IGIEDUMA (UHUNWANDE)- The Elders and people of Igieduma Village in Uhunwande Local Government Area of Edo State, have again appealed to the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, to wade into the lingering Traditional title’s dispute (Enogie) in the village.

The people, however, claimed that one Prince Osarenwinda Obasohan as the true heir apparent to the Enogie’s stool, not one Mr. Henry Ewansetin Useghisomon Eholor who they said was installed in error as the Duke of the town by some persons.

But in a swift reaction, Henry Eholor, while refuting the claim of the people, said he is the authorised and recognised Enogie of the Village, adding that the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II is the only proscribed traditional authority.

Speaking to newsmen at an enlarged meeting in Benin City recently, Elder Ekomwenrenren Emmanuel Nosakhare, said Mr. Henry was only related to Igieduma maternally as his great grandfather was from Idokpa Village along Benin-Auchi Road.

He said that elders and the people of Igieduma have countless time seek to meet with the Oba of Benin with a view to resolving the dispute, hence, he appealed again for the intervention of the monarch towards laying the dispute to rest permanently.

Pa. Ekomwenrenren further accused Mr. Henry of indiscriminately selling the village land, a situation he described as worrisome

While calling for the installation of Prince Obasohan who he said is the rightful person to the throne, Pa. Ekomwenrenren, averred that that there have been successive Enigie in the community.

Speaking also with newsmen, Rev. (Dr.) Aghekwonwin Moses Ekogiawe, said the transited Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa, had earlier approved the installation of Prince Osarenwinda as Enogie of the village, and wondered the overturned of events.

Noting that there have been no break in succession of Enogie in the village, Pa. Ekogiawe disclosed that Henry was elevated into the Edionfold (Elders’ fold) by Prince Osarenwinda’s father, Enogie Obasohan.

He lamented what he described as mysterious happings in the village since the alleged error installation of Henry as the Enogie, pointing out that Henry was one time dragging the position of Eholor tilte in the village.

On his part, Prince Osarenwinda Obasohan, who claimed to be the Enogie designate, especially as he had performed the traditional burial rites of his father as approved by Oba Erediauwa in 2004 said the stool does not belongs to Henry’s family as Enogie and Eholor’s positions are parallel.

He informed that the Enogie’s stool has been with his family members since the reign of Oba Esigie owing to the hereditary nature of the stool

” Following the death of my father, Enogie Obasohan in 2004, the Odionwere and elders of Igieduma Village took me to the palace of Oba of Benin to announce the demise of my father.

“The monarch sent a royal bead for my father’s burial and after the burial ceremonies, I was again led by Odionwere and elders of the village to inform the Oba of the completion of my father’s burial rites.

“Chief Sasoyen, now Chief Eribo and Chief Obazuwa, son of Obamedo were sent by the palace to confirm the authenticity of my claim.

“On May 26, 2006, at about 2pm, the two chiefs brought report of their findings and Oba then told me to go and take over my father’s position as Enogie.

He revealed that his installation as Enogie of the village was later put on hold on June 28, 2007 following a letter from the palace through the then Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Mr. Obawonyi occasioned by an alleged petition filed by Mr. Eholor, claiming that he (Osarenwinda) did not inform him (Eholor) on time.

While advising members of the public to disregard recent media report that claimed there was no Enogie in the village prio now, Osarenwinda, however, passionately appealed to Oba Ewuare II to invite both parties to the palace in order to resolve the dispute finally.