In recent developments both in the cultural and traditional facets of human existential development in Edo State and beyond, several families have been plagued by the crisis of succession in the membership of occult group when an occultic family member is pronounced dead .
Many families have had to resort to self-help in addressing lingering challenges associated with the succession of occultic family members (men/women) in the event of death without adequate protection of victims by way of enforcement of effective laws against the evil processes leading up to membership of an occultic group.
The relevant authority should as a matter of urgency address the attendant issues arising from unlawful and forceful membership of every unwilling first-born child (male/female ) into occultic groups in order to avert impending crisis at the communal level, an act which could invariably rescue all unwilling family members or victims from occultic savagery and abuse .
In achieving this feat, effective legislation in ensuring the protection of citizen’ rights would be required by the relevant government authorities against the barbaric aggression and oppression meted out to an unwilling first-born child of a deceased member of occultic group.
Beyond the enactment of effective legislation by the relevant authority, there is the need to have the political will to implement such laws to ensure adequate protection of citizen’ rights while eradicating to the barest minimum the high rates of inhumane treatment and other several abuse against unwilling first-born children in the hands occultic group over the succession of dying members.
In the case of Palmer Godspower, a professional driver who had been living in constant fears and violent harassment in the hands of occultic members of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity following the sudden death of his father, Pa. Palmer Adaghe who died on September 28th 2011, the crisis of succession orchestrated by the sudden demise of his father inadvertently created clear divisions amongst family members.
A source in the family who pleaded anonymity revealed that Ebudin community had not known any peace since the patriarch of the family of Palmer Godspower was confirmed to have died at the age of 78 .
He said Pa.Palmer Adaghe until his death on September 28th 2011 was an active member and leader of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity, an extremely dangerous occult group in Ebudin community.
According to the family source in Ebudin community, the deceased Palmer Adaghe included his son’s name (Palmer Godspower) in the membership register of the dreaded occult group as his immediate successor without the approval of his son.
Following the pronouncement of the death of Palmer Adaghe in September 2011, the family was further thrown into chaos and confusion when the acting leader of the occult group in company of other members approached Palmer Godspower with his late father’s dying wish to replace him as his successor as it was part of the constitution of the occult group to have all first-born child of members step in as successor.
The recent development by occult group, the Nigerian Observer was told raised concerns and questions within family circle as to why a dying father would prefer to have a request of his first son succeed and replace him in the occult group which until his death was entirely unknown to family members.
As the mounting pressure on family members and Palmer Godspower continued to grow, his safety daily basis was no longer guaranteed by anyone as he was at the receiving end of several death threats from the occult group who threatened fire and brimstone to go ahead with actualising the request of its deceased leader.
According to another source, as every avenues towards a peaceful resolution of disagreement were exhausted without results, Palmer Godspower who on several occasions vehemently rejected the offer of succession into the occult group in the face of obvious threats to his life made up his mind to inform security operatives of the recent security threats to his life by reporting at the police station in March 2012.
His decision to inform security operatives at the police station, according to the source, was not enough to deter the occult group from further exposing his life to more danger .
Palmer Godspower, until recently was a professional driver who was into the movement of goods, services and passengers across the country.
The Nigerian Observer was reliably informed that immediately after the funeral rite of the deceased Pa.Palmer Adaghe, members of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity mounted increased pressure on him to take up succession role of the deceased leader or bear whatever consequences of his rejection might befall him.
Meanwhile, confirmed reports in Ebudin community revealed that Palmer Godspower fled from the community in anticipation of the occultic members carrying out its earlier threats on his life.
There are many other families who have also suffered similar fate and are presently lamenting their ordeal secretly over fear of the unknown in the state and Nigeria in general
In conclusion, the Federal government through relevant authorities, Human Rights agencies, and International communities should ensure adequate protection of citizen’ rights against the acts of savagery and aggression against victims in unlawful and forceful inclusion into membership of occultic group as successor .
This would ensure adequate protection against abuses in any forms against innocent Nigerians whose fundamental human rights are being flagrantly abused/violated by members of the extremely dangerous occultic groups in our communities.
