EWOHIMI COMMUNITY DECLARES JOHNSON FAVOUR WANTED
The struggle for the position of the Chief Priest of Ewohimi Kingdom in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State has degenerated into clan warfare.
Speaking with newsmen, the acting Chief Priest, Olumo Akhigese, explained that the clan war which has claimed many lives, was as a result of corruption involved in selecting a new Chief priest.
He stated that since the death of the last chief priest Igbinabale Johnson in 2012, the stool has been vacant owing to the sudden disappearance of the legitimate next to be Chief Priest, Johnson Favour.
Akingbese further explained that the position of Ewohimi Chief Priest is only hereditary and cannot be politicized, disclosing that he was only on acting capacity pending whenever Johnson Favour is found.
According to him, “The war broke out due to over 8 years of the community waiting for what seemed to be eternity. Some unscrupulous indigenes decided to appoint for themselves a Chief Priest, against the tradition of the Ewohimi kingdom. Opposing groups saw that action as a slap in their faces, hence rejecting the illegally elected chief priest which sparked off verbal conflicts that ended in physical conflict, leading to loss of lives and properties”.
The police in Ubiagia Local Government Area has intervened and promised to bring the perpetrators to book.
Meanwhile the whereabouts of the original chief priest to be (Johnson Favour) remains a mystery, which according to the Ewohimi people poses a threat to their wellbeing following the prevailing crisis rocking the community. They stressed that unless he is confirmed dead, a new chief priest can never be installed.
In this regard, the elders of Ewohimi Community have declared Johnson Favour wanted to take over the Chief Priest position of his forefathers in order to save his people from the wrath of the gods of the land by virtue of his long absence.
