BY JOEL GRANDBALL
The recent protest embarked on by aged women in Orogun over the installation and crowning of Ovie in the kingdom has continued to raise dust, as the people believed that Ovie is foreign to their tradition, as they only recognise Okpara-Uku as the only traditional ruler.
Orogun Kingdom, situated at Ughelli North, is one of the seven communities that make up the local government, and its indigenes are mostly farmers.
Known for hospitality, the Orogun kingdom is described as one of the most peaceful communities in Ughelli North, as it is at peace with other neighbouring communities that surround it.
It would be recalled that Chief A.K. Asawota was allegedly installed and crowned as the Ovie of Orogun kingdom, Adaka I.
However, the alleged installation of A.K. Asawota led to days of protest embarked upon by aged women to reject his Ovieship as they pledged their support for the Okpara-Uku as the only recognised traditional ruler in the community.
During the protest that over a thousand women from various communities of Orogun embarked on, they vowed to resist any imposition of Ovie on them aside the Okpara-Uku, who is recognised by the Delta State government and was given the Staff of Office in early August 2025.
The women called on the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Commissioner of Police to rescue them from the sacrilege committed by a set of faceless persons in the Kingdom.
The protesting women were armed with gongs and a coffin wrapped in white, vowed to go nude and place a curse on anyone who wants to go against the Orogun tradition that has been observed for centuries.
According to Mama Tiro, “We are protesting against the installation of another king in Orogun kingdom aside the Okpara-Uku that is known to us as a kingdom.
“Orogun do not practice Ovieship, but Okpara-Uku, and it is the oldest man from the Umusu quarter who can only ascend the throne of Okpara-Uku in Orogun. As one of the oldest women in the community, I have never seen or heard that the Orogun kingdom is ruled by Ovie rather than the Okpara-Uku.
“In August 2025, the Delta State government presented the Staff of Office to our traditional ruler, HRM Joseph Okorocha Emoghene, Osuokpa 1, and it is surprising to hear that another man has installed himself as king.
“We have only one Okpara-Uku who rules over the Orogun kingdom, and he was given the staff of office by the Delta state government. And if the self-installed Ovie did not renounce his position, we will have no option but to go nude for him.”
Another protester who identified herself as Mama Queen said, “The only king Orogun kingdom has is the Okpara-Uku and outside that, no other person can ascend the position.
“The position of Okpara-Uku is inherited, it cannot be bought, politicised or manipulated and the only person who can ascend the position is the oldest man from the Umusu quarter.”
‘’If there is another person claiming to be the Ovie of Orogun, that is committing abomination and because we do not want the wrath of our ancestors, we are kicking against the sacrilegious act in the Kingdom through a peaceful protest.”
Mr Sunday Onokpasa and Comr. Akpovugheghe William said, “Women from all the villages of Orogun are protesting because one of our chiefs made himself the Orogun king while we have the Okpara-Uku who presides over the kingdom.
As a community, the women, youths, elders and leaders of Orogun are not in support of it, and if he continues, the youths will join the protest in no distant time.
They said, “Orogun kingdom does not practice Ovieship; rather, the Okpara-Uku, who is the most senior man from Umusu, are the only one who can become Okpara-Uku of Orogun kingdom.
“The entire Orogun kingdom has been in trouble since the night when Chief A.K. Asawota crowned himself as the Ovie of Orogun in his parlour.
“We are calling on the state government to urgently come and arrest the ugly situation before things get out of hand, and Orogun kingdom, being one of the most peaceful communities in Ughelli North, is the reason why things have not gone bad.
Also, the Onote-Uku (traditional Prime Minister) of Umusu, Chief Ovie Andy, said, “A few days ago, we heard that one Chief A.K. Asawota appointed himself as king while the Okpara-Uku of Orogun kingdom is alive.
“We have a gazette that says Okpara-Uku is the King of Orogun, and not long ago, the state Governor gave the staff of office to the recognised Okpara-Uku. The Okpara-Uku is the King of Orogun, and he is the oldest man to ascend the position, and any other thing outside that is null and void.”
Calling for calm, Crown Prince, Omo-Okpara-Uku, Emoghene Dominic said, “Okpara-Uku is the oldest person in Orogun, and our system of government is that as the oldest person, his son will represent him during his reign.
“What triggered the unrest was when somebody came out to proclaim himself as the king of Orogun. I am appealing to our people to calm down as the government will do the needful.
“We are begging the government to fight for us because what that set of people has done has never happened in the history of Orogun, and that is why we are calling on the government for assistance.”
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, has disclosed that the government recognises the Okpara-Uku of Orogun kingdom who was given the Staff of Office. He made this known in a public notice and directive that he issued.
He stated that, “The Ughelli North local government wishes to unequivocally state that on August 1, 2025, the Delta State Government officially gazetted and presented Staff of Office to HRM Joseph Okorocha Osuokpa I as the Okpara-Uku of Orogun Kingdom.
‘’The Ughelli North Local Government has noted with serious concern that one Mr A. K. Osawota has proclaimed himself the Ovie of Orogun Kingdom.
“Consequently, the Council wishes to state that there can only be one recognised traditional ruler in Orogun Kingdom, and the authority to confer the Staff of Office lies solely with the Delta State Government.
“Given the above, Mr A. K. Osawota is not the Ovie of Orogun Kingdom, as his claim lacks legitimacy and official recognition, as the matter is currently under investigation by the Delta State Government.
“We urge all residents and stakeholders to accord and respect the authority of HRM Joseph Okorocha Osuokpa I as the duly recognised Okpara-Uku of Orogun Kingdom.
On his installation and crowning as the Ovie of Orogun kingdom, A.K. Asawota said, “The traditional council that installed the Okpara-Uku is the same that installed me.
The declaration and the law governing the Okpara-Ukuship of Orogun is that the Okpara-Uku rules the traditional council, and these traditional rulers are the kingmakers who installed the Okpara-Uku. And it is this same traditional council that installed me as the Ovie, and I want to make it clear that the Ovieship is different from the Okpara-Uku.
‘’The Ovie is not there to disturb the institution of Okpara-Uku, I have been installed and I am not in any way to disturb the Okpara-Uku because he is our own. But with the confirmation of the last Okpara-Uku, it was made clear inside the palace that an Ovie must be installed.
‘’This traditional council are the people that installed the Okpara-Uku, and looking at it abysmally, we started the process, and the two eminently qualified people are Ovie Omo-Agege and Chief Asawota.
“And they have installed me and they are working with me, traditionally, spiritually and in the ancestry, putting me there has been accepted by the ancestors.” He stated.
