Orogun Monarch Re-Affirms Opone As President General, Warns Bennis For Parading As PG

The Okpara-Uku of Orogun Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Joseph Emoghene Okorocha Osuokpa I, has warned Ms. Bennis Agbonifo to stop parading herself as the President General (PG), of Orogun kingdom and called on Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs and Community Development to withdrew a purported certificate presented to her as PG of Orogun kingdom.

In a strongly worded letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the monarch cautioned against actions capable of destabilising peace and harmony in the kingdom.

He urged the Ministry to withdraw the certificate, describing it as “an affront on the established customs and collective will of the people.”

The Okpara-Uku stressed that the office of President-General was conclusively settled on 17th September, 2024, when Chief E.T. Opone was duly consecrated in line with Orogun tradition and the decision of the Imodje people, supported by the larger kingdom.

He explained that Opone’s consecration was consistent with the zoning arrangement contained in the Orogun Kingdom Gazette issued after an Okpara-Uku-in-Council meeting on 5th June, 2020, under the reign of HRM Akpojotor Ekpo I.

The gazette stipulates that the presidency rotates among sub-clans in eight-year tenures.

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The monarch recalled that Chief Benson Ndakara of the Ogwa sub-clan completed his tenure on 5th June, 2024, making the Imodje sub-clan the rightful successor.

“By both custom and equity, Ogwa cannot immediately succeed itself in that office again,” he stated.

Expressing disappointment that the Ministry allegedly acted without proper verification, the monarch said such steps “undermine the will of the people, violate the rotational principle, and threaten the peace of Orogun Kingdom.”

He urged security agencies and government authorities to intervene, insisting: “Orogun is a peace-loving kingdom.

“We will not accept any imposition or manipulation that disregards our rotational principle,” he said.

Attempts to speak with Ms. Bennis or a representative of the Ministry proved abortive at the time of this report.