Leadership tussle: community youths’ leader deny allegations of perpetrating self in office for 17 years, others

The Okaighele (Youths Head) of Orior- Ozolua Village, Uhunwonde local government area of Edo State; Egharevba Osasere has denied the allegations of perpetrating self in the position for 17 years.

A group of agitators from Orior-ozolua had called for his removal after allegedly being in the position for 17 years, but he said it is not true as he was made the Okaighele in 2023 by the Odionwere, Pa. Joseph Imadiyi Osayamwanbo.

On Monday, 14 April, 2025, a group of placards carrying agitators at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council raised various allegations against Osasere and called for his removal from office.

He is now due to be admitted into the Edion (Elders Council) of the Village and no longer qualified to continue to be the Okaighele.

“The position of the Okaighele is not a birth right ,” they said.

Osasere in reaction slammed the agitators and labelled them rebels and disgruntled; saying their allegations are not only frivolous, but being pushed for selfish gains with their backers in Government House.

“He actually came and connived with these rebels in my community to make trouble and three persons have been shot in the exercise.

“He said my Odionwere should enter the community coffers and take money to go, treat them; he doesn’t want the police to be involved saying he has finished that matter and that he has the power to remove and install any Okaighele.

The shooting occurred on the 11th March, 2025, he said.

Further, Osasere said the same group of agitators had lodged their grievances with the Palace of the Oba and all parties were invited to appear last Thursday, 10 April, 2025 but on the directive of Akhere they refused to be available.

Asked what could be the interest of Akhere judging by his alleged actions, Osasere said though he is not too sure as he is not a witness; some alleged it could be land allocated to him, while others said it is a cash gift.

“But mere looking at his actions; a situation where he is acting strange and threatening the Odionwere if he refuses to abide by his directives, he will remove him from the position; that can only be out of ulterior interest.”

Interestingly however, the Odionwere has declared even before the Palace Chiefs that Osasere remains his Okaighele, he said.

He added that in Benin law and custom, it is only the Odionwere in agreement with the council of elders who have the responsibility to install anyone as the Okaighele and not by any other person or means, and present to the Oba for acknowledgement and approval; “this was done in 2023 in my case,” Osasere added.

The agitators are trouble makers who want sustenance of the old order where they arbitrarily sell one plot of land to several persons; a fraudulent act I and the Odionwere have said must stop after swearing to an oath in the Palace of the Oba; it must not be business as usual, he declared.

This is the sole reason behind their gang up and agitation with the connivance of Akhere in the Government House, the Okaighele further alleged.

However in his reaction, the Special Assistant on Security to Edo State Governor, Paul Akhere said the Governor being the Chief Security officer of the State has the power to ensure there is peace in the State.

He said that as an S.A on security, he does not go outside to see what is going on without the permission of the Governor.