The newly appointed clan head of Anwain in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State, Alhaji Muftairu Iyoha Oare has received the Staff of Office from the state government. He pledged to support the people-oriented projects of Governor Godwin Obaseki and give the hands of fellowship to all aggrieved members of the community.
Speaking while receiving his staff of office from the state government in a colourful ceremony at Idegun, in Etsako West Local Government Area, after eighteen years of legal battles, Alhaji Muftairu Iyoha Oare said he will ever remain grateful and thankful for what this government has done for the community.
“We are especially grateful for the Agbede-Anwain road which has opened up the community. This is what we have been yearning for since generations. It is with profound gratitude and boundless joy and happiness that we receive you here today on this auspicious occasion of your presentation of Staff of Office to my humble self as the newly appointed clan head of Anwain.
“Your presence at Idegun today marks the glorious end of the titanic court battles that have been raging in the clan between me and my adversaries for years. Your Excellency, Sir, my father died on the 15th April, 2006. Before I could complete the burial ceremonies of my late father, my hitherto adversaries who had made things very difficult for my father, went to court to foreclose any possible attempt to inform the government of the death of my father and possible request for my installation as the successor.
“Immediately they heard that the whole burial ceremonies had been completed and I was formally to be installed as the village head and prospective clan head of Anwain, they went to court. The matter had dragged on for eighteen years till 21st of December 2023 when the court threw out the case as having no merit.
Your Excellency, Sir, we have followed the matter with patience and diligence till the end and we thank you profusely for waiting for the matter to be resolved in court. Even though they are all aware that none of their fathers or grandfathers was ever head of group of villages today known as Anwain before the ascension of Oare Omohe (The then Erhama N’Anwain Emho, also pronounced as Erama of Anwain) my great-grandfather in 1892, they continued to fight because they never wanted peace in the community,” the newly installed clan head of Anwain clan said.
The governor who was represented by Odion Osime, a director in the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs presented the Staff of Office to Alhaji Muftairu Iyoha Oare as clan head of Anwain clan amidst pomp and ceremony attended by top government functionaries from the state and local government, traditional rulers, members of the community, royal family members from home and in diaspora as well as friends and well-wishers.
