A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and respected indigene of Ukhomuyio community in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Council Area of Edo State, Chief Charles Adogah, has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to review the appointment of Mr Michael Sado as the Okhuokpellagbe of Okpella, over alleged non-compliance with traditional and customary laws.
Adogah, a prominent legal figure, alleged that the governor was misinformed by those who briefed him on the matter, stressing that the information provided did not reflect the true nature of events surrounding the selection.
He urged the governor to cancel the process that led to the selection and further appealed for the suspension of Mr Sado’s planned coronation, allowing a selection process in line with the Declaration of Customary Law regulating the selection.
According to him, the Komunio village of the Oteku Ruling House should be allowed, without external interference, to carry out its traditional and lawful role of selecting a suitable candidate for the revered position of Okuokpellagbe of Okpella.
He noted that the selection process was flawed, insisting that the monarch was neither selected by Ukhomunyio village nor presented to the kingmakers and not installed according to tradition. Briefing newsmen in Benin, Adogah, a traditional holder of the title of Obodeanokpella of Okpella, called for the immediate suspension of the unlawful coronation of the monarch.
Adogah stated that no consensus was reached among the Okpella people regarding his selection.
The Obodeanokpella of Okpella called for the cancellation of the process that led to the appointment.
Adogah appealed to Governor Okpebholo to grant the people of Kumunio village of the Oteku Ruling House the authority to fulfil their traditional and lawful responsibility of selecting a candidate to the exalted throne of Okuokpellagbe of Okpella without interference.
“We have witnessed what can only be described as a flagrant violation of the Declaration of the Customary Law Regulating Succession to the Traditional Title of Okuokpellagbe of Okpella. Instead of respecting the procedure outlined in the declaration, which vests the power of nominating the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella on the appropriate component branch of the appropriate ruling house superintendent by the village head, a different script was followed – a script written by a few individuals acted upon by the state and sadly endorsed by His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State,” Adogah said.
Adogah, however, solicited the support of the state government in ensuring that the selection process proceeds strictly in line with the Declaration of Customary Law Regulating the selection.
THE GUARDIAN
