AN OPEN APPEAL LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, DR. IFEANYI OKONWA, THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER OF INFORMATION, DELTA STATE: ADDRESSING IDUMUJE-UGBOKO PROBLEM
“Please accept my humble apology for channeling this letter to my Executive Governor through this process. I would have felt more comfortable if I had got the opportunity to let my Governor get my request directly. All previous efforts to reach my Governor failed. I have been a part of a family group that wrote a series of letters to the Governor and other political authorities in both Delta State and the Federal Government authorities. I also belong to a group that had made desperate efforts to have direct access to the powers that be. I have not succeeded because I do not belong to the political, social, or materially rich groups that will be listened to directly by the powers that be. I once wrote through the Commissioner of Information in our State.
I am a 76- years-old man from Idumuje-Ugboko, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. Therefore, I am a stakeholder not only in Idumuje-Ugboko but also in my Local Government and my State. I am a stakeholder in my country. At my age, I have to strive and ensure a healthy and progressive country, as a legacy for young Nigerians. I am, therefore, proud to say that I have not been a disappointment to my country; my State, my Local Government, and my town. I still believe that as long as I live and have the ability, I will do whatever I can for the good of all of us. I have the old man’s experience and knowledge. I see the old man’s vision about the future and the impending danger if the wrongs of the present are not addressed now.
For the fear of the danger of the future, I appeal to the Executive Governor of Delta State, to solve the problem in Idumuje-Ugboko. The Governor is very much aware of the problem in Idumuje-Ugboko. I, therefore, remind the Governor that the people of Idumuje-Ugboko are in pain. It is not a new story to him that the people of Idumuje-Ugboko are in serious pain. It is not a new story to our Executive Governor that most sons and daughters from Idumuje-Ugboko cannot freely visit homes and contribute to the development of the town and the State, in general. I would also remind my Executive Governor that the level of insecurity in Idumuje-Ugboko is alarming.
Our worry is that in a year or a little more, the Governor will finish his terms in office and a new person will come to the office. A new person will begin to be briefed on the situation. It will take such a person a long time to actually understand the intricacies of the problem to be able to address it properly. We, therefore, appeal to the Governor to put an end to the problem of the people of Idumuje-Ugboko before he leaves office. The Governor is from the same cultural environment as the people of Idumuje-Ugboko. Obiship’s hereditary system in Idumuje-Ugboko is the same as that of the Governor’s town in Owa. Therefore, he fully understands the implication and sentiments of a people when their cultural, traditional identities, emotions, and egos are insulted.
In 2017, Obi Albert Nwoko, Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko, died at the age of a little above 92 years. He was on the throne from 1955 t0 2017. His own father, Obi Nkeze Nwoko, one-time Secretary to Western Region House of Chiefs and a delegate to Nigeria Constitutional 1954 Conference in London, was on the throne from 1928 to 1955. His own father Omorhusi was Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko from 1892 to 1928. This is a long history that is more than 100 years. When Obi Albert Nwoko (MON) died in 2017 at this long age, our Executive Governor paid a condolence visit to the Palace. He was received in the Palace, as expected and in line with the culture of the people of Idumuje-Ugboko, by the first son of the deceased Obi., who was the former Crown Prince and the new Obi, and who automatically and instantly sat on the Crown Seat the moment the father died. In Idumuje-Ugboko culture, the Crown Seat can never be empty. The Governor knows all these and should not leave Idumuje-Ugboko to a new person who will take a long time to appreciate the consequences of all before he knows what to do.
Sentiment apart and in fairness to relationship and honesty, the present Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko happens to be an old and senior student of Old Boys Association of Edo College, Benin City. The Governor happened to attend the same college, even though years after the Obi left the college. This passes a lot of messages. If your old and senior boy of your college is on the wrong path, by advantage of your position and to remove embarrassment on your side, please tell him the raw truth and let him get off the idea of being an Obi of the community. But if you know he is on the right path, please protect his right. That is what a relationship is all about. That is not favoritism or corruption. That is what such Old Students Associations are all about. Otherwise, after your stay as Governor how do you confront such a person when you people meet in your Association? I happened to be a teacher in the 70s in Federal Government Colleges. And I know the objective of setting such schools is to enhance national integration and relationship which is required for Nigeria as a Nation.
The Governor one time came to Idumuje-Ugboko to commission a road, built by a son of the community. That was a great achievement for an Idumuje-Ugboko son to do for the good of his people and a good for the achievement of the present Government in the State. It counts as what the Governor’s period in office has offered to the people. The Governor, in the occasion. appreciated such good and told all of us, at the occasion, that such same individual contributed much to he being the Governor in the State. Today such your friend-in-need would be pleased if you could help his father (a very elderly man still living in Idumuje-Ugboko) free from bondage and humiliation, imposed on him and other age group mates by the negative and abuse powers in Idumuje-Ugboko today.
The Governor has been a party to the court cases instituted by those forces that believe they will intimidate the people of Idumuje-Ugboko, in other to have their ways. In two separate court judgments, it is clearly stated that a legitimate Obi has to be crowned in line with Idumuje-Ugboko culture and tradition. Such judgments are not appealed in the Higher court. By legal standard, such judgments stand as a permanent position. We would have expected that is enough to put an end to the problem in Idumuje-Ugboko. Why are we dragging this matter beyond this? It is not in the interest of the community that, irrespective of the positions of the courts, Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko has not been given the Staff of Office. With this delay, the security situation in Idumuje-Ugboko is getting more complicating every day. The Christmas festival is at hand. Many Idumuje-Ugboko sons and daughters who would have loved to enjoy the season in their country homes are confused and feel very insecure.
How long do we continue this way?
Recently, I read what the Governor said to the people of Warri when the Olu of Warri paid him a Royal visit. As a people, we were very curious and very interested when the Governor told the people of Warri, on behalf of the Olu that everybody should not forget that, “Kings are made by God”. That was a very hard fact from a Chief Executive of a State. Idumuje-Ugboko has Obi who has been made by God. Nobody should undo what God has done.
My dear Governor, please solve the Idumuje-Ugboko problem before you leave office. Give Staff of Office to who is due for it, not only because of Idumuje-Ugboko culture and tradition but also by the court’s judgments. The insecurity in Idumuje-Ugboko is getting more complex every day because the town leadership is not given the support and authority to be able to handle the situation, the peculiarity of the community provides.
Idumuje-Ugboko is a border town between Delta and Edo States. Idumuje-Ugboko is the route way to the northern part of the country. It is a strategic position that makes security situations more complex to handle. Many of us living outside our homes, particularly some of us elderly ones would have made more positive impacts on building a healthier community. But we cannot come home because we are threatened by the level of insecurity. We are not training and building our children towards looking at our homes for future development. The implication is sort of brain drain. It is quite unfortunate.
My dear Governor, you are the only one to solve this problem. This is not the time we should push away those who will build our communities in the future. In the next twenty to thirty years, we will regret this mistake. By that time, I might have gone but I pray many of you younger ones will be old to regret our failures of today.
My dear Governor, you have to solve this problem. Think of the future to come. Think about our cultural values, as a people. Think about our identity and the values that make us what and who we are. I recall many of my friend teachers from your home, I recall many of my pupils I taught in your village in the 60s. They are my friends and many still adore me as their teacher and mentor. I cannot run away from these facts and realities of life. If I had my way, I would kneel down before you and plead that you do me a favor by solving my pains. I love my people. I love your people. I love humanity as a whole. I love truth and honesty. I love justice. And I love and fight for equality of persons.
Finally, this is purely personal appeal. I did not take permission to write this. I owe no one any apology for writing this. And I know I have not committed any crime for crying to a young man in the power of authority who happens to be my Chief Executive.
Yours faithfully,
Felix S, Banye
