditional ruler on eight grounds, including torture and inhuman treatment meted out to three elders of the community, namely Mr Kenya, Mrs Abide and Mrs Michael Ayegbeni, who is the mother of Adegbomo in August 2021.

They claimed that for the first time in the community, the three elders were tied to a pole overnight on a trumped-up and unfounded charge of witchcraft while Chief Benjamin Ikani ordered them to be whipped and water poured over them overnight.

They also cited the inhumane treatment meted out to a woman in 2021. “Ikani again ordered to feed one Acheluwa Esther excrement and was also forced to drink water to ensure the excrement was properly ingested. This is a heinous act that violates human dignity,” they said in the petition.

They listed other alleged crimes of the traditional ruler which include intimidation and threat to life, illegal leasing of community resources, misappropriation of community funds, threats of violence and harm, instigating crises between Uzanu and neighboring communities and causing disharmony among chiefs of the palace. and unlawful disturbance of leaders.

Stating that they could not see the developments continuing unchecked, they resolved at their meeting held on September 21, 2024 to remove Benjamin Ikani from his position as the Oliola of Uzanu.

They called for the immediate creation of a committee to investigate his acts/actions with the aim of forcing him to account for his wrongdoings.

They also called for protection for community members from further harm or intimidation; restoration of community resources and funds misappropriated by Ikani; and, immediate resolution, mandating the Oliola-in-Council to take charge of the affairs of the community pending the appointment of a substantive Oliola.

Both petitions seen by our reporter were in equal matter as they both focused on the alleged atrocities of Chief Ikani.

The petition to the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government, dated 22 September 2024, was received on 25 September 2024 at the President’s Office and accordingly acknowledged with a local government stamp.

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