The regent of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, High (Chief) Wilson Eboh has said that the kingdom had yet to choose a substantive traditional ruler.
Chief Eboh made the declaration at a press conference at the Orosuen Palace Ejemudarho Road, off Cinema Site Okumugba Avenue Warri, while reacting to a newspaper report credited to Chief Anthony Kesiena Okumugba, entitled 'God has Chose Me to be King Over Okere-Urhobo Kingdom'.
Ebohwho described the publication as false and completely at variance with the selection process of an Orosuen as laid down in the Okere Urhobo Kingdom traditional chieftaincy declaration.
The Chief called on the Delta State Government, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, the law enforcement agencies and the general public to disregard anybody's laid claim to the traditional stool.
As stated by him, Okumugba's act of declaring himself as king of Okere-Urhobo kingdom was criminal and a desecration of traditional institution of the ancient Urhobo kingdom and insisted that the publication was made out of desperation. Ebohwho added: “for a person to be qualified to ascend the throne, he must be selected by the king makers and presented to the Traditional Council of Chiefs of OkereUrhobo kingdom."
Reading a letter said to be written by the Okere Urhobo Traditional Council of Chiefs dated 13th May 2015 and entitled ‘Re- Warming Against Your Acts of Impersonating the Office of His Royal Majesty, the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Warri’ Eboh said that “We wish to warn that it is criminal to parade yourself in that manner in view of the fact that you have not been selected and appointed to the exalted office of His Royal Majesty, the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo kingdom which procedure is so clearly stipulated in the chieftaincy declaration of the kingdom.
“It is imperative to state that your acts of impersonation include your use ofun registered vehicle plate numbers bearing Uduovwodo covered with black leather cloth thereby giving the impression that you are the Oroseun and deliberately presenting yourselves as same by dressing in that manner with a crown on your head.”
Asked why a new Oroseun had not been crowned since the demise of the former, four years ago, High Chief Eboh said that there had been disagreements on the issue, which is even in court.
He said he would cease to be the regent of the kingdom whenever an Orosuen was crowned.