Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu
By Jon Egie
Indigenes of Ighwreko-Ughelli community in Ughelli Kingdom, Sunday, March 27, rolled out the drums to celebrate the installation of the most elderly man (Okpako-Orere) of the community, Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu, 88 years old.
Proceedings of the installation began at the community Town Hall as the Sunday service worship were brought to a close in the various churches within and outside the community.
The elders, women and youths of the community gathered in droves at the community hall to witness the epochal ceremony.
By hind sight, without a certainty, Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu was estimated to be the 60th installed Okpako-Orere of the community as organizers of the event lost count of the exact nominal trailing him because they were numerous.
Speaking during the event, President General of the community, Mr Sunday Onabedje said Ighwreko people are the first to host the colonial government hence, the Ughelli North Local Government was the headquarters of the then Central Urhobo District Council, which comprises of the now Isoko South and Isoko North local government areas, Ethiope East and Ughelli South local government areas inclusive.
Ighwreko community is consanguineous with an origin traceable to Osia of blessed memory, the Founder of (Ugheeni) Ughelli Kingdom that is why the traditional totem, the Deer, (Orhua) is forbidden by Ughelli sons and daughters for Osia the founder and not for his in-law, Owhowha and all his descendants.
Ighwreko-Ughelli community is made up of Osia and his niece, Ogele, the mother of Ugheeni now being pronounced as Ughelli.
The position of Okpako-Orere has been the exclusive birth right of Osia descendants since time immemorial between Ogun and Oghwodo gates of Osia. Hence, in recent past, late Pa Sikuru Olotu (ACP) of Oghwodo gate and late Pa Ochochra Patrick Erekamrere of Ogun gate of the Osia of blessed memory ruled the community.
“And today is the installation ceremony of Osia illustrious son of Esegba family of Oghwodo gate of Osia.
“Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu was born into the family of Chief Olotu Ahoron, Colonial Warrant Chief and oil magnate of Ighwreko and Ijivwotu Adjekaton of Oteri on June 4, 1932. He is married with children. A dutiful and diligent civil servant who retired from the Ministry of Lands and Survey.
Role of Okpako-Orere
“As the Okpako-Orere, he is Custodian of the tradition of the people of the community and nothing takes place without him being in the know. Though Christian, he reserves the power to delegate authority to anybody to act on his behalf in matters that contradict his faith and beliefs.
“He has been a very peaceful and humble man and we expect that his tenure will ensure the prevalence of peace throughout the community. The level of humility demonstrated by him is unprecedented and it is our conviction that this will be brought to play in the administration of the community especially, as a retired civil servant, we have a lot to benefit from his wealth of experience” the President General said and urged every indigene of Ighwreko-Ughelli community to cooperate fully with the Okpako-Orere and assist him to make his tenure a great success.
” He is qualified by chronological age and his tenure is for life. Any person who is not qualified and contests the office with an installed Okpako-Orere meets an untoward end. It is not influenced by wealth, tradition has it strictly by chronological age and exclusively by seniority”. He added.
Installation proceeding
To be installed, the President General of the community, Sunday Onabedje, in compliance with the tradition of the community, invited the next ranking most elderly man in the community, Pa Gabriel Onobrerhie, Pa Shadwick and the representative of the most elderly woman, Ma Ejuvwevwia to ‘raise and sit’ Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu and at the last count of nine, of that activity, the whole community including elders, women and youths thundered a voice acclamation of the acceptance of Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu as the new Okpako-Orere of Ighwreko-Ughelli community and in wild jubilation, rolled out the drums, took to the floor and displayed various dancesteps to celebrate the successful installation ceremony.
The jubilant indigenes in an entourage, trailed the new Okpako-Orere in escort, to his home at Olotu Road from where he was again taken in traditional escort dance troupe to the Eserophe primary school playground where guests including members of the Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba communities resident and doing business in Ighwreko-Ughelli as well as traders and various investors in the community, were treated to a banquet
Comments
In an interview, the celebrant while expressing his feelings at the ceremony said, ” I am happy”, stressing that he had an inner satisfaction because Ighwreko-Ughelli community is recognized by the Delta State government.
“I am happy that Ighwreko name is established. Ighwreko is a town of it’s own in Ughelli Kingdom. We pray that anything that comes to Ughelli, Ighwreko will have it’s share. I will be presiding over an elders’ council of about 30 members and I will be committed to the people.” He said
In separate interviews, Prince Solomon Emekpu, an indigene of the community described the installation ceremony as marvellous.
” We welcome the development. I am witnessing the second installation of Okpako-Orere. The other one was that of Erakamrevwe Ochochra. We expect a reign of peace to pervade the tenure of this Okpako-Orere because we need development across the community. I advice the council of elders, youths and chiefs to support him to succeed. He is a modern Okpako-Orere.
On his part, the next ranking most elderly man of the community, Pa Gabriel Onobrerhie, 86, said, “I am happy. You give honour to whom honour is due. We will support him because a head without a tail is useless and you see, the successful installation ceremony shows that we, Ighwreko people are not a school of catfishes where all members have whiskers and beards. We will be giving useful advice to him. I advise the youths to be careful with their dealings. They should not take laws in their hands.”
Mr Peter Okorihre who was the tusk bearer of the Okpako-Orere throughout the day acknowledged that Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu was due for the installation as Okpako-Orere because it was his turn by age. ” It is his destiny and today is his day, I rejoice with him”.
First son of the celebrant, Mr Tony Olotu in his remark said, ” I am happy. It is in the family and by the family listing I hope to be Okpako-Orere in future”.
On expectation from his father, he said , ” It is a dynamic world, I expect him to work with the current trend to affect the community positively and cry out to government for development of the community. On behalf of family and the community we will give him support to succeed.”
Also commenting, the youth leader of the community, Augustine Okerhiere said, “We confirm that Pa Oviri Henshaw Olotu is the rightful most elderly man of the community and we are happy that he was installed today. Since he became the Okpako-Orere there has been significant progress in the community. Hidden facts have been exposed for the development of the community. Many youths who have been jobless are now employed in various forms and even the women have also gotten some form of employment. We are in full support of the installation and will cooperate with his administration.”
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