… say he is an impostor, ‘we have no Enogie yet’
The people of Ugomoson Village in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II, Edo State government and all relevant authorities to save them from the alleged ravaging excesses of one Victor Emunwahen Ogiugo, a.k.a Enogie of Abuja.
“We don’t have Enogie yet, even as he is not the right person to the office of the Enogie in our area; Ugoniyekeikpoba. Uwaifo Orhue Ogiugo is the man who legitimately ought to be the Enogie after his father’s death.
“In spite of that he has unceasingly forced his authority on us often for his selfish gains without worrying about the collective wellbeing of the people and our village,” according to the people.
The people cried out last weekend while briefing journalists on the prevailing situation they described as not only posing a threat to peace, growth and development of the village, but becoming very worrisome.
The Odionwere (village head), Pa. Aigbovo Enabulele, spoke on behalf of the people, alleging Victor usurps the office of the Enogie and on the strength of that intimidates, harasses and forces his whims and caprices on them.
Whereas, we are not aware of his installation into the office as the Enogie of Ugoniyekeikpoba but he accords himself the title, he said.
Pa. Enabulele, narrating further, said it was Oba Erediauwa who installed Orhue, the grandfather of Uwaifo Orhue Ogiugo, as the Enogie of Ugoniyekeikpoba Dukedom.
After he passed on, his son, Anthony, was installed and Victor’s father wanted to hijack the office that he even went to court to push his way through but failed.
Now, following the footsteps of his father who is also late, Victor illegally is laying claim to the Enogieship of Ugoniyekeikpoba Dukedom even while the heir apparent to the office, Uwaifo Oguigo Orhue is alive.
“Parading himself as the Enogie, he imposes his authority on everyone, collecting levies and monetary entitlement which ought to have come for the growth and development of the locality and makes life frustrating for the people,” he said.
Nobody dares him for fear of the unknown as he often comes threatening fierce looking thugs armed with guns, and we are now fed up with all his illegalities, the Odionwere stated.
Also speaking, Uyimwenowan Eguaveon, one of the four ranking elders, and the Okaighele (youths head), Iyobo Ugiagbe, corroborated the narrative of the Odionwere.
While passionately appealing to the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II, Edo State Government, security agencies and other relevant authorities to intervene quickly before the situation escalates into an untold story, they said they would be happy if invited.
When contacted via mobile phone for his reaction, Victor Emunwahen Ogiugo, a.k.a Enogie of Abuja, as alleged, neither denied nor affirmed the allegations but cut the line.
