CRISIS ROCKS ISSELE AZAGBA KINGDOM, MONARCH SUSPENDS HIGH CHIEF

Nosa Akenzuwa, Asaba.

Fresh crisis of alleged insubordination and attempt to create parallel kingdom in Issele Azagba community Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State, has erupted, as the Monarch, HRM Obi Francis Jidowa Ijei II, has suspended the Uwolo of Issele-Azagba Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Eboha Emeagwai, with effect from November 4, 2016.

According to the letter of suspension personally signed by the monarch, a copy of which was made available to our reporter reads “You are suspended as the Uwolo of Issele-Azagba Kingdom with immediate, you are therefore directed to stop parading yourself as the Uwolo of the kingdom and stop calling the meeting of the Onotu-in-council henceforth as an attempt to disobey this order will be met with a more sever disciplinary action against you.”

Prior to the suspension, the Uwolo was issued a query by the monarch in a letter Ref. HRM/DRTS/1-A/Vol.T/001 dated 28/10/2016 titled, “Discreditable Conduct and Abuse of Office” and which read “you are a war Chief in Issele-Azagba Kingdom and by your office as the Uwolo of the Kingdom, by virtue of your rank and experience in the Ono-Out as the third in command cum acting leader of the group, makes you to be very much aware of your responsibilities, as expected of you.

“You will recall that on the 16th day of October, 2016, you were expected to lead the war chiefs and the entire Onu-Out to the royal palace for Inne annual festival celebration, and subsequently, have a traditional hand shake with the Obi which you declined.

This behavior and action of yours portray you to be a very recalcitrant and incorrigible chief.”

The letter further emphasized that the action of the suspended chief “constitutes a serious embarrassment to the entire people of Issele-Azagba
kingdom. In the light of the above, you are hereby queried to explain within 48 hours on the receipt of the query, why disciplinary actions will not be taken against you in line with the tradition of the land.”

He was admonished that failure to comply and timely too, will be deemed as having nothing to offer as a defense and as such, necessary steps will be taken to institute disciplinary action against him.

Copies of the query and suspension letter were circulated to various organs of government which include the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Directorate of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Delta State, Department of State Security (DSS), Issele-Uku, Police Area Commander, Asaba as well as the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Onicha-Olona and the Elders/Village Heads in Issele-Azagba kingdom for their information and necessary action.

The Obi of Issele-Azagba Kingdom, HRM Ijei II regretted that trouble started when the Uwolo “started boycotting meetings in my palace, summoning meetings of Onu-Out in council where he allegedly hijacked and handle cases and matters that were meant for the palace of the Obi of Issele-Azagba Kingdom and thereby creating parallel cabinet in the Kingdom.”

He stated that this led to the ugly situation whereby “he declined to perform his traditional function as Uwolo during the Inne annual festival
celebration on October 15, 2016 in collaboration with some of his cohorts”.

Reacting, the Uwolo, Chief Eboha stated that apart from his blood relationship with the Obi of Issele-Azagba, HRM Obi Ijei II, they have not had cause to disagree on any issue in
the past, “but this matter emanated from the collective determination of the elders and Obi in council to solve the problem of outstanding debt of about N11 million owned by residents of Issele-Azagba to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for several years, which emanated from the non-accountability on the part of the leadership of Issele-Azagba
Development Union (IDU) and lack of proper oversight supervision by the monarch over the years.”

He said that trouble started when the monarch summoned the meeting of Obi in council to deliberate on the way and means of offsetting the debt as Issele-Azagba had been placed on community billing system since inception, and that during the discussion, the secretary of IDU, Mr. Steve Ukwamedua, “in a despite bid to defend and cover the sins of the cabal over the indebtedness rained abuses on the elders for daring to suggest that the collection of the bills be handled by Vibrant Micro Finance Bank Ltd for the sake of proper accountability”.

Chief Eboha alleged that during the meeting held on October 1, 2016, the elders were not comfortable that the total collections per month amounted to over N2 million whereas the
actual bill payable per month does not exceed N1.5 million, a situation that does not even warrant any debt at all, stressing that this called for proper accountability on the part of Issele-Azagba Development Union.

He stated that a situation where the secretary of IDU described the elders and chiefs as disco dancers and thieves who are only relevant during festivals in the presence of the monarch unchallenged, is not acceptable to him and other right thinking people, adding that, that was the reason why the chiefs and elders angrily stormed out of the meeting of Obi in council that
day as they could no longer condole indiscipline.

The Uwolo explained that he decided not to participate in the annual Inne festival for the safety of his life, since the monarch has refused few days to the festival to summon a meeting to discuss the vexatious issues as demanded by the custom of the people, adding that he is very disposed to peace at any time the monarch wants it.