Godwin Udoh
The Omode family of in Irri Kingdom, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, has debunked reports of crowning two separate kings for the Kingdom.
The Omode family is traditionally responsible for the crowning of a new king for the Kingdom.
The family re-affirmed His Royal Majesty, Eloho Jacko as the only crowned Odio-Ologbo (King) of the kingdom, describing the purported reports as a ‘charade of mischief makers’ and enemies of peace in the Kingdom.
HRM Eloho Jacko was crowned on the 21st of July, 2023 by the Osewo (King maker) of Irri Kingdom, Goodluck Omoefe.
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Speaking on behalf of the Omode family when they visited the State Government House in Asaba to notify the Governor and his Deputy on the emergence of a new Odio-Ologbo in Irri Kingdom, the Osewo (King maker) of the kingdom, Goodluck Omoefe insisted that only one King has been crowned in the kingdom.
He said, “we are here to notify the state government that we have installed a new Odio-Ologbo, which is His Royal Majesty Eloho Jacko, who I have crowned. We are here for official briefing. Although we heard that some persons have come to lay claim that they were crowned Odio-Ologbo, but nobody was crowned outside HRM Eloho Jacko.
“I am the only person that crown Odio-Ologbo, so if any person is coming to say he has been crowned, that person is impersonating. Eloho Jacko is the only qualified person to become Odio-Ologbo.The person I heard that is claiming he wants to become Odio-Ologbo is not qualified, he can only be Odion but not Odio-Ologbo.
“He is trying to cause confusion in the town by going to my family to pick one drunkard and they went and acted home video and he said he has been crowned. This is a traditional thing, there are traditional processes that must be followed which is why they have failed already.
“When there was little tussle over the issue of Odio-Ologbo, the entire community mandated me, as the Osewo to do a traditional rituals by bringing the water of the gods of the land for the to drink it, like a kind of swear but he ran away, he said doesn’t want to participate, but I’m surprised he is claiming he has been crowned.”
Also speaking, another member of the Family, Mr. Emmanuel Emedo, said no one else apart from the one selected by the family through its tradition has right to crown anybody, adding that, there was only one ‘Osewo’, who is Goodluck Omoefe in the Omode family.
He said, “The member of our family that went to do that which is Friday has already been expelled from the family because he has brought shame to us. We learnt he collected money because he don’t have right to do that. Even the guy parading himself that he wants to be Odio-Ologbo is not from Irri community, he is from Okpe, so how can an outsider be the Odio-Ologbo or Irri.”
Another member of the family, Mr. Ogheneruro said the position of Goodluck Omoefe as the Osewo (kingmaker) has never been in contention at anytime in the Omode family, adding that no one can claim he has been crowned outside the one crowned by Goodluck Omoefe.
