The people from the Illushi/Ozigono community in Esan South East Local government area of Edo State are against the decision to make Fidelis Okowele their traditional leader.
Residents claim that Okowele is from a nearby community, Oria, and has no ancestral ties to them.
They wrote to Governor Godwin Obaseki, signed by the community’s president, a human rights lawyer, Victor Giwa, and some other council of elders members, asking for the appointment to be revoked.
In the letter they mentioned, “Our attention has been drawn to the news that your office has recognized Fidelis Okowele as the Onojie of Illushi/Ozigono community, of Esan South East Local government area of Edo State.
“Firstly, the said Okowele Fidelis is not an indigene of Illushi/Ozigono community and has no ancestral link or connection to the people of Illushi/Ozigono.
“The said Okowele Fidelis is an indigene of Oria Community which neighbours and shares boundaries with our Illushi community.
“We, the Illushi/Ozigono indigenes, reject any form of recognition and appointment of Fidelis Okowele as Onojie, (King) or Chief of Illushi/Ozigono community or in any name in whatever manner it is described.”
They also stated that the community will oppose any efforts to crown Okowele with the “full force of our collective will.”
“We further state that any attempt to recognize or appoint, install, or decorate Fidelis Okowele in any manner described above will be resisted with the full force of our collective will.
“It is further important that all action be suspended to avoid hostility between the two communities – Oria and Illushi and the fragile peace in the communities,” they added.
Attempts to reach the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Monday Osaigbovo, were unsuccessful.
He also had not responded to a message sent to him regarding this matter at the time of submitting this report.
