….. says there was nothing untoward when Gov Oborevwori personally presented him with Staff of Office
*I’m ready to pursue litigation challenging my selection to the highest level
*To disown any youth violating the law outlawing ‘deve’
By Austin Ogwuda
THE 14th Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Professor) Epiphany Azinge says that in as much politicians from different political divides would be trooping to his palace during the next electioneering period does not mean he would succumb to pressure to do their biddings.
The Asagba stated this while fielding questions with newsmen at his palace during a press parly slated to unfold a week long activities marking his coronation, which commenced today (Wednesday) with a cultural carnival.
He also said that anyone raising eyebrow as to why the Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, personally presented staff of office to him was uncalled because the governor did not do anything untoward.
His words, “It is proper that things are put in proper perspective. The Asaba throne is a first class position. There is no denying that fact. Besides, this is Asaba; this is the capital of Delta State. This is Asaba that used to be the capital of Nigeria. I sit on the throne of this land.
There is nothing untoward for himself (governor) coming should be an exception by virtue of position Asaba occupies, so there is nothing untoward in what happened.
“We must put that in context. So let nobody protest because Asaba remains the capital of Delta State and there should be exceptions to the rule”, he declared.
On how to navigate when the politicians during electioneering period for royal blessings and possible endorsements, the Asagba said, “the traditional ruler should be the father of all. In doing so he remains apolitical; he is not partisan in any way – so to that extent you have to accommodate all of them as your children at the appointed time”.
“The only thing”, he went on, “is that nobody can pressurise you (traditional ruler) to do what you don’t want to do. Yours is to assess your children (subjects), pray for them, give them all the blessings and ensure that things work out for them.
“You are not expected to pitch tent with anybody and we should never be pressurised. Once we do that I believe we can navigate that path clearly and come out of it”, he stated.
The Asagba also touched on some other issues:
On the litigation challenging Asagbaship selection process:
“To the first question, Asaba is very, very democratic and accommodating. And when an exercise has been completed and overwhelmingly and unanimously concluded, it is still the prerogative of anybody that feels otherwise to exercise the next right of option.
And indeed, one or two people, after the host of people sent in their congratulatory message, one or two people opted to exercise the option of going to court and they did. And for me, that is acceptable and that is understandable.
“Definitely, we will push that to the highest level as the case may be. So we will engage. We will take them in court and we are prepared to do so, because as far as we are concerned, all the issues raised are very spurious and Fred (Journalist), you are in Asaba.
You are on ground and you should know the reality of this matter, so I don’t need to belabour the fact. I’m sure you know exactly what transpired on August 18th and how Asaba decided that I should be the traditional ruler after my predecessor.
So that is not an issue.
Stoppage of stipends over arising dispute between the Okwe and the Asaba palace
“The next issue is the existing matter between my predecessor and, by extension, myself, because I’ve stepped into that shoe, and the monarch, our brother from Okwe, well, that matter is still in court.
There was a move to settle that matter.
And the percentage was something that was an issue, because we were hoping that Asaba, being that Okwe is part of us, should take 80% and then Okwe would take 20%.
That was the last decision that Asaba decided. But that doesn’t seem to fly, because Okwe is insisting that it should be 70-30, and not 80-20. But I must say that yesterday, last night, late last night, (Wednesday)I had an impromptu meeting with the representatives from Okwe and what is on the table by last night is 75-25.
It is not a decision I’m prepared to take alone. I’ll wait till next Tuesday to present it to my executive council, and if we’re able to navigate through that, we can send it to the Asagba in Council second Sunday of the month, and if that is agreeable, we will be able to know whether to stick to 75-25% as the case may be.
I believe that may appear reasonable in the circumstances, because I don’t think there is any more need, because of five percent, for us to continue litigating in court, that may take us another 20 years to navigate up to the Supreme Court.
So that is where we are as of last night. I’m sure most Asaba people will be hearing this for the first time because it was a meeting that held late last night, and I am ventilating it for the first time to the public.
So that’s where we are, and we hope that superior reason will prevail, that people will accept it on both sides of the divide, and that will form the terms of settlement and that will bring to a conclusion the matter in court.
On the issue of property developers harassed to pay ‘deve‘:
“We have raised the issue of obstructing developers repeatedly with our people, we encourage our people to obey the law of the land and this particular warning we have advised them that anybody found to be disobeying the law of Delta State as far as that is concerned as the development levy that they try to collect that Asaba will disown them and asaba will not come to protect them in any way”, said the Asagba.
