There has been uneasy calm in Agbarho Kingdom, Delta State since last
Sunday after irate youths, with the support of a section of elders and other
villagers, laid siege to the palace of their monarch, HRM Samson Ogugu I,
Osuivie of Agbarho, who bolted away for his dear life.
24 hours later, the people installed a parallel king, HRM William
Onokpite. Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Peace and Conflict
Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, has had sleepless nights since then trying to
manage what could pass as a traditional coup. HRM Ogugu I, officially
recognized by the state government, is reportedly exploring several options,
including dialogue and legal, to regain his throne.
The monarch, who fled the palace when he got wind of the invasion, was
star-crossed, as the invading youths seized his staff of office. When one of
our reporters visited the community on Monday, stern- looking policemen and
soldiers, including the Agbarho vigilante outfit, were sighted at strategic
locations at the palace environs and gate, while vehicular movement on the road
leading to the palace was grounded. Soldiers restricted movement at the gate,
but some chiefs and youths were seen near the shrine in the palace which was
under lock and key. Protracted feud Truth, however, is that HRM Ogugu I
has been embroiled in a running battle with his subjects over his leadership
style and other allegations since he mounted the throne and all efforts to
resolve the dispute proved unsuccessful. Agbarho kingmakers, otherwise called
“Usueches” from the various royal families had, months ago, reportedly served
the monarch a letter calling for his dethronement over alleged gross
misconduct. An influential leader of the community, Major General Orho Obada
(ret.), who is the arrowhead of the emergence of Ogugu I, has allegedly
turned his back against him, while the Agbarho-Urhobo Improvement Union, AUIU,
which is supposed to be working together with the king to develop the
community, is also at loggerheads with him.
They want me dead – HRM Ogugu I
But, last Sunday was not the first time the monarch would escape from the
Agbarho palace. Armed youths had overrun the palace some months ago. But the
incident of last Sunday took many by surprise as many villagers were still in
church for their weekly services when youths, shooting sporadically into the
air, marched into the palace.
HRM Ogugu I, who spoke to journalists at a location outside his
kingdom on Monday, same day a parallel king was installed, said, “Some persons
wanted me dead so that they can install a new king, who will be taking
authority from them. I have not committed any offence against individuals
or the kingdom. But a cabal in the community wants me dead at all costs. “They
sent assassins to kill me in broad daylight with guns. They shot sporadically
into the air in my palace. But my God saved me from their hands. “I learnt some
armed youths were coming to the palace and, barely 30 minutes after, they were
at the palace, but I had to vanish. My two wives were held at gunpoint and my
traditional beads, worth millions, were stolen, including my staff of office,
given to me by Delta State government. “My security detail was beaten up, my
children’s laptops were stolen and property worth over N30 million were
collected from the palace. The matter is before the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU,
and Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council under the chairmanship of the Ohworode of
Olomu Kingdom”. ‘Security agents took sides’ The under attack
monarch went on, “Soldiers and policemen, who came to my palace to maintain the
peace saw these thugs and youths with arms but did nothing.
No arrest was made because they got a directive from a top military
officer who is against me. This is illegal and unjust. “From what my wife told
me, the gunmen ransacked and carted away millions of naira. Nobody has the
monopoly of violence and if I respond to their rascality in equal measure, the
whole Agbarho town will run. And I do not want to do that because I am a man of
peace. “I am calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the state Commissioner of
Police and President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter and arrest
anybody behind the palace coup, attempting to kill and overthrow a government
authorized king at gunpoint. “It is a pity the police in Agbarho have
compromised and while my palace was overrun by the gunmen, the police were with
them, celebrating my palace invasion with the gunmen and their masterminds”.
A source loyal to the deposed king corroborated his claims, saying,
“Agbarho is in the grips of criminals and ritualists. His ordeal is sponsored
by those who do not like his opposition to their illegality.” He added, “The
Okparegbe sub-clan condemned the action of the Usueches and pledged their
allegiance to the monarch. “At a recent general meeting, 14 communities of
Awwredjan and Okpategbe sub clans unanimously passed a vote of confidence on
HRM Ogugu 1.”
There has been crisis since Ogugu I ascended the throne – Gbenedio
President General of Agbarho Urhobo Improvement Union, who the monarch fingered
as one of the brains behind his ordeal, Chief Ighoteguono Gbenedio, when contacted,
narrated the incident. He said, “I was in church when the Special Adviser to
the Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor, called me to
say that there was trouble in the kingdom. I told him I was in church and will
find out what was happening. “I made some calls and l was told that they whole
place is scattered. There has been one trouble or the other with the present
monarch since he assumed office, but the whole Agbarho said the kingdom will
not divide because the other sub-clan had threatened to install their own king.
“So, the youth, who do not want the kingdom to split because of one man, took
over the palace. I think that is what happened; the community owns the palace”.
Gbenedio, who said he visited the palace thereafter, said he saw policemen and
soldiers at strategic positions within and around the place, and youths, who
insisted they would not leave.
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