The Aidonogie of South-Ibie, Aliyu Kelvin Danesi, Oba Danesi II, has appealed to indigenes of the community to remain calm and disregard the news that he is no longer the Clan Head of South-Ibie kingdom, saying he remain the paramount traditional ruler of South-Ibie.
Danesi disclosed this at a press briefing held at his palace in South-Ibie, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, following the appointment of one Umoru Inusa Umoru as the traditional ruler of the community by the Edo State government.
The monarch said the appointment of Umoru as the traditional ruler was politically motivated, adding that he had earlier filed an originating summon, restraining the state government, the state Executive Council, the governor, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Etsako West Local Government Area chairman and Inusa Umoru from disturbing him and that all his entitlements be restored.
Danesi added that he also filed an Exparte Order to put the state government on hold so as not to do any damage and the Exparte Order was duly granted and that it will last until the originating motion is held and determined.
“I just hear that one Umoru Inusa Umoru has been appointed by the Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. It is embarrassing news to me because I am still alive as Aliyu Kelvin Danesi, the Aidonogie of South-Ibie.
“No law or any court of law that has removed me from the throne and for somebody to be given a letter of appointment as the Aidonogie of South-Ibie is surprising to me.
“I am a lawyer of over 40 years. I know the law and I have always believed in rule of law. I am the defacto, the jury, Aidonogie of South-Ibie kingdom, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo,” the monarch said.
Danesi said there was no Supreme Court judgment removing him as the traditional ruler of South-Ibie since he ascended the throne on May 22, 1999.
He described the state government’s action as a clear violation of the judiciary, saying that Umoru Inusa Umoru was never a party to any of the court cases regarding the throne.
Danesi added that Umoru was only mentioned when the state government decided to hand over the throne to him when he approached the court for an originating motion and Exparte order restraining the state government from carrying out such action.
According to him, there was an Appeal Court judgment in 2003 that clearly stated that the stool is the turn of the Danesi lineage to occupy the throne.
“It was on this basis that the kingmakers of Danesi family ruling house nominated me and I was duly appointed in accordance with extant law, the Chieftaincy Law 1979.
“But the court said by virtue of the fact that I am not the surviving eldest son of the last Clan head in the Danesi family, so I was not qualified.
“The court of appeal, however, went ahead and recommended that the law be amended to avoid a situation in future where both ruling houses will not be able to produce a candidate if it insists on the eldest surviving son.
“On that basis I went to the Supreme Court for them to pronounce that as long as it is the turn of the Danesi family, the Danesi should be free to choose any candidate of their choice.
“Because the throne beholds on family decisions and not on any individual, so the case was pending and the then government of Chief Lucky Iginedion, who was the governor then in his wisdom, decided to implement the court of appeal judgment by sending the bill to Edo State House of Assembly for the law to be amended.
“So that we avoid all these crises and the Assembly approved, the bill and was signed into law on December 27, 2006,” he declared.
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