By Our Reporter
The Ahavwn kingmakers of Ewu-Urhobo in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State has made u-turn and crowned Chief Gabriel Ohwodje Macaulay as the new king of the kingdom.
HRM Macaulay was last Monday crowned by the Okpara of Ahavwa kingmakers, Dr. Philip Ebirerhi in conformity with the customs and traditions of the land at about 10:10am.
It would be recalled that last week Sunday, Prince Bernard Awarieta was seemly crowned by Ahavwa which resulted internal crisis in Ekade before it was corrected leading to the crowning of HRM, Ohwodje as the new traditional ruler.
Speaking, the Okpara of Ahavwa Dr. Philip Ebirerhi, said, “Today, been June 7, 2021, the wrong has been corrected and as the most qualified, we have crowned the King of Ewu-Urhobo kingdom.
Flanked by the spokespersons of Ekade Ruling house and Ewu kingdom, Chief John Oyiberhe, and the most elderly man of Ewu kingdom Ahavwa Kingmakers, Ekade ruling house, Chief John Oniuko, Chief Michael Okpone, Ebirerhi said, In accordance with the customs and tradition of Ahavwa kingmakers, we have crowned HRM, Gabriel Ohwodje Oghenebrorhie Macaulay as the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom.
“In Ewu kingdom, it is the Ekade ruling house that will select the King and after which Ahavwa will crown and that this is what we have done and I want to state categorically that previous person crowned is not entitled to be the king and those that did crowning are not qualified to do so and it is rejected, all what they did is rejected and not granted”.
Speaking after the crowning, the Otota ( Spokesperson) of Ekade ruling house, Chief John Oyiberhe said, “On the 26 of April, 2021, HRM Ohwodje Macaulay was selected as the Ovie-elect after the screening exercise.
“So today, June 7, 2021 the Ahavwa kingmakers and Ekade ruling house invited me as to bring the selected Ovie-elect for crowning and as you can witness the whole of Ewu indigenes both at the riverine and upland are present for the event.
“Among the six contestant, who contested for the position of the King, we saw that Macaulay Ohwodje Gabriel was the most qualified candidate and he was declared the Ovie-elect without any rancour and we danced round the town.
“That man that was crowned as reported is not recognized by Ekade because he did not buy form and I as the spokesman of the ruling knew all those that bought form from us, the most elderly man of Ekade is not aware that Avwarieta is contesting not to talk of buyin a form from Ekade.
“Avwerita crowning is illegal because he is not a candidate from Ekade, it the ruling house that has the power to present their candidate for Ahavwa to crown and not the otherwise.
On his part, the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom, HRM Gabriel Ohwodje Macaulay, Aro 1, lauded the Ahavwa kingmakers for taking the right decision, Ekade ruling, Ewu riverine communities for making the event a success.
He said, “I will ensure that my reign bring in a rapid development, peaceful co-existence among sons, daughters of Ewu kingdom and its surrounding neighbors. We must live in peace in other to bring in the required development”.
