Igbuku-Orogun Community has fiercely rejected any association with the recently proposed “Orogun Efe Kingdom,” creation within Orogun Kingdom, describing the move as “misguided,” “divisive,” and “an affront to the unity and heritage” of the great Orogun people.
In a press statement signed by sixteen key figures representing traditional authorities, community development leaders, and stakeholders of Igbuku Orogun, the community declared that it was “not consulted, not party to the process, and accordingly not involved” in the creation of the purported new kingdom.
The statement was endorsed by notable community leaders including Pa. Daniel Adjekughene (Okaroro of Igbuku), Olorogun Lucky Oghene Omoru (Chairman, Board of Trustees, Igbuku Development Union), Mr. Augustine Onojedo (President General, IDU Worldwide), and other influential figures from the Igbuku Orogun Development Union.
Copies of the statement were also forwarded to key traditional and governmental authorities, including the Okpara Uku of Orogun, the Governor of Delta State, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, and security agencies, noted.
“We believe that it is important to keep the record straight and provide our perspective for the benefit of public understanding and for historical records,” the statement reads.
Firmly asserting their historical position, the Igbuku community emphasized their foundational role in the Orogun Kingdom’s royal lineage:
“The fact is that Igbuku Orogun is the Eze Efe progenitor of His Majesty Ubiomo The First, the Ovie of Orogun Kingdom, and remains the royalty and historically recognized ruling Community within the entire Great Orogun Kingdom,” the statement declares.
They warned that any attempt to realign or rename parts of the Orogun Kingdom without legitimate authority and inclusive dialogue was unacceptable.
“Any attempt to realign, partition, or rename parts of Orogun Kingdom without broad-based consultation, consensus and legitimate authority is not only misguided but stands as an affront to the unity and heritage of our people.”
Crucially, the statement underscored the importance of due consultation, especially concerning their ancestral roots:
“For the avoidance of doubt, Igbuku is the son of Eze-Efe and the first son of Unukpo. Consequently, it is inappropriate to involve Unukpo in any arrangement without due consultation with the leadership and people of Igbuku Orogun.”
Sounding a note of caution against those pushing the new formation, the statement continued:
“We therefore strongly disassociate ourselves from the purported inclusion of Unukpo and, by implication, Igbuku Orogun, in the so-called Orogun Efe Kingdom. Such inclusion is without our knowledge, approval, or representation, and is hereby rejected in its entirety.”
The Igbuku leaders called on all “well-meaning sons and daughters of the Great Orogun Kingdom” to resist divisive agendas and respect established traditional institutions:
“No individual, group, or community has the authority to drag Igbuku Orogun into any new and unapproved created formation.”
Stakeholders believe that statements such as this will calm tensions generated by the proponent of this new kingdom creation even as all eyes are now on how the broader Orogun Kingdom and state authorities will respond to this firm and formal rejection of the controversial kingdom’s creation.
