Evwreni Traditional Crisis: Odion Orode Rejects Ughelli North Peace Meeting, Says Court Must Decide Dispute

The Odion Orode of Evwreni Kingdom, Major John Ovwufeti (Rtd.), has rejected the outcome of the recent peace meeting convened by the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Council, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, insisting that the disputes over the Odion Orode stool and the Osu-Eghweya (Women Leader) are already before the courts and can only be resolved through the judicial process.

In a statement made available to Newsmen, Major Ovwufeti challenged the resolutions announced after the July 30 meeting, which reportedly recognised another claimant to the Odion Orode title. He maintained that he remains the lawful holder of the traditional office unless a competent court rules otherwise.

According to him, the historical records of Evwreni Kingdom do not support claims that Unenurhie Community is entitled to produce the Odion Orode. He stated that Evwreni Kingdom has had 16 Odion Orode since its founding in 1499, beginning with Okpawha as the first community, and asserted that Unenurhie has never produced an Odion Orode, but only its own community Odion.

Major Ovwufeti also argued that the local government peace meeting could not validly determine issues already before the court. He said any attempt to resolve the dispute outside the judicial process, without hearing all parties, undermines the rule of law.

He further maintained that Okpawha Community has the customary authority to appoint and remove the Osu-Eghweya, claiming that the community had lawfully exercised that authority. He also criticised APC chieftain Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and Council Chairman Olorogun Jaro Egbo for their involvement in the matter, arguing that both should allow the courts to determine the dispute. Ovwufeti additionally made several allegations concerning past political and communal events, but did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate those claims.

Reaffirming his position, the retired military officer said he would abide only by the decision of the court. “I remain the Odion Orode of Evwreni Kingdom until the court says otherwise. As a former military officer, I will abide by the decision of the court and not any purported settlement by anyone,” he declared.

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The reaction comes in the wake of the resolutions announced after the July 30 purported peace meeting convened by the Ughelli North Local Government Council, a meeting that critics contend denied key stakeholders the opportunity to deliberate on the contentious disputes surrounding the Osu-Eghweya and Odion Orode institutions in Evwreni Kingdom. They argue that the outcome was effectively predetermined, raising serious questions about the credibility, fairness, and legitimacy of the process.