UROMI – It is often said that culture is the way of life of a people. It represents a sedimentation of a people’s values, history, language, rites and rituals and indeed the gamut of their whole experience.
While a people’s culture is undoubtedly the best pointer to their past and present, it is, however, a mute point whether or not it should continue to be a pointer to their future irrespective of modernity and human rights.
Reports reaching our news desk from Amendokhian Village, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government of Edo State have it that attempts to forcefully initiate and install Pa Inegbenose as the Chief Priest of Ogbegbe Deity and Shrine, has led to the death of Pa Inegbenose and one of his sons, while other members of the family have ran into exile for the safety of their lives.
According to reports, issues surrounding ancient cultural practice that requires a random and spiritual selection of Chief priest of certain deities in Uromi community has led to the oracle selecting Pa Inegbenose to be the next Chief Priest the Deity.
One of Inegbenose family source who preferred to remained anonymous said: “My late grandfather lived in the village at Amendokhian, Uromi, Edo State. He was a native doctor and adherent of the Ogbegbe deity.
“But his first son, Pa Inegbenose, the father of …. and Junior was a Christian. All his life, he was in the city with his family. Pa Inegbenose never allowed members of his immediate family to visit their grandfather in the village before he died” the source said.
“Very recently, he succumbed to the pressure by his children to allow them visit their home in the village.
“While in the village on the 6th day of December 2014, a native doctor in charge of the village idol and shrine, paid a visit to Pa Inegbenose and his family, and informed them that Pa Inegbenose has been chosen by the oracle to be the next chief priest of Ogbegbe Deity in the village”, the source added.
“This provoked a very serious arguments and Pa Inegbenose, being a Christian vehemently refused the offer and reminded the native doctor that he was not a pagan and will never compromise his Christian faith to becoming a chief priest in any deity.
“Pa Inegbenose’s refusal seriously angered the native doctor who threatened the entire Inegbenose’s family that their life and even that of the unborn children are in a great danger.
The family source said that few days after the refusal, arguments and threats, that is, 8th of December 2014; “the native doctor and some adherents of the Ogbegbe deity came to forcefully bundle Pa Inegbenose, to the shrine to perform the necessary rituals to enable him take charge of the idol as Chief Priest.”
“This situation led to a very serious resistance and subsequently a fight broke out between the Inegbenose family and Ogbegbe worshipers and Pa Inegbenose and one of his sons died in the process, while another of the children, Junior Inegbenose was seriously injured “, the family source said in emotion laden voice.
“Junior was unconscious and was rushed to Central Hospital, Benin City and was eventually discharged from the hospital on the 29th of December, 2014.
The source however concluded that Junior Inegbenose after the death of his father and elder brother decided to go into exile in other not to incur or avoid the wrath of the Ogbegbe deity and its adherents.
