Benin Palace Resolves Iguesogban Community Leadership Crisis, Declares Odionwere Seat Vacant For Three Years

Francis Onoiribholo

The Palace of the Oba of Benin has resolved the leadership crisis rocking the Iguesogban Community in Ovia North East local government area of Edo state, declaring the Odionwere (Community head) seat vacant for three years.

The Palace also ordered that one Mr. lyobor Agbonze Igbinovia who was said to be parading himself as the secretary of the community and at the same time spearheading the enthronement of one Mr. Paul Orhiokpaiyo Osemwengie to succeed the late Odionwere of the community to desist from doing so forthwith.

These were the resolutions of the palace while addressing a delegation of the community led by Pa Itua J. Imagbe, 2nd in Command, Pa Igbinosun A. David, 3rd in Command, Pa Igbinosun G. Ehi, 4th in Command, Mr. Pullen Ekhorutomwen, the Okaighele and
Pst. Aigbe F. Oboh, the Community Secretary who took the matter to the palace for adjudication.

The Iguesogban Community dragged Mr. lyobor Agbonze Igbinovia and Mr. Paul Orhiokpaiyo Osemwengie to the Benin palace after the duo were allegedly found to be parading themselves as the secretary and Odionwere (community head) respectively of the community soon after the death of the Odionwere.

The palace after hearing from the community and the two persons ruled that at present, the community has no Odionwere following the death of the reigning Odionwere.

In the absence of an Odionwere, according to the palace, the eldest person in the community should be assisted by the first four senior elders to oversee the affairs of the community along with the Okaighele for three years with effect from the date the last Odionwere passed on after which a new Odionwere would be installed.

The Palace also ordered that the
five elders and the Okaighele of the community should hold tenaciously to the verdict of the palace and should not deviate from the palace rules while administering the community during the three years interim administration.

The palace also asked Mr. lyobor Agbonze Igbinovia and Mr. Paul Orhiokpaiyo Osemwengie to corporate with the interim administration by obeying the palace verdict while the three years interim administration lasted, warning that any person who flout the order should be reported to the palace.