Ms Betty Okoebor Defies Oshiomhole, begs Onojie of Uromi - Says It is a sacrilege for me to demand or receive apology from my King

A mild drama has started in Edo State as Ms Betty Okoebor, the woman in the middle of the crisis between Onojie of Uromi and outgoing Edo State governor,  Adams Oshiomhole, has said that she did not request for any apology and does not seek any apology from the Onojie of Uromi.

In a personally signed letter to the Edo State governor, a copy of which was made available to Urhokpota Reporters, Ms Okoebor said she has since reconciled with the Onojie and she does not require the governor to humiliate the Onojie of Uromi on her behalf.

“Your Excellency” the letter of Okoebor reads, “note that as a loyal daughter of the Throne of the Onojie of Uromi, it will be sacrilegious for me to demand or receive apology from His Majesty, under any circumstances. Rather the custom of our people behoves on me to reconcile myself with the Throne. I have since done this accompanied by my elders and family members.”

Ms Okoebor warned the governor not to drag her name or her family name in the governor’s desperate bid to embarrass the Royal Stool of Uromi.

“Your Excellency, and let history not record me and my family as having directly or indirectly caused embarrassment to our Royal Stool.”

According to our source, “the woman brought  a personally signed letter of apology while the Okoebor family also brought a letter of apology, asking the Uromi traditional institution for mercy in the face of the unfortunate development that the Edo State government wanted to ‘harvest our family disagreement to prosecute their insensitive politics’ by the crisis that Oshiomhole’s purported suspension and threatened dethronement has sparked.”

Meanwhile the Uromi people from across the world converged at Uromi Saturday to review the situation and advise on the way forward.

At the meeting, all calls for protests and violence were discouraged. The conveners sued for diplomacy and tact in resolving this complicated situation. Many of them recommended that they should hand over the matter to the spirits of Uromi to deal harshly with whoever is undermining the power of the kingdom.

It was also agreed that the issue of apology to the woman will never be considered because it is impossible in fact and in law for a king to apologize to his subject in that manner.

In a telephone chat with the National President of the Uromi community development association, Chief Adia, he said “it is a taboo for the Onojie of Uromi to apologize to a woman”. He declined further comment on the nitty gritty of the matter saying that he is not the appropriate authority to speak on the issue.

The Uromi emergency council meeting however agreed that they would respond accordingly to the other element of the query,  and that is for the King’s overseas travel without due clearance.

It not clear whether, under the law,  all monarchs who are subject to receiving staff of office and monthly  stipend from government are under obligation to disclose details of their planned itinerary to the appropriate authorities authority.

The letter signed by Prof Julius Ihonvbere purportedly suspending the Onojie and precluding his dethronement should he fail to apologize within seven days also has a query as to why the Onojie of Uromi travelled abroad without “due clearance”.

The constitution of Nigeria and the international convention of Human Rights gives everyone the right to free movement provided they have the means to move.