The Kingmakers of Obotebe Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta have brought to the notice of the general public that Obotebe Kingdom has only one King like other Kingdoms in Ijaw nation.
In a disclaimer signed by the Kingmakers against another son of the soil who has been parading himself as the Ebenanaowei of Obotebe Kingdom, three out of the four Ruling Quarters in Obotebe, as conferred on them by section 8 of the “Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict, 1979, said His Royal Majesty Anthony Nigeria Gbemi who was duly installed as the Ebenanaowei of Obotebe Kingdom with the title, “Ogisi the First (Umbi) in a well attended ceremony on September 30, 2018, is the only King in Obotebe Kingdom.
PA Naibo Lekumo, the Amakosu-Owei of Obotebe; PA Okoh Kparobou, the Idumuokosu-Owei of Ogbondisi Quarters and Chief William B. Niata, the Idumuokosu-Owei of Ezuweibodo Quarters who signed this out of the four Ruling Quarters in compliance with the provision of the Traditional Rules and Chiefs Edict, 1979 of the defunct Bendel State, as applicable to Delta State, warned those who are involved in causing division and imbroglio in the peaceful Kingdom of Obotebe, to stop this evil act forthwith.
They also warned the general public to desist from recognising any other person as Ebenanaowei of Obotebe Kingdom, except His Royal Majesty Anthony Nigeria Gbemi, who was crowned as King in compliance with the Rulers and Chiefs Edict, 1979.
It’s pertinent to state here clearly that section 8, subsections 1 and 2 of the Rulers and Chiefs Edict, 1979, dated September 29, 1979 at Benin City and signed by D.P. Lawani, O.O.N., K.S.G., Secretary to the Military Government of Bendel State of Nigeria, state that:
1. There are four Ruling Quarters in Obotebe known as Ogbondizi, Ezuweibodo, Predobodo and Ogisibodo.
2. When a vacancy occurs, the Amakusowei invites applications from all those interested candidates in the whole clan.
A selection/Kingmakers Committee of five comprising the Amakosuowei (or the nominee who must be a male adult), and the oldest man (Idumokusuowei from each of the four quarters, considers the applications at a meeting summoned for that purpose and presided over by the Amakusowei.
A quorum is three and selection is by a simple majority.
They reiterated that the selection and installation ceremony of His Royal Majesty Anthony Nigeria Gbemi as the Ebenanaowei of Obotebe Kingdom was done diligently in compliance with the above mentioned section.
Signed:
PA Naibo Lekumo, the Amakosu-Owei of Obotebe;
PA Okoh Kparobou, the Idumuokosu-Owei of Ogbondisi Quarters and
Chief William B. Niata, the Idumuokosu-Owei of Ezuweibodo Quarters.
