Community rejects Obaseki’s appointment of Monarch In Okpella

Residents of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Council on Saturday protested against the appointment of Okpella monarch, His Highness, Lukeman Akemokhue as the newly installed Okueokpellagbe Of Okpella .

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, had on Friday approved the appointment of Lukeman Akemokhue as the Okueokpellagbe of Okpella in letter dated 26th September, 2024, with Ref No CH266/T3/93.

Some community leaders and elders who moved against the choice of Lukman Akemokhue as new Okueokpellagbe of Okpella described the action of Obaseki as the alleged imposition on throne of Okueokpellagbe of Okpella

Obaseki’s decision came almost a year after the entire Okpella traditional council including the Senior Ataru Okpella, Chief Odabor nominated Engineer Mike Sado as the chosen candidate for the position of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in line with the traditions of the land.

The declaration of Lukeman Akemokhue sparked protest in the Okpella community as they insisted that the governor should immediately reconsider his decision to avoid plunging Okpella in communal crisis.

Some traditional heads accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of sowing discord among the locals following his choice of the Okpella monarch, Lukman Akemokhue, labeling it a blatant desecration of their sacred traditions, asserting that it’s a politically driven decision .

“These actions are an affront to our heritage,” declared a prominent community leader, Engineer Abu Abdulganiyu, who led a protest, sounding warning against any attempt by Obaseki to install his preferred candidate for the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella stool.

Speaking during the protest in Okpelle, Abdulganiyu said, “The traditional stool is not a tool for political bartering or compensation, and its sanctity must be respected.

“We have a king, and we know who we want. Obaseki can’t impose a king on us when he has few weeks to leave us, “he said.

Abdulganiyu had earlier warned that any attempt to foist a political monarch on the community would be resisted by the people of Okpella.

Recall that the state government, through its Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Monday Osaigbovo, while presenting the letter of appointment to him, said that the State Executive Council has approved his appointment as the Okueokpellagbe of Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state effect from 26 September,
2024.