The 67 years of kingship tussle in Ellu community in the Isoko-North Local Government Area of Delta has finally been resolved.
The resolution followed the coronation and presentation of Staff of Office to Chief Othuke Urugbezi (Ogwara 1), Ovie of Ellu Kingdom on Friday by the Deputy Governor of Delta, Prof. Amos Utuama.
Presenting the staff of office to Urugbezi in Ellu town, Utuama admonished the monarch to discharge his duties in a transparent manner for the benefit of all.
Utuama, who represented Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, described the selection process as peaceful and clear and urged other communities to emulate the Ellu community.
He advised the king to be mindful of his utterances while dealing with his subjects.
Commenting on the development, the President of the Ellu Community, Mr Johnson Akpomalue, said the kingship stool had been vacant for the past 67 years due to agitations.
Akpomalue, who assumed leadership position in 2012, said there had been litigations, claims and counter-claims over who ascend the throne before the emergence of Urugbezi.
He said that his predecessors had made frantic efforts aimed at installing a new king but all to no avail.
The community president commended members of the declaration and screening committee for their faithfulness in the process of selection.
“I appeal to the aggrieved individuals to key into the wish of the majority as no individual can be bigger than his family or community,’’ he said.
There are three ruling houses in Ellu Kingdom namely: Agwa, Uwabor and the Isi from where the current monarch was elected.
The kingship stool in the Ellu Kingdom is rotational and not hereditary.
Mr Samuel Idise, the Transition Committee Chairman of Isoko-North Local Government Area urged the king to shun those who would want him to be a factional ruler.
Idise also advised the monarch to be mindful of the manner he awards chieftaincy titles to people, stressing that “you should ensure that those to be conferred with traditional or honorary titles are people with proven track records.
“My administration will continue to accord traditional rulers and chiefs the pride of place in the scheme of things.
“I therefore enjoin the traditional rulers to work assiduously with government in creating awareness on government policies and programmes to avoid communication gaps,’’he said.
In attendance were the Ellu Council of Chiefs, traditional rulers from neighbouring communities and members of the Delta House of Assembly, among others.
