It was a prolonged celebration; expression of joy, as men and women of the Uzanu community of Uneme-Uzanu clan, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, installed Muhammadu Osiregbemhe Adamu, a substantive Oliola (king) of Uzanu-Uneme clan.
In an atmosphere of peace, the people had trooped to the streets, during and after the installation rites, performed by the Oliola-In-Council and the kingmakers, under the Onotu of Uneme-Uzanu, the second-in-command of its traditional leadership, thus showing that the long tussle for an authentic king, may have been finally put to rest, and a lasting peace returning to the once peaceful community.
In the installation ceremony, which was held yesterday evening, within the community and witnessed by newsmen and a large gathering of inhabitants of the agrarian and fishery community, Ukpagba/Igbaa, a sacred drum was beaten, which the inhabitants said indicated a successful installation of a new king and blessing to the land, by God and its Ancestors.
Further investigation reiterated a long disagreement over an authentic king for the community, following the alleged dethronement of Mr. Benjamin Ikani, following the disapproval of his kingship by the Uzanu’s kingmakers and the inhabitants, who accused him of breaches and highandedness.
The petitions by the community’s ruling house, included one addressed to the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and was published on a full page advertorial by the Guardian, on 10th May, 2025. The petition, signed by eleven chiefs out of a thirteen member Oliola-In-Council of the clan, accused Benjamin Ikani of misrule, financial recklessness, and torturing innocent chiefs, elders, men and women of Uzanu, which resulted in a pending case against him at Auchi Magistrate Court, which he (Ikani) allegedly thwarted.
The purportedly disposed king, had denied the allegations against him, as he was also alleged to have said he was misled in his actions of torturing the villagers, on the accusation of witchcraft, trial by ordeal.
But Mr. Benjamin Ikani could not be reached through his phone numbers 08065304546, by newsmen, to respond to the newest allegation that his Osigwe Quarters of the community, was the one that pushed for the installation, from the Odah lineage, through a letter they wrote to the kingmakers that he (Ikani), their own man, be stopped from parading himself as king, hence his insistence has so long brought more conflicts to the village, with the total neglect of tangible projects that had been given the community by the state and federal governments.
“We, the Uzanu kingmakers and the entire community, are the ones who independently choose our kings and not outsiders. It is the king who we choose that is endorsed, not the one imposed by outsiders, for political reasons. When Benjamin Ikani was imposed on us, these traditional rites were hardly performed. That was why there had been no peace in our land, until our God and Ancestors took to the path of justice, to depose Ikani and now install another, who is humane and knows our useful traditions and respect for our people”; Said one of the council’s chiefs on anonymity.
Until his choice and coronation, Momodu Muhammadu Osiregbhemhe Adamu, a 72 years old Quantity Surveyor, had been an Abuja-based business man. He was said to have atrended Saint Peters Grammar school Agenebode, Auchi Polytechnic, the United Kingdom’s status university called Glasgow College of Building.
