Eleme kingdom rejects chieftaincy imposition as traditional Priest seeks redress in court

Eleme kingdom rejects chieftaincy imposition as traditional Priest seeks redress in court
By Ikuru Lizzy (08038972416)
Chieftaincy
Eleme (Rivers) July 15, 2019 (NAN)

Scores of rejection has continued to thrill circular politics infiltrated into the culture and tradition of the Eleme people as the Land Priest of the kingdom resorted to court redress .
Some members of the Eleme Chiefs Council and Clan heads told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ogale, Eleme LGA of Rivers that the peace of the oil rich kingdom may be threatened if politicians continue to show direct interest on who occupies the most revered (Oneh-Eh-Eta Eleme) traditional stool in Eleme kingdom.
Elder Godwin Opara, an octogenarian and clan head of Egbe Community, Aleto clan in Eleme commanded moves by stakeholders of the area who publicly rejected the selection process of Dr Philip Obele as Paramount ruler of the Eleme kingdom.
He said that Philip Obele, a state government imposed Regent had on Wednesday, July 10 broke protocols of the kingship selection process going on in Eleme and attempted to impose himself on the people as their new king.
Describing the move as an anormaly, he said that the traditional Priest of the land had also rejected the move via the media and had even sued in the court of competent jurisdiction to ensure that Philip Obele observes sanity and due process on the chieftaincy matter.
“I have witnessed a number of Eleme corronations in my lifetime, never have I witnessed such a high level deaspiration as recently displayed by Philip Obele and I stand to condemn such.
” Moving forward, we would adopt the process of kingship selection in same manner as observed by our forefathers, we stand to condemn all political interest and interference.
“We plead with the state government to allow us chose our King according to our culture which is the responsibility of our Land Priest,” he said.
Opara therefore advised Eleme people to shun greed and unit in accordance with existing laws of the land to ensure that only a credible citizen emerge as the Oneh-Eh-Eta Eleme (Paramount ruler).
In the same vain, Chief Ejii Olaka, Paramount ruler of Ogale community also condemned the act of chieftaincy imposition and urged the Regent Philip Obele to respect the laws of the land and avoid parading self as the selected Oneh-Eh-Eta.Eleme
Similarly, Chief Apolus Chu, an eligible contestant for the same kingship stool had urged the government not to issue certificate of recognition to Philip Obele to guard against creating loopholes for communal crises in the area.
Chu urged the people to remain calm and advised against allowing the Eleme chieftancy tussle to contribute to insecurity as the government currently battles to restore peace in some parts of the country.
Other stakeholders who publicly condemned Philip Obele’s self-imposed chieftaincy antiques were Chief Ambrose Iyaye- Deputy Paramount ruler of Agbata Community, Chief Harrison Onugwe, Chief Okparaji Chinwi, Chief Ejireaji Wuwu and several other clan heads in the Eleme kingdom. (NAN)