Allegation: It’s not true we sold Oba’s shrine Ikpe people says

The people of Ikpe in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Council Area of Edo State have denied the allegation that they sold the land in which it is located; the Okhuahe shrine said to be owned by the Benin Monarch HRM Oba Ewuare II.

In a viral video on the social media space a couple of days ago, leaders of neighbouring villages; Azagba and Obagie Nekekporo made the allegation accusing the Okaighele of Ikpe, Alex Alele as the arrow head.

As they claimed a collective custodianship of the Shrine on behalf of the Benin Monarch.

Okaighele Alex Alele 

The people of Ikpe however have denied the allegation saying it was a mere mischief and calculated effort to blackmail them before the Monarch.

They denied the allegations recently while speaking to journalists in an enlarged meeting at the village Oguedion (ancestors sanctuary).

According to Okaighele Alex Alele, Ikpe village has boundaries with Obaretin, Utesi, Avbiakagba, Ukhiri, and Ikhuen Villages respectively, while Uyimwendi has been part of them from time immemorial.

He asserts that Ikpe village has the sole authority of the custodianship of the river Okhuahe shrine on behalf of the Oba of Benin. “No other village has business with the shrine”, he declared!

Adding that the Shrine and all that concerns it are intact contrary to allegation of the neighbouring Villages.

Even as some of the villages; Azagba and Obagie Nekekporo who have alleged do not have a common boundary with Ikpe.

He reiterated, “the allegation that we have sold the land in which River Okhuahe deity’s shrine is located is not true. Everything about the shrine is intact as it is, from origin.

Some elders of Ikpe Village, Victor Eghenayayore Ekhosuehi Aghedo, Alex Ighiriao who is second in ranking and Noble Aghedo corroborated the Okaighele’s narrative saying; there is nothing like Okhuahe Obagie or Okhuahe Uyimwendi adding that all the allegations are mere fallacies and should not be taken seriously.

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