ODIGHI (OVIA North East)- The Odionwere, Elders and inhabitants of Odighi Village in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State have expressed appreciation to the Benin Monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, for his magnanimity in approving Duke (Enogie) in their village.
They maintained that the Oba’s gesture was a further testament to his unparallel developmental disposition to the people, adding the reign of the Monarch has continually usher in peace and tranquility across villages in Edo State and beyond.
The people, however, mada passionate appeal to Oba Ewuare II to help in calling the Enogie of the village to order owing to the incessant crisis orchestrated by the Enogie and his allies.
Addressing Journalists in Benin City recently, the Odionwere, Pa. Ighiriaho Amayo who spoke through the Okaebvo, said that the one time peaceful village has been engulfed with endless crisis since the coming of Osaretin Akenzua as the Enogie, alleging that the Duke is hell-bent in causing disaffection amongst the people of the area.
He said that the appeal to the monarch become imperative as the people are in dire need of a Enogie who will be dwelling amongst the people in the village not someone that will be seeing the affairs of the area from abroad.
Pa. Amayo alleged further that the Enogie has been using one Flamingo and his boys to terrorise the people, a situation he opined is causing fear and apprehension amongst Odighi residents.
The Odionwere who alleged also that the Enogie sometime ago leased the community land to MTN for 25 years recently had an agreement with Globalcom to lease the village land for 15 years without the consent of the people, adding that the people revolted against the plan by stopping GlobalCom from acting on the land.
According to the people, angered by the development, the Enogie few days after invaded Odighi with armed thugs, adding that unsuspected residents were assaulted by the thugs just as some of the residents sustained bullet wounds.
While disclosing that the Enogie has been extorting the people as they paid N10,000 for the Enogie’s transportation each time he visits the community, the Odionwere, said that the people about three years ago through the Enogie allotted a parcel of land measuring 1000 x 1000 to the Benin Monarch, lamenting that they are sceptical if the said land actually got to the Oba.
“We are appealing to the Benin Monarch to please give us another Enogie who will be living with us here in Benin City so that we can have peace and progress in Odighi especially as our revered Oba is known for peace and development”, he said
A check at the village revealed that an ML 230 Ashe colour car with unmarked number was said to have been abandoned by thugs allegedly brought by the Enogie after been overpowered by the people.
Contacted, Enogie Osaretin Akenzua, while debunking all the allegations against him said that the people were the one that attacked him, adding that his properties were destroyed by the people.
