….Uwheru Kingdom Urges FG, Delta Govt To Stop Killings By Herdsmen
….Demands Development Of Avwon Natural Spring Water
By Onome Oghenetega
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Friday presented staff of office to the Odion R’ode of Uwheru Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State, His Royal Majesty, Simpson Sapele Obruche, Obruche 11.
Oborevwori, represented by the Deputy Governor of Delta, Sir Monday Onyeme, charged traditional rulers in the state to maintain and sustain peace in their respective kingdoms.
Uwheru Kingdom, one of the 24 Urhobo Kingdoms, is reputed for producing some of the famous Christian leaders in Nigeria and agricultural produce such as the popular Uwheru groundnut.
Presenting the Staff of Office to the Odion R’ode of Uwheru Kingdom, Governor Oborevwori said his administration would continue to partner the traditional rulers in the state for its overall development.
The governor assured that his administration will continue to hold traditional rulers in high esteem.
He urged them to work closely with the law enforcement agencies and local government councils to ensure that peace prevail in their domains.
According to him, “the traditional institution remains a priceless legacy in any African society for which there is yet no credible substitute, as a rallying point for the people.”
The governor stated that traditional rulers should improve on the high sanctity of their office by leading their people to greater prosperity.
He urged them to be transparent while upholding the virtues of justice, fair play and equity in all their dealings with the people.
“In everything you do and in every decision that you take, I appeal to you to place the interest of the majority of your people and the fear of God above all other considerations,” Oborevwori stated.
The governor used the occasion to charge youths to be involved in productive activities, noted that his administration will always accord education prime place of importance in the state.
Meanwhile, the people of Uwheru Kingdom have appealed to the Federal and Delta State Governments to put an end to the continued attacks by AK-47s wielding herdsmen who constantly terrorised local farms.
The Kingdom in a remark delivered by Hon. Esemeteye Benjamin on behalf of Uwheru Traditional Council, commended Oborevwori for presenting the Staff of Office to their traditional ruler.
Esemeteye noted that despite their huge contributions to the resources of the state, Uwheru Kingdom had not felt the presence of government at all levels.
“We are deeply grateful to Your Excellency for your kind gesture in ensuring that this historic event – Presentation of the Staff of Office to our Father, His Royal Majesty Ajuwe Simpson Sapele Obruche (II) could take place, despite the daunting challenges of time and convenience. Your support is truly appreciated by our Kingdom.
“Uwheru Kingdom’s Monarchy holds a special place in the Urhobo Nation, the Niger Delta, and indeed Nigeria. The Odion R’Ode Stool holds immense significance for the Uwheru people. Its origin can be traced back several centuries before the arrival of the first European on African soil.
“The Monarchy serves as the social and cultural binding force that unites our Kingdom. The throne is a vital and sacred component of our culture, history, and heritage, and as a people, we draw our spiritual energies from it, as our traditional leader, the Odion R’Ode is the soul and eye of the Uwheru Kingdom, and that is why today’s occasion is of great socio-cultural and spiritual significance to us.
“Uwheru Kingdom has a rich history as one of the earliest Communities in Urhoboland to embrace Christianity, and this explains our deep-rooted faith in God, which has shaped us into a peace-loving and highly religious people. Our connection with Christianity dates back to the pre-colonial times, around 1900, when the Anglican Communion, then known as the Church Missionary Society (CMS), first established St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Uwheru (which stands a few metres away). St. Thomas’ Anglican Church is one of the oldest Churches in Delta State and Nigeria.
“Uwheru Kingdom is known as the food basket of Delta State, Nigeria, and a host of other Africa Countries as the major occupation of the Uwheru people is farming, fishing, and trading. We are known for our legendary Groundnuts. We pride ourselves as the leading producers of this crop in Delta State, if not in Nigeria. Uwheru Groundnuts, as it is widely called, is highly sought after and it is one of the most exported crops in Delta State. It is exported to various markets and trading posts across Nigeria and West Africa, including Kano, Taraba, Mali, Niger, and others.
“Additionally, we produce substantial quantities of Sweet Potatoes, Okra, Pepper, Cassava, Yam, and Water Yam, among others, and boast richly of fishery resources in our Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds. Our cultural festivals, such as the Orhe Festival, Ode Fishing Festival, and Yam Festival add vibrancy to our cultural scene and attract people from across the country.
“Uwheru people are also famed traditional wrestlers. Every April, we hold an annual Wrestling Festival, the Ade Wrestling Festival that also attracts visitors from far and wide.
” We are also blessed with a natural Port at Avwon Community. Avwon has natural spring water that is better than any of its kind anywhere in the world. This further adds to the uniqueness of our Kingdom. A lot of tourism revenue, high employment opportunities, and human development can be achieved from these aforementioned festivals in Uwheru Kingdom, including the natural spring water at Port-Avwon.
“Our cultural attractions have the potential of raising the state’s tourism profile. They are also capable of turning the state into a major, World-class tourist destination, and we use this medium to invite the State Government to harness and develop our tourism potential for the greater good of the State and her people and to drive economic prosperity.
“However, the green nature of our farmlands, suitable for grazing has attracted murderous herdsmen into our laid-back, quiet, communal, and peaceful Kingdom. The uninvited herdsmen have taken over our God-given farmlands and have remained permanently inside the forests preventing our people from their farming activities. Their continuous stay in our farmlands has not engendered peace, as these AK-47s wielding herdsmen have cut short the lives of many of our able-bodied men and women. The herdsmen rape our women in the farmlands and force villagers to offer gifts of bags of rice, packets of cigarettes, clothes, fish, and food items. They demand levies and compensations from our people in exchange for their dear lives. Today, our people cannot go freely into their farmlands anymore, as the herdsmen are lodged in the deep forests and foray into our communities at will, scavenging for food, while their cattle feed on our crops. It is not a pleasant story as our people now live in perpetual fear and uncertainty daily in their God-given land.
“We want to use the opportunity of this epoch-making occasion of the Presentation of the Staff of Office to our Royal Father to appeal to the State Government, the South-South Governors, and the Federal Government of Nigeria to come to our rescue.
“We appeal to the Federal and State Governments to protect our people from the invading murderous herdsmen armed with AK-47s from continuously occupying our farmlands, feeding on our crops, and raping our women. We appeal for protection from the incessant killings of our innocent people, and the destruction of our properties and our economic lives without any acts of provocations or just cause whatsoever. We call on Governments at all levels to take concrete, verifiable, and enforceable measures and steps toward ending the menace of these killer herdsmen currently occupying our farmlands forcefully.
“It is worthy of note that Uwheru Kingdom has a proud tradition of nurturing educationists, having once held the enviable record of producing the highest number of teachers and principals in the defunct Midwestern Region or former Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States). Today, our Kingdom continues to produce graduates and professionals across various fields that have excelled in their respective endeavours”, he added.
The Chairman, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Hon. Adode Godwin, at the occasion, urged the youths to ensure that peace is maintained in the kingdom while they channel their energy to positive activities.
He expressed worry over the constant attack of herdsmen on the kingdom, saying that the situation has become unbearable and called for prompt intervention of government to curb the situation.
The event was attended by key traditional rulers from across Urhobo Nation, Ijaw and Isoko including the Ovie of the ancient Ughelli Kingdom, His Majesty, Oharisi 111; Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, amongst others.
