Traditional rulers in Edo community threaten to invoke gods against impostor

By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—Traditional rulers from Ewohimi, in Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, have threatened to invoke the gods of the land against one Osaigbovo Ugbegun who, at a traditional ceremony in the area penultimate week, declared himself as the Enogie (traditional ruler) of the community.

The Onojie of Ewohimi, His Royal Highness, Lord Peter Ojienefoh II, who described Ugbegun’s action as a taboo, said that Ugbegun may be ostracized from the community.

During the Odu festival in Okaegben, Ugbegun was said to have dressed in the full regalia of the Onojie in accordance with Esan custom and tradition and pronounced himself as the traditional ruler, a development the Onojie described as sacrilegious and a taboo in the land.

The monarch, in a petition by his counsel, Mathew Edaghese, urged the people of the community to disregard the action of the said Osaigbovo, threatening that his “client shall invoke his powers under Esan Custom to visit the appropriate sanction on the imposter.

“It has come to our notice that one Osaigbovo Ugbegun of Okaegben Community Ewohimi Kingdom made a sacrilegious pronouncement during the Okaegben community dressed in full royal regalia.”

 

Traditional rulers in Edo community threaten to invoke gods against impostor