The Mayor of Urhoboland and prominent ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta region, Eshanakpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro, has commended the Federal Government for heeding the call for the release of the traditional ruler of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Clement Ikolo, who was detained by the military after he made himself available to the authority at the wake of the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government, Delta State last month.
Akpodoro’s commendation was contained in a statement issued over the weekend in Abuja noting that only a responsive and listening leader like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, could be such swift in taking action to douse the tension surrounding the arrest and detention of King Ikolo.
He also commended the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district, Senator Ede Dafinone, who he said made efforts at ensuring that the king was unconditionally released to him.
Akpodoro’s statement said the the recent development shows that the people of Urhobo nation have a quality representative in the person of Dafinone whom he described as a legislative maestro who demonstrates deep love and affections for his people in all he does.
The king, according to Akpodoro, remains innocent of every negative suspicion thrown up by the condemnable massacre of Nigerian soldiers in Okuama, however, he expressed gratitude to the military institution who he said may have come to terms with the innocence of the Royal father.
The Mayor stated further that no reasonable king will ever support the mayhem that took place in Okuama to the extent of throwing the entire nation particularly the military institution into mourning.
He added that since HRM Ikolo became the paramount ruler of Ewu Kingdom, he had not been allowed to rule his people and therefore couldn’t have in any way been complicit in the killing of anyone let alone soldiers in his domain as he extended his gratitude to all who may have played a role in the freedom granted the king.
He called on the military not to relent in their efforts at apprehending all those who are involved in the mayhem that took “the precious lives of our soldiers, killing them in their prime”.
He said Nigeria is not a banana republic where non state actors undermine the sovereignty of a nation by share criminalities.
The King, according to the Mayor, has demonstrated integrity and bravery by surrendering himself to the military authority and that happenstance he said, is a pointer to the capacity of HRM Ikolo to stand for his people at any given time even when it was suicidal to give up at the time he did.
He noted that, while the crisis raged, many who were declared wanted by the army are still hiding not because they are guilty but for reason of dearth of emotional strength to defend themselves but the royalty in King Ikolo stood him out clearly for the world to see.
Akpodoro said all players in the feud that had hitherto stagnated the kingdom of Ewu should rally the king in their collective resolve to build peace and tranquility in Urhoboland.
He said: “We should not be made scapegoats for criminals because Urhobo is a law abiding nation of people.
“Whoever foments trouble must be surrendered to the authority lest the innocent ones will be punished unjustifiably.
“Our king’s bravery speaks volumes of who we are as a people and we must all take cue from our royal father who has defended his fatherland at the detriment of his freedom.
“He was punished for what he knew nothing about, he was mocked by the enemies of Urhoboland but we are happy that a precedence has been laid by HRM Ikolo who has made a history in bravery,” Akpodoro stated.
Additionally, the Mayor called on the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration to begin the process of bringing opposing forces to Ikolo’s royalty to a roundtable talk nothing that the collective understanding and agreement of the entire kingdom is germane to the success of the king.
Development, Akpodoro insists, does not thrive in an environment of anarchy, to this end, he said, the government has a major role to play in bringing peace to Ewu-Urhobo kingdom in particular and the entire state in general.”
