On October 26, 2016, the Edo State government under the then Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole announced the suspension of the Traditional Ruler of Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area of the State, HRH Anslem Eidenojie II.
In the statement signed by the immediate past secretary to the state government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere stated that the Ojuromi was suspended for what the government described as “unprovoked attack on Mrs. Betty Okoebor, refusal to respond to the query earlier issued him and for travelling outside the country without appropriate permission.”
But on November 9, 2016, the state government went ahead to depose the Onojie of Uromi. The deposition letter was also signed by Prof. Julius Unonvbere who refereed to the royal father as “Mr. Anslem O. Eidenojie.”
The letter entitled “Deposition from office as Ojuromi of Uromi Addendum”, that, “please, be informed that the initial exco decision of 26th October, 2016, has been further affirmed.
“Consequently, you have been deposed as the Ojuromi of Uromi pursuant to section 28 (i & ii) of the traditional ruler and chief laws, 1979.
“Kindly, therefore, disregard our letter of 4th November 2016 on the subject: “Re:-letter of Apology to Edo State government”. This letter in question was the earlier suspension of the Uromi traditional ruler for a period of 12 month.
But 14 months after the deposition of the Ouromi some well-meaning Esan people particular those living in Uromi are calling on the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to revisit the matter and re store their king to his throne.
According to Ogene Omoifo, “we are missing our loving royal father. We want him back on his traditional throne.
“Over a year now nothing has been going on in Uromi palace and the people have become like a woman without a husband.
“We are passionately appealing to Governor Obaseki to pardon our king and bring him back to us. Uromi people need their king and their royal father.
“Our king is a good man. He loves his people and his people loves the him dearly. We want the Edo State government to understand that by deposing the Ojuromi, it is the entire Uromi people that the government is punishing” , some Uromi people posited.
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