Chief Priest flees as dispute over celebration of community festival deepens

By John Egie

The Chief Priest of Igbine deity in Ovwor, Ughelli South local government area, Mr Ovovwero Obioro has fled the community to save his life.

His escape is sequel to a police action targeted at the shrine of the deity where the Chief Priest was involved in some ritual activities relating to the community culture.

It was learnt that the fleeing Chief Priest who was recently ordained had presented a proposal for reforms of some of the community cultural practices, chief among which was the change of the date of the celebration of the community festival.

Not long after his ordainment, the Chief Priest met the elders’ council of the community claiming that the community deity has directed him to effect a change of date of celebration of the community annual festival from December to August/September months.

According to him, the deity said it is a marine god and needs water to navigate itself to the community when the festival is celebrated but since the festival held in December for about 40 years running it found it difficult to participate and bless the indigenes.

The deity was also quoted to have said that a particular indigene of the community personally enjoyed the benefits and blessings accruable from the festival celebration and assured of an even distribution of the benefits and blessings to all indigenes should the date of the celebration be shifted to August/September.

The elders ruminated over the matter and recalled that about ten years earlier, prophecies by renowned indigenous clergymen had warned of the anomaly and its consequences. So, after comparing notes and with due consideration conceded and approved the proposal of the Chief Priest and gave him the go ahead to start the ritual proceedings for commencement of the celebration in August 2024.

As the preparation for the celebration progressed, a prominent indigene of the community opposed the change of date, insisting that the status quo ante should remain.

According to our source, the prominent indigene feared for his life should the reform be carried out and the Chief Priest was quoted to also express fear for his life if the change was not effected as directed by the god.

So, on Tuesday, August 27, which was the eve of the day the festival was scheduled to hold, over 20 truckloads of policemen stormed the community and began indiscriminate arrest of indigenes especially those who supported the change.

The womenfolk gathered and in protest called for the release of their sons and husbands.

Intimidated by the spate of arrest, the elders who early on, gave approval for the change of date reneged.

The Chief Priest remained adamant and proceeded with the rituals for the celebration of the feast but when a barrage of teargas canisters hit the shrine with an advancing team of policemen, he had no option than to flee or be arrested. And he fled.

In the melee, indigenes of the community, both Christians and pagans who were in the line of fire also took to their heels to evade arrest. Old women who could not run fast were choked by the teargas and the eldest woman of the community was hospitalized just as others who were asthmatic suffered great distress.

The Chief Priest, Ovovwero Obioro succeeded one David Igere who acted as Chief Priest when the substantive Chief Priest passed away. It was learnt that Igere was reluctant to quit the office when the god had finally made its choice of Ovovwero as the Chief Priest. The community took pains to resolve the matter, our source added.

Contacted, a local vigilante leader in the community identified as Chief Umolo who allegedly pin pointed indigenes to the police for arrest technically evaded comments after series of assurances that he would speak on the matter.

But the traditional ruler of the community and Owhorode of Olomu, HRM Macaulay Ovwagbedia while confirming the story said the situation had already been brought under control and things were getting better.

The monarch who was in the hospital when the crisis began gave an update of the dispute from his palace in Ovwor.

Asked if the dispute has been resolved, the monarch said, “It is left for the juju people to decide, I am a Christian, whatever they want to do let them do.”

As at press time the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright could not respond to our request for comment.