… pleads for intervention
The people of Ugonoba Village, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State lament what they termed: draconian grip of alleged self-acclaimed Enogie Victor Emunwahen a.k.a Enogie of Abuja.
In dire need of rescue from his alleged totalitarian acts and activities, they passionately appeal for the quick intervention of the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II, Edo State government and all relevant authorities.
On Monday, May 20, 2024, they addressed the media saying they were tired and can no longer contain his excesses as he makes life miserable for them.
Speaking on behalf of the people, one of the four ranking elders, Pa. Owie Arhiavbere, narrates: “Victor Etionosa Emunwahen Ikpomwingie has been illegally forcing on the people his authority and leadership as a self-acclaimed Enogie”.
Whereas, since the death of the last Enogie, nobody has been installed officially.
Having failed to get affirmation of his desire to be Enogie at the Police Zone 5, Benin High Court and even at the Palace of HRM Oba Ewuare II, Victor now parades a judgement purportedly gotten from a court in Abuja, which allegedly ordered that he be made and recognised as the Enogie of Ugoniyekeikpoba.
But we are saying that in the age-long Benin tradition and culture, the authority does not rest in the court to make anyone Enogie hence we don’t even know him let alone recognise the office he is trying to usurp.
The Palace of the Oba had warned him to stop parading himself as Enogie over us but he would not comply.
He has continued to terrorize us and the rest of the villages which constitute the Ugoniyekeikpoba Dukedom through all manner of means including the use of armed thugs.
Unilaterally, he sells our lands to unsuspecting buyers and anyone who braces up to confront him he threatens with police arrest, including other means and our youths are victims. Now, we know no peace!
So, as it stands; Victor is not only a deviant but obviously above the law hence we are pressured to cry out for the help of all relevant authorities.
Also, Victor is being accused of indulging in the outlawed CDA activities in the locality as he always would not allow developers to continue work until they settle him monetarily.
He has his agents working for him, it was alleged.
Victor, who the people also call the Enogie of Abuja, is said to be contesting office of the Enogie of Ugoniyekeikpoba with his cousin, Uwaifo Oguigo Orhue, who many said is the rightful person.
Emmanuel Sunday Oviasogie who is said to be the next Odionwere (village head) of Ugonoba also narrates chronological order of the past till date.
We had all been living in peace until it was the turn of Uwaifo Oguigo Orhue to be the Enogie of Ugoniyekeikpoba Dukedom.
His forebears had occupied the office but surprisingly Victor who is his cousin also is laying claim to the Enogieship, saying he had been installed at Urhomehe Village instead of Ugonoba whose authority it is to do so.
He incessantly uses police to arrest the people of Ugonoba, especially the youths for daring to confront his illegalities and sometimes unleashes terror on us using armed thugs.
Sunday Ogunsuyi and Eliot Ikpomwonsa, Okaighele (leader of the youths) corroborating the narrative of the earlier speakers, queried, “His grandfather, Ikpomwingie and biological father Emunwahen were never installed Enogie so we do not know how he is now Enogie.”
The people passionately appeal to the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II, Edo State government and the relevant authorities to come rescue them from the unending terror of Victor, and peace is restored in the area.
They also congratulated the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II, the Benin Traditional Council and the entire Benin Kingdom for the recent return from Germany, the coronation stools of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie.
Expressing unwavering loyalty to the authority of the Benin Monarch, they prayed for his continued peaceful reign on the throne.
However, when contacted for reaction, Victor would neither confirm nor deny the allegations against him rather end the call.
