By Lucky Isibor
The Edo State Government Wednesday, 9 May reinstated the deposed Onojie of Uromi, His Royal Highness Anselm O Eidenojie 11 who was deposed by the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
It will be recalled that the Royal father was deposed after altercation with one Mrs Betty Okoebor and allegedly travelling abroad without the permission of the governor.
Before he was Deposed, the state government had earlier suspended the the Onojie
A letter signed by the then Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere dated October 26, 2016, titled “Suspension from Office as Traditional Ruler”, states: “I write to convey to you, the decision of the Edo State Executive Council at its meeting on the 26th October 2016, deposing you as the Onojie of Uromi. The removal from office was based on, among other reasons:
“Your unprovoked attack, inflicting grievous bodily harm on one Mrs Betty Okoebor on September 28, 2016 in full public glare to the embarrassment of those present and causing disgrace to your otherwise esteemed office; “Your refusal, even after two weeks, to respond to a query issued by the appropriate authority within the stipulated 72 hours demonstrating total disregard and disrespect for constituted authority; and “Travelling outside the country without appropriate permission in further demonstration of your disregard for extant regulations and laws.” “In the circumstances, the State Executive Council has arrived at a conclusion that these and other acts of misconduct of Your Royal Highness, the Onojie of Uromi are not only distasteful but also unbecoming of a traditional ruler of your status.
“Based on the above and convinced that your Highness has denied yourself of the opportunity of entering a plea against the charges against you that were duly conveyed in writing to you, and therefore in exercise of the powers conferred on the State Executive Council by virtue of Section 28(1) of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979) and all other Laws enabling it in that behalf, has approved your suspension from office as the Onojie of Uromi with immediate effect for a period of seven (7) days, that is, from the 26th of October 2016 to the 1st of November, 2016. “Consequently, within the suspension period, you shall cease to be recognized and treated as traditional ruler or as the Onojie of Uromi in Edo State and you shall not exercise any powers or function or enjoy any privileges provided for under the Traditional Rulers and Chief Law (1979) and all other relevant provisions under the said law.
“You are required to tender unreserved apologies to your victim, Mrs Betty Okoebor and the Government of Edo State¨. However, the Onojie had since apologized to Mrs Okoebor.
The monarch was subsequently deposed at the expiration of the period of suspension
Mean while the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has explained the reasons for the reinstatement of the Ojuromi of Uromi, His Royal Highness, Anselm Aidenojie II, by the state government.
In a statement signed by the Special Advicer to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, Governor Obaseki disclosed that “Consequent upon his tendering of apology to the Edo State Government and a plea for leniency from well meaning citizens of Edo State, the Executive Council of the state, approved the reversal of his deposition and was reinstated as His Royal Highness Anslem Aidenojie II, the Ojuromi of Uromi.”
The governor said that “the people who pleaded for his reinstatement reported that the Ojuromi of Uromi had been sober and remorseful and we are happy that he has undertaken to eschew acts unbefitting of his royal status
Prominent sons and daughters of Edo had pleaded on the Ojuromi’s behalf, and begged for his reinstatement, as his conduct, mien and relations in public and private showed his readiness to work with the state government in manners worthy of the exalted Ojuromi throne.
It is said that the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II also waded into the matter and pleaded for leniency for the Onojie.
News of the reinstatement was greeted with excitement in Uromi and other parts of the state, on Wednesday after the Edo State government announced the decision.
