Edo community urges Okpebholo to intervene in kingship crisis

File photo: Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

The people of Ikpeshi in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene in the lingering kingship crisis in the community.

They warned that failure to resolve the dispute promptly could heighten tensions and expose the community to avoidable conflict.

The community said a breakdown of peace could lead to loss of lives, destruction of property, disruption of economic activities and lasting damage to relationships among families and kindred.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the community on Thursday, Ms Peggy Agbo said the crisis followed the Edo State Government’s decision to revoke the regency of HRH Nicholas Odamah III and appoint Lukeman Momodu as his replacement.

She said the decision had generated “considerable concern and dissatisfaction among sections of the Ikpeshi community”.

According to Agbo, the state government, through the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, had cited disputes over traditional leadership in the clan as the reason for the removal.

She added that the government had explained that the decision was taken in the interest of peace, stability and due process.

However, Agbo questioned the rationale behind the move, asking what had changed since the government initially intervened in the leadership dispute.

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“The question now is: What has changed? Having reviewed the disputes over traditional leadership in the clan and taken a decision in the interest of peace, what new development has led to the purported removal of the regent, who has brought peace and tranquillity to the Ikpeshi/Egbigere Clan?” she asked.

She appealed to Okpebholo to treat the matter as urgent, saying early intervention, impartial engagement and adherence to due process would help prevent further escalation and restore confidence in the institutions responsible for resolving the dispute.

“We are appealing to the governor, through the media, to immediately reverse the decision as contained in the purported statement by the Secretary to the State Government,” she said.

Agbo also urged the governor, whom she described as a man of peace, to suspend the action.

However, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, said the state government’s action was based on court decisions.

“What I can say on the matter is that the state government took the decision based on the court decision,” Afegbua added.

The Ikpeshi kingship dispute has lingered for months, with rival claims over the traditional stool prompting repeated interventions by the Edo State Government.