The Ogbudugbudu National Youth Council has backed the position of the Egbema Leaders of Thought on the lingering kingship tussle in Egbema kingdom.
In a statement by Ariri Ebikefe, the youths threw their weights behind ELOT, while cautioning Chief Mike Tiemo and his cohorts to stay clear of causing more commotion in the kingdom.
The statement reads in full;
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“The Leadership of Ogbudugbudu Youth has declared and affirmed all the issues raised by Egbema Leaders of Thought that were published.
“As a revered body made up of men and women of integrity and reputation, led by Elder Edmund Tiemo who have affected the growth and development of Egbema kingdom positively and have defended the vulnerables, the old and youths.
“We will not allow selfish elements, the likes of Mike Tiemo and his sponsors to further denigrate the custom and tradition of the Egbema people.
Mr. Mike Tiemo state thus in his publication as follows;
“The body wish to observe that the kingship of Egbema Kingdom is an issue that does not require any external forces that will jeopardize the process in accordance with the Egbema Kingship gazette.
“The ELOT, which is the Egbema Leaders of Thought led by my uncle, Mr. Edmund Tiemo, is not an authentic and recognized structure in the Egbema king makers affairs and none of their members has a traditional function to perform in the kingship selection process.
“Therefore, ELOT absolutely lacks the locus standi and representative capacity to interfere in the decision taken by the Ogbudugbudu Ruling House and the Egbema Traditional Council of Chiefs in picking Barr. Napoleon Egin as the new Agadagba-elect of the kingdom.
“Speaking on the two lists of three names each, submitted to the Egbema Traditional Council of Chiefs, as referred to in the Pointer publication, ECPDHRA further clarified that the names were thoroughly screened by the Council of Chiefs following due process in compliance with the power vested on them by the entire kingdom in line with the gazette.
“After due consultation, a candidate met up with the requirement in accordance to the Egbema kingship gazette by name Barr. Napoleon Egin who was selected as Pere Elect, declared and pronounced by the Egbema Traditional Council of Chiefs through the office of the Pere Koriwei of Egbema kingdom, Chief Simeon Igbedikuru JP.”, Comrade Tiemo added.
“The Ogbudugbudu National Youth Council led by Comr. Ariri Ebikefe responded to the erroneous and misleading publication made by Mr. Mike Tiemo a mental derailed fellow. Ordinarily we wouldnt have dignified and joined issues to these erroneous and misleading publication with a response, however, but to set the record straight for the interest of reading public we state as follows;
We challenged Mike Tiemo to mention the external forces that want to jeopardize the kingship gazette except for Mr. Smart Yomi Asekutu and his likes for their selfish reasons.
“Egbema Leaders of Thought as a revered body whose position is very clear for the blind to see and the deaf to hear that impunity will not be allowed in the traditional stool of Egbema again and does not have any preferred candidate except for justice, truth and dues process in the selection and installation of the Agadagba of Egbema kingdom as provided in the provisions of the Gazette that will be acceptable for all.
“In law he who asserts must prove the fact. Therefore, Mr. Mike Tiemo should tell the public the venue, time and date where the two list of nominees were screened with evidence in both Ogbudugbudu Ruling House and Egbema in general. It is pertinent to note that Mr. Mike Tiemo has not been seen for the past ten years in Egbema due to his debilitating mental health issues as he relied on hearsay stories, most unfortunate.
“The second list that contained Barr. Egin Meshach Ugbiriki and Bebete Fetimi was prepared on 28th of August 2022 preceding the date of the pronouncement was made on the 24th of September, 2022.
“It is pertinent to note that Egbema collectively announced Ogbudugbudu Ruling House to produce the next Agadagba of Egbema kingdom, consequent on the announcement Ogbudugbudu ruling house called a meeting on the 29th of September, 2022 presided over by the Ama-okosuwei and all twelve interested candidate were screened openly in that meeting Barr. Napoleon Egin and eight others were screened out for not meeting the requirements of provisions of gazette.
“To our chagrin at the point of submitting the three qualified names openly and transparently screened were adjured to meant the provisions of the gazette ; Mr. Eddy Aboneje, Meshach Ubabiri and Solomon Sapele at the general meeting.
“A strange and dubious list was smuggled him as a second list prepared on the 28th August 2022 which preceded the announcement made by Egbema kingdom pronouncing Ogbudugbudu as the next ruling house on 24th of September 2022 the dubious list was rejected but skewed in by Hon. Smart Esekutu and some chiefs with the intimidation of well armed military men in the meeting.
“If Mr. Mike Tiemo possessed a sound mind he would have asked his uncle privately instead of throwing caution into the wind in commenting on issue he has no clue about.
“It will not be surprising to see a sponsored publication to discredit the reputation and high standing of Elder’s state man, Edmund Tiemo who meant well for the people of Egbema kingdom.
“It is evidently clear that Mike Tiemo publication is bereft of substance and should bow his head in shame as Egbema people will not tolerate anyone no matter your standing to further plunder Egbema Traditional institution into any round of crises.
“We challenged him to tell the world as practiced in an African traditional institution where someone has been called Agadagba elect in the private room of an erring chief and his co-travellers.
“We advised him to be cautious of his smeared sponsored attack on the Elder state man whose track record is overwhelming in Egbema kingdom.
“Mr. Mike Tiemo is only looking for a favor from the local govt chairman for his failing health. We doubt if this publication is from a mental derailed Mike Tiemo as he claimed.”
