Pa Enomuovbiekpen
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
Pa. Enomuovbiekpen has declared that he remains the only substantive and recognized Ohen (Priest) of Iyanomo Village, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, Edo State.
He made the declaration in an encounter with some Journalists in Benin; against the backdrop of the claim of one Lucky Igiebor to the position, in a recent publication in one of the national dailies.
“Lucky Igiebor is an imposter! He is not the Ohen and can never be because he is not a native, he is only the son of a woman in Iyanomo, who happens to be my sister.”
Ohen Enomuovbiekpen spoke through the secretary to the Village, Uwadiae Eki.
He said Igiebor is from Amufi, a neighbouring Village but only been accommodated in Iyanomo because of the mother.
“Igiebor is not the Ohen of Iyanomo as he falsely claims, he is only a maternal nephew of the legitimate Ohen: Enomuovbiekpen.”
Though, Ohen Enomuovbiekpen was suspended in 2019 by the Palace of the Oba, he was reinstalled almost immediately after the suspension was lifted, he said.
Also, the allegation that the Ohen and elders have sold Oba Ewuare II 50 plots of land situated in Iyanomo, was denied.
The said 50 plots of land was in dispute and a subject of court case between Iyanomo and a neighbouring village, Ikhuenbo for 25 years before judgement was delivered in their favour, the Ohen explained.
Denying selling any land of the Oba; the Ohen disclosed that 10 plots of land allocated to the Monarch, are still intact with all necessary documents available.
This is as the allegation that he is in the habit of using members of the OPC Vigilante group to chase away anyone not in agreement with his administration, is also not true, the Ohen said.
Other elders of the village: Monday Evbingiewi, Umamwen Ewansiha and Lawrence Ekeneza in their reaction corroborated the Ohen’s story.
They consequently appealed to the Oba, Edo State Government, and all other necessary authorities to help prevail on Igiebor who they lamented has continually caused them all manners of trouble including unceasing threats and arrest with the Police.
Efforts to reach Igiebor for further reaction as at the time of filing this story however, was not successful.
