THE Okpe
Traditional Council recently announced the transition of His
Royal Majesty Orhoro 1, (J.P; OON), the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom
in Delta State of Nigeria. HRM Orhoro, was the first and pioneer
Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers when it
was created in 1993. With about a third of the population of the
state as subjects in his domain, he was indeed one of the most
influential traditional rulers in Delta State. He was host to
many Itsekiri and Urhobo communities. But alas, in our
socio-political environment, a man who carries himself quietly
and in dignity hardly ever gets into headline news.
He served his term as
Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers peacefully
until it was the turn of his successor with whom he co-operated
in a most charitable and royal manner. Some have described the
late king as 'being peace-loving even to a fault'. In my view,
this is an eloquent testimony to the grand, simple and peaceful
personality that was His Royal Majesty.
Throughout his reign Okpe
Kingdom witnessed massive growth, particularly in terms of
social amenities, road construction, and unity of purpose. He
was a man who made no enemies, but who at the same time stood
for the truth. But alas, that which is good but mortal must come
to an end. Thus came an end to the thirty-two year glorious,
peaceful and eventful reign of the traditional ruler of the most
populous sub-ethnic group in Delta State, the Okpe people.
For most people familiar
with his long reign, the word that summarises his era is
'peace'. It's not all leaders who manage to ensure peace. For as
Thomas Kempis has observed: "All men desire peace, but very few
desire those things that make for peace." Under the Orodje, the
kingdom was spared the ethnic clashes that have rocked the state
in the last 10 odd years. The Bible says, "God blesses those who
work for peace, for they will be called the children of God."
It is true that minor
skirmishes were reported in Sapele between the Okpe and Itsekiri.
But the firm and gentle hands of the great man of peace helped
to douse the tension. He was genial, kind and patient. He also
had an immense capacity to listen to all parties that presented
matters to him.
Who was the Orodje of Okpe
?
Who are the Okpe people over whom he presided?
By some irony, this icon of our times did not
hit the headlines during his reign because the kingdom was not
enmeshed in crisis. He had no clashes with his chiefs nor did he
do anything to cause disaffection between the Okpe and her
neighbours. If anything, he ensured that conflicts were amicably
resolved. Okpe land stretches from the River Ethiope on the
northern side to Uvwie clan in the south and from Agbon and
Agbarho clans westwards to the sea. The Okpe people are the
descendants of the four princely brothers namely Orhue, Orhoro,
Evbreke and Esezi, whose ancestor migrated from Benin about 1170
AD. The Okpe share boundaries with Agbarho clan, Agbon clan,
Idjerhe clan, Uvwie clan, the Itsekiri people of Warri Division,
the people of Oghara Division, and Uvwie and Ughelli clans of
Delta State.
Domingo Amujaine Ejinyere
as HRM was then called, was born at Orerokpe, the ancestral home
of the Okpe and the headquarters of Western Urhobo Divisin in
1921. His father, late Chief Ejinyere Edjere, was a principal
member of the Ibobo family on the paternal side and of the
Ohwere family on his maternal side. His mother, the late Madam
Etadievu Erhabor was of the Ohwere family.
It is instructive to note
that both the Ibobo family and the Ohwere family are
sub-branches of the Orhoro ruling House. His Highness therefore
was a full-fledged member of the Orhoro Ruling House. The ruling
houses, four in number, are Orhue, Orhoro, Evbreke, and Esezi,
named for the brothers who founded the kingdom.
HRM received his early
education at the Holy Cross Catholic School, Lagos. He then
joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1940, retiring on pension in
1952. In search of the Golden Fleece, HRM proceeded to the
United Kingdom in 1956 where he studied Business Administration,
obtaining a Diploma. Upon his return from the UK, His Royal
Majesty took a Chieftancy title and established a business. He
was appointed President of the Customary Court in 1963. In 1964,
HRM along with his brother, Chief J.E. Odiete, jointly
established an industrial company, known as The New African
Industries limited. He held the positions of Director and
General Manager of the company until his appointment as Orodje
of Okpe in 1972.
HRM Orhoro 1 ascended the
Okpe Kingdom throne after the demise of His Highness Esezi 11 on
March 26, 1966. Thus HRM Orhoro was the second monarch after the
long period of interregnum in Okpe land. He was crowned king in
colourful ceremony on the 30th day of December 1972.
He carried himself with
immense dignity both during and after the coronation ceremonies.
His appointment was sealed by gazette No. 58 volume 9 of 7th
December 1972 issued by the then government of Midwest, headed
by Colonel Samuel Ogbemudia. His area of authority covered two
local government areas, Okpe and Sapele, presiding over the
single largest ethnic nationality in Delta State, both in terms
of population and landmass.
During his reign, he was
first vice Chairman, Midwest Council of Traditional Rulers
(1973-1977); Deputy Chairman, Bendel State Traditional Rulers
Forum (1977-1991); Member National Council of States (MNCS)
1992; First and pioneer Chairman of Delta State Council of
Traditional Rulers (1993); Chairman, Southern Delta Traditional
Rulers Forum; Chairman, Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral
Producing Communities (TROMPCON), Delta State Chapter. HRM was
also the Life President of the Okpe Traditional Council. During
his reign, he was able to handle and resolve many intra- and
inter-communal conflicts in Delta State. For example, he
intervened and succeeded in the settlement of the conflict
between Igbide and Emede (both in Isoko); he also intervened in
the conflict between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw, Oboro and Olota,
Dabri and Aladja, and Alagbabiri and Gbaregolo, Izon and
Itsekiri warring groups in Sapele etc.
In his colourful career, he
won a medal of honour during the war of 1939-45. He got a
commendation from the Police High Command in 1950, and in 1978,
he became a Justice of the Peace. He also got the Merit Award
for Development and Upliftment of Okpe Culture by National
Association of Okpe Students (UNIBEN/UBTH chapter) in 1998.
HRM was also Grand patron
to the National Union of Urhobo Students for which he got a
merit award from the Union. In 1998, he got the Distinguished
Community Leadership Award by the Institute of Corporate
Administration of Nigeria.
Last year, the President
and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, honoured him with
Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). During his reign, the
palace at the traditional home of the Okpe was re-built. The new
architectural masterpiece that is the palace at Orerokpe is a
manifestation of how he quietly and obtrusively brought
different forces and persons together to pool resources for the
development of Okpe land.
Some of his professional
colleagues in the Police Force include the Oba of Akure, Oba
Adesida IV and the late A.I.G., F. Hausa Brisbe.
In his long reign, he had
occasions to play host to some important traditional rulers in
Nigeria. These include the Emir of Ringim, Alhaji (Dr). Sayyadi
A. Mahmoud (31st September 1997); the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero
(28th March 1998); the Ooni of Ife, Oba O.A Sijuwade (1st
November 2001) and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II (1st
November 2001).
Others are the Ewi of Ado
Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo A. Aladesanmi III (1st November 2001); the
Dein of Agbor, HRM Kegboekuzi I, JP (1st November 2001) and the
Olubaka of Aka-Akoko, Oba Y.A Adeleye (1st November).
Some notable persons who
are his subjects are Chief J.E. Odiete, the Otota of Okpe
Kingdom; Chief D.O. Dafinone, (CON) the Owhere of Okpe
Kingdom, Chief P.A. Gbinije and Professor Sam Oyovbaire, former
Minister of Information and Cultue. Others are retired Generals
H.O.D Eghagha, former Military Administrator of Ogun State and
High Commissioner to Ghana (the Ogbvivie Okpe); Generals Patrick
Aziza, Felix Mujakperuo, Air Vice Marshall Frank Ajobena (rtd),
(former Military Administrator of Abia State); Mr. Macauley
Ofurhie, (DPR); Chief Charles Obule, (Director, NNPC Abuja);
Barrister J.Y Odebala, Chief Onomigbo Okpoko (SAN) former NBA
President; Professor William Odiete, etc.
Already, grand plans are
under way to give the grand old king befitting rites of passage
for a man of his stature. His challenge to the Okpe people in
general would be to produce a worthy successor as soon as
practicable and ensure peace and stability in their homeland.
May 2004