By Tosan Edematie
Hon. Barr. Spencer Ohwofa, member representing Ughelli North Constituency 11 at the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) intervened in a conflict over the Harvesting /Lease of the popular resource-rich Ode River in Ehere Quarters of Uwheru Kingdom between some Uwheru indigenes leading to a petition to the Police Authorities in Asaba against former Delta Commissioner, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, and Chief MacPherson Igbedi, President General, Uwheru Kingdom, among others and their subsequent invitation to answer to the allegations on Monday, October 7, 2024, intending to resolve the issue peacefully.
According to a source, Hon. Barr. Spencer Ohwofa was present at the Police Headquarters at Asaba on Monday, October 7, 2024, when the parties to the conflict were invited by the Police over the allegations contained in the petition, allegedly written by some individuals from Ehere Quarters.
The source said Hon Spencer Ohwofa, who is incidentally from Uwheru, was “bothered by the conflict between not only members of his Constituency, but his native homeland, in his interest to ensure a peaceful resolution of the issue, was with both parties in the conflict at the Delta State Police Command, Asaba throughout that day when the PG, Prof Muoboghare and other individuals were invited. Indeed, all those that were invited were released to him on bail. He told the Police that he would ensure that the matter is resolved peacefully,” the source, who craved anonymity, said.
Attempts to reach Hon. Spencer Ohwofa to confirm and throw light on the issue were unsuccessful at the time of Press. However, independent sources verified that he was indeed at the Police Command, Asaba that Monday and seen with the invited Uwheru individuals.
This news platform further gathered that despite the intervention by Hon Spencer Ohwofa, the Police investigation of the allegations made in the petition is ongoing, and the Police may soon visit Uwheru Kingdom for fact-finding as part of their investigation.
Meanwhile, it may be recalled that a few days ago, the Palace of the Odion r’Ode of Uwheru Kingdom, irked by reports by some online news platforms linking it to the petition against Prof. Muoboghare, and others to the Police, had distanced the Monarch from the allegations, decrying it as an attempt to malign His Royal Majesty, Simpson Sapele Obruche (ACG), Obruche 11.
In a statement signed by the Palace Secretary, Chief (Dr) Phillip Okpidama, dated September 30, 2024, and titled “RIGHT OF REPLY:RE: POLICE INVITATION TO EX-DELTA COMMISSIONER” made available to the media, the Uwheru Palace on September 28, 2024, stated that it “frown, with all seriousness, at the grievous and false narrative, in all the media platforms, seeking to link the sacred and exalted throne of the Uwheru Kingdom, not only to a purported “ internal crisis between the traditional ruler of Uwheru Kingdom and some leaders of the area, “ but to the Police Invitation.
According to the Palace, “The innuendo and mischievous slant in that report have resulted in a flurry of calls from concerned citizens of Uwheru Kingdom, as well as leaders of thought within and outside Urhoboland and Nigeria, who knows our revered Royal Father to be above pettiness and malicious activities.”
Defending the Uwheru Monarchy, the statement notes: “For the records, the Odion r’Ode of Uwheru Kingdom is not at loggerhead with anyone or Leaders in Uwheru Kingdom as the report sought to emphasize. We must emphasize that there is no crisis in Uwheru Kingdom. It is common in any human society for there to be disagreements over certain ways and methods of doing things, but in Uwheru, as a civilised kingdom, where virtually every family is related by blood or marital ties, we don’t take it to the extreme.
.”As Father of all, His Royal Majesty Simpson Sapele Obruche would not descend so low to disparage any citizen of Uwheru with fictitious and unsubstantiated allegations just to score any cheap point. It is a great discredit to everything he stood and stands for, to link him and the Uwheru Palace to such unconventional and destructive allegations.
“The statement further submitted that “Olorogun (Prof) Patrick Muoboghare is a son of HRM Simpson Obruche, and they have a long history between them that goes beyond social ties. Ajuwe has direct access to Prof. Muoboghare and any other leader in Uwheru.
“HRM Obruche is also a bold and fearless leader who would tell you what he thinks to your face and would not engage in any immoral and unconventional, image-damaging activity like fictitious letters to the Authorities drawing attention to any perceived, unlawful activity.
“The statement reiterates: “We are confident that the Police Authorities will certainly get to the root of the allegation and the author of the petition will be unveiled. Indeed, we are eager to know the ghosts behind this plot to tarnish the reputation of our Monarch. “
The Palace further called on the media “to be objective and above the activities of fifth columnists who may want to use its hallowed pages and platforms to frame situations to suit their retrogressive interests.”
A Palace source told U-Metro that HRM Simpson Sapele Obruche, Obruche 11, was livid at the “attempt to link him with such ridiculosity and pettiness. Ajuwe cherishes the customs, traditions and culture of Uwheru and the Urhobo Nation and would never be a party to rubbish, and that is why he has for over seven decades been active in pan-Urhobo organisations like the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) and Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) and projects that involved the protection, preservation and propagation of the Urhobo language, customs and traditions.”
The source, a traditional Chief, continued that “While Ajuwe is an unpretentious activist for the sustenance and preservation of the old, organized and moral ways of the Uwheru people, and the Urhobo Nation, which some youngsters are seemingly, not only resisting, but desecrating in the name of sophistication and civilisation, everyone agrees that he loves Uwheru passionately and is a Patriot and Champion of Uwheru unity and would never engage in any clandestine activity that would hinder the growth, development and progress of Uwheru Kingdom, or tarnish the image of any Uwheru
“When these media reports linking him and the Palace to that petition broke, we all had to appeal, begging him not to invoke traditional proclamations against whoever could be behind the attempt to link him to a petition falsely accusing Uwheru citizens, because outside being completely innocent, he is our Traditional Ruler and Custodian of the Culture and Traditions of Uwheru Kingdom. He is also a Nonagenarian. You know what that means.
“He was extremely angry and not amused by the subtle attempt to ridicule and cheapen the Uwheru Monarchy. “
