The people of Orior Ozolua community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State have demanded the immediate removal of Elder Osasere Egharevba as the Okaighele (youth leader) of the community.
The people made the call while on a protest to the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Benin City to register their displeasure over the continued stay in office of Egharevba as Okaighele.
The protesters with placards of various inscriptions alleged that Egharevba had unlawfully held the position of youth leader of the community for over 17 years , in violation of the laws of the community, which stipulate a 2-year tenure.
The spokesperson for group, Elder Ajayi Nehikhare observed that Elder Egharevba was appointed in 2008 as the youth leader of the community and promoted in 2012 in to the Council of Elders.
He empasized that Egharevba’s elevation to the council of Elders, automatically disqualifies him from holding any position in the youth association, according to the custom and pronouncements of the Oba of Benin.
Elder Nehikhare on behalf of the entire community, therefore seeks the intervention and investigation of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II into the unlawful activities of Elder Osasere Egharevba in Orior Ozolua Community, to avert chaos, protect lives and restore confidence in the community’s traditional leadership and governance structures.
He also called on the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to lend its voice in calling on the palace and the Edo Sttae Governor, senator Monday Okpebholo to take decisive action to address the brewing crisis in the Orior Ozolua Community before it snowballs into loss of lives and destruction of properties.
Receiving the people of Orior Ozolua-community, the chairman, Edo State Councilof the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Dr. Festus Alenkhe commended them for the peaceful conduct of the protest.
He implored not to allow strangers infiltrated them and take advanatage of it to cause breakdown of law and order in the society and assured them of adequate reportage of the protest.
When contacted, the embattled youth leader, Elder Osasere Egharevba said that the allegations were uufounded and baseless as he was appointed by the new Odionwere in November 2023.
