Tensions escalated in Okpella, Edo State, on Saturday, as some residents of the community strongly opposed the appointment of Lukman Akemokhue as the new Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, a decision made by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
In response to the announcement, community leaders, elders, and residents held a protest, rejecting the appointment as an imposition that ignores long-standing traditions.
The protests came just one day after the Edo State Government issued an official letter confirming Akemokhue’s new role.
The appointment letter, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Monday Osaigbovo, stated that the decision had received approval from the State Executive Council, effective from September 26, 2024. Osaigbovo noted, “In light of the above, action has been taken for the publication of your appointment in the state gazette.”
Expressing optimism, Osaigbovo said, “It is expected that the people of Okpella will be happy, and development will be rapid following the installation of the new king.”
In his acceptance speech, Akemokhue expressed his appreciation to the state government and various stakeholders involved in the process. “I thank the state government, the security agencies, the Okpella kingmakers, and the people of Okpella for this opportunity to serve as their traditional ruler,” he said.
Despite these formalities, unrest quickly spread throughout the community. Protest leaders accused Governor Obaseki of disregarding their customs and imposing a king without the community’s consent.
Abu Abdulganiyu, a prominent community leader who led the protests, criticized the appointment, saying, “These actions are an affront to our heritage. The traditional stool is not a tool for political bartering or compensation, and its sanctity must be respected. We have a king, and we know who we want. Obaseki can’t impose a king on us when he has few weeks to leave office.”
Abdulganiyu had earlier warned that any attempt to impose a “political monarch” would face strong resistance from the people of Okpella.
The opposition also garnered the support of High Chief Kasshim Otaru, the Otaru of Iddo community, who condemned the decision, stating that it violated Okpella’s traditional procedures for selecting rulers. “According to Okpella traditions, the community, not outsiders like Obaseki, chooses its kings through established procedures,” Otaru said.
Former Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Kassim Afegbua, also joined the criticism, accusing Governor Obaseki of bypassing traditional selection processes and warning of potential communal unrest. Afegbua stated, “Governor Obaseki has not only destroyed our traditional institution, but he has also balkanized it. The news we are hearing is that one Lukman Akmokhue is being propped up to assume the exalted stool of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella.”
He further emphasized that the traditional procedure for electing a ruler is outlined in the Traditional Councils Edict of 1979 and should be followed.
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