Edo Community Crisis: Ogheghe Osemwende Dismisses Uhunmwoke Orhuma, Oke-aroma’s Claim Of Autonomy

by Idahosa Musa

…Elders appeal to BTC to call proponents to order

Odionwere and elders of Ogheghe Osemwende Village in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have declared that neither Uhunmwoke Orhuma nor Oke-Aroma is an autonomous community.

They insist that the settlements are a quarter within Ogheghe Osemwende, as affirmed by a 2022 public announcement of the Benin Traditional Council.

The Ogheghe Osemwende community, at a press briefing in Benin last weekend, described the claim as inconsistent with a 2022 public announcement of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), which, according to the community leaders, stated that the purported independent Oke-Aroma Ewuare/Uhunmwoke Orhuma was a quarter and part of Ogheghe Osemwende Village.

The development followed a recent briefing by elders of Uhunmwoke Orhuma Ewuare community, located at Kilometer 13 along the Benin-Sapele Road bypass, who rejected what they described as attempts by a suspended Enogie (Benin Duke) and his associates to undermine the community’s autonomy and historical identity.

However, reacting to the claim, the Odionwere of Ogheghe Osemwende, Pa Napoleon Edo, said Uhunmwoke Orhuma Ewuare is a quarter within, and part of, Ogheghe Osemwende Village, and also their position in the matter has nothing to do with the suspended Enogie.

Edo spoke alongside Pa Igbinomwanhia Samson, Second-in-Command; Mr Bright Ogbonmwan, Third-in-Command; and Mr Fred Asemota, General Secretary.

The leaders presented a Benin Traditional Council Public Announcement dated August 8, 2022, with reference number BTC. A40/VOL.LVV/284 and signed by the Secretary to the BTC, Mr. Frank Irabor.

According to the document, as quoted by the Ogheghe Osemwende leaders, the Oba of Benin had pronounced that there was no independent village or community known as Oke-Aroma Ewuare along the Benin-Sapele Road.

The document further stated that the purported independent Oke-Aroma Ewuare was a quarter and part of Ogheghe Osemwende Village along the Benin-Sapele Road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

The Ogheghe Osemwende leaders consequently argued that the claim of autonomous traditional status for Uhunmwoke Orhuma Ewuare/ Oke-Aroma was at variance with the position contained in the BTC announcement.

They also referred to the previous roles allegedly held by two persons associated with the claim, stating that Mr Daniel Omoregbee had previously served as Youth Chairman of Ogheghe Osemwende Village, while Mr Sunny Omoregie served as Youth Vice-Chairman.

The leaders said the previous positions, in their view, reflected the historical and administrative relationship between the settlements in the area.

While insisting on the relevance of the BTC announcement to the matter, the Ogheghe Osemwende leaders called for restraint and respect for established traditional institutions.

They said their position was aimed at clarifying the traditional status of the area based on the document presented at the briefing and urged stakeholders to rely on verifiable traditional records and established pronouncements in addressing the disagreement.

They further appealed to the Benin Traditional Council to call the proponents of Uhunmwoke Orhuma/Oke-Aroma to order.