A list of twenty elders from Obazuwa community was officially presented to the Enogie, HRH Prince Edun Akenzua, MFR on the 24th day of February 2022. This was done after proper scrutiny by both the elders and youths at different fora.
Briefing the Enogie, Pastor Festus Egharevba who read out the scrutinized names, recalled that since the death of the last Odionwere, Pa Francis Uhunamure Egharevba in 2014, there has not been an accepted order of seniority of the elders.
This according to the clergyman resulted in a lot of strifes that brought communal activities to a low esteem and created room for various unpleasant developments to spring up. On the whole Obazuwa was at the receiving end of persons who were claiming the positions that didn’t befit them.
He further said that by this arrangement the friction that existed in the village over the rankings of elders has been laid to rest as this was the first time the people sat down to put things in the proper perspective.
The first twenty elders in the order of seniority recognised by the community is as follows:
1. DEACON SUNDAY OSAGIE EGHAREVBA
2. CHIEF SUNDAY OBABUEKI
3. MR ROLAND AIMUAMWOSA AGIDI
4. MR MONDAY OSAYANDE
5. MR JOSEPH AIGBODUWA
6. MR ALEX EMWIONGBON
7. MR THOMAS UHUNMWAGHO
8. MR FELIX OMORUYI
9. MR JOSEPH OSARUMWENSE
10. MR FRIDAY OSAYANDE
11. MR SUNDAY OGBEIDE
12. MR DANIEL PALMER
13. MR JOHN IDABIE
14. MR ISOKEN EGHAREVBA
15. MR JOHN OGIEMWONYI
16 MR ALEX UKPONMWAN
17. MR RICHARD IBIZUGBE
18. MR MONDAY OGBEIDE
19. MR ANDREW OHENHEN
20. MR UHUNOMA EGHAREVBA
Responding, the Enogie, Prince Edun Akenzua, a veteran journalist who is the uncle to the present Oba of Benin, HRM Ewuare II, thanked the people who visited to inform him of the adoption of the elders' order without rancour.
He however advised that the most senior elder
who is the Odionwere-designate would be formally installed as Odionwere at the appropriate time.
The Enogie commended all those that played one role or the other in restoring peace and order in his domain.
However, the Enogie and all present unanimously resolved that all other elders ordained without the knowledge and permission of his Highness cannot be admitted into the elders forum because it was carried out by illegality.
Other speakers at the occasion included Deacon Sunday Egharevba, Monday Osayande, Alex Ukponmwan, Sunday Ogbeide, Anthony Idahosa, Sunday Ohenhen,and Samson Ogbemudia amongst others.
They all examined the precarious conditions that pervaded the community and sued for shift in communal orientation in order to effect positive changes.
The meeting was well attended by youths who have been bearing the brunt of the communal conflicts over the years. The recorded attendance was sixty-six persons, an all-time high in community affairs in recent periods.
On the abuse of the land resources by some unscrupulous persons who arrogated illegal power to themselves, the traditional ruler who is a member of Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers, ordered that thorough verification exercise be carried out immediately to sieve the fraudulent transactions from the genuine.
To this end further construction work should be stopped at housing sites until issues surrounding the acquisition of lands are properly settled.
In the resolution passed persons connected with properties in Obazuwa were admonished to submit two copies each of the documents of ownership along with the originals for sighting at the village.
The Enogie implored the citizens to remain law-abiding and refrain from any act that will lead to a breach of the peace.