…Community Protests Shut Down Economic Activities
Tension grips the atmosphere of Uwheru Kingdom, in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, on Tuesday, January 20, when the suspended President-General (PG) Chief Macpherson Igbedi, was reinstated against the wishes of the people and the traditional leadership by the council chairman, Olorogun Jaro Egbo.
Recalled that Chief Igbedi, was suspended by the Uwheru Kingdom monarch over an alleged gross misconduct, neglect of traditions, and defiance to the kingdom’s wishes.
The once-peaceful community ground to a halt as youths, women, elders, schools, markets, and businesses shut down in a unified protests with demonstrators waving placards and chanting, “Macpherson Igbedi must go
! We don’t want Macpherson as our PG.”
Chief Igbedi, was suspended by the Uwheru Kingdom monarch over an alleged gross misconduct, neglect of traditions, and defiance to the kingdom wishes.
Chief Igbedi, was suspended by the Uwheru Kingdom monarch over an alleged gross misconduct, neglect of traditions, and defiance to the kingdom wishes.
Addressing Journalists, Comrade Otuogba Mudiaga, a youth leader in the kingdom appealed to the Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to immediately intervened in order to avoid what may snowball into major crisis that could also disturb the peace and unity being enjoyed by the kingdom over the years.
The Youth leader who disclosed that the kingdom initially appreciated the chairman and security agencies for the efforts made earlier in restoring peace, later blamed the council chairman Jaro Egbo, for reinstating Chief Macpheraon Igbedi, without first consulting the traditional leaders and the peoples.
“Chief Igbedi, shouldn’t be reinstated because youths from the kingdom and town had previously protested Igbedi’s actions, and this prompted His Royal Majesty, the Uwheru monarch, to summon the reinstated PG but he ignored the summon, and this Mudiaga said led to his suspension.
“An investigative committee was set up to review all the allegations with broad representation. Igbedi was again invited clear himself, but he snubbed everyone. All attempts by traditional authorities and stakeholders to engage him failed.
Some persons who spoke to Journalists about the rejection of the reinstatement of the PG includes Chief Stephen Edewor, Chief Steve Wack Obruche, and women leader Mrs. Omotejohwo. They warned that leadership without legitimacy breeds unrest.
“Imposing a rejected leader risks deepening crisis,” Mudiaga echoed. They urged the state governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to wade in and tame the chairman’s unilateral move.”
Meanwhile the factional and current PG Wilson Oghenerukevwe Umukoro, has pledged transparency and commitment to Uwheru’s progress.
Contacted for comment, the embattled Chief Igbedi, denied all the allegations leveled against him saying they are all false, insisting the council chairman reinstated him in their presence but not by his own doing.