By Theophilus Onojeghen
LAGOS AUGUST 16TH (URHTHE newly crowned king of Ukpedi Kingdom in OBOTODAY)-Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, one of the break-away clans in Ughievwen Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Tony Evwiroro Maka Oviri (JP) (Okwagbe 1st) has revealed why there is split among the clans in Ughievwen Kingdom.

The monarch disclosed that after 20 years of internal wrangling that engulfed the gazetted Okobaro throne, it was agreed that they should be split among the clans to restore peace among the people after wise counsel from all and sundry.
He spoke with journalists after his coronation as the first monarch of Ukpedi Kingdom at Eyara the ancestral home of the Ukpedi Kingdom which was witnessed by eleven communities that made up the kingdom.
The Ukpedi Monarch posited that, “the division started as a result of the struggle for the succession of the Okobaro seat, particularly when His Royal Majesty Dase from Owhawha Kingdom passed on. It took the kingdom over twenty years to find somebody to succeed him and, as a result of the wrangling that occurred, the counsel from men of God and other men of wisdom, the communities now came to the conclusion that it was better that the four sub-clans that made up the Ughievwen Kingdom go their separate ways. The meeting led to another round of meeting which thought wise by High Chief Kenneth Gbagi and other sons of the kingdom that led to the unanimous decision that the four sub-clans should go their separate ways.

“As I speak to you now, the Uwurhie at that time which felt offended as a result of not having a bite of the kingship were the first to have succeeded, and they have their own king.”
While carrying out the coronation rites, the most elderly man in the kingdom, Pa Edward Aluya Kitikpi said he got the backing of the entire eleven communities that made up Ukpedi to crown His Royal Majesty Tony Evwiroro Maka Oviri (Okwagbe 1, JP) as the king of the Ukpedi kingdom. He urged the people of the kingdom to give the monarch their needed corporation.
Okwagbe 1 told the cheerful gathering that his reign will attract massive development that will usher fresh breath to the people of the kingdom. He added that he is very much aware of the problems facing his people which his reign will take proactive steps to address.
He stated further that “our community felt that enough is enough for the wicked ones, they selected me and crowed as a king. To them, I have the grassroots support; I have the middle class, the women and men, youths, it was an overwhelming support my people showed to me. And as at yesterday (on Monday) the elders and leaders of the 11 communities that make up the Ukpedi Kingdom, crowned me in a very groundbreaking ceremony as their Ovie, and I will not disappoint them.
“I want to commend one of our High Chiefs, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi who I would say midwive this kingdom and by the grace of God, we are grateful to him for his very bold step. With this, it is going to be a new dawn for the kingdom.
The Ukpedi monarch however conferred chieftancy titles on some prominent sons and daughters of the kingdom. Some of the them are Olorogun Ogheneruvia Eruejha (the Otemunorumo of Ukpedi kingdom) Olorogun John Oguma (the Adjerese of Ukpedi kingdom), Olorogun Godwin Soso (the Ochuko of Ukpedi kingdom), Chief Zik Gbemre (JP) (the Owho-avwaroda of Ukpedi Kingdom), Chief Sam Obomohweyeren (the Emudiake of Ukpedi kingdom). Others include Chief Agbeifere Wilson Pender (the Avweriteri of Ukpedi kingdom), Chief Patrick
Kpaive (the Asarovie of Ukpedi kingdom) amongst others.
It could be recalled that the four sub-clans that made up Ughievwen Kingdom recently splitted into different kingdoms over irreconcilable differences. This brought the numbers of kings in the old Ughievwen Kingdom to five.