Immediate past commissioner for Higher Education in Delta State, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, has warned against external interference in the traditional affairs of the Uwheru community in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
He gave the warning in Uwjeru while paying homage to the newly installed traditional ruler of the Uwheru kingdom, His Majesty Simpson Sapele Obruche, the Odion r’Ode of Uwheru.
“The king is as powerful as we make him. We are his people that make him. We are his people and subjects and I will make sure that nobody derides our traditional ruler while we are alive,” he stated.
The former Commissioner insisted on the need for all and sundry to hold the tradition and culture of the community in high esteem, submitting that he was compelled to pay homage to the new monarch whose installation process has been put in place.
He said, “He (the new king) was installed a few days ago, and we are waiting for the Staff of office, and as a freeborn of Uwheru, it behooves on me to come and pay homage, and that is why I am here.
“My coming to pay homage is to open doors for others to come and do the same because Uwheru is one large community, we are one people, and we give our traditional ruler that regard.
“Some people see me as being radically inclined but this radically inclined Muogboghare is a very native man who do not play with culture.”
The former Commissioner spoke further, “It is normal there are issues, apart from the hereditary throne, father to son, every other throne is struggled for, and it is the tree that bears good fruits that children stone. Children do not throw stones at trees that do not bear fruits.
“The stool of Uwheru is a very fruitful one, and people would naturally throw stones at it. But what we are known for is no matter what the skirmishes are, some elders would say enough is enough, and everybody will back out.
“It has happened before, and it will happen in the future, but nobody comes to settle issues in Uwheru, we settle among ourselves because it is a household thing.
“What pains me is that i am not a member of the Ukoro, and I can never be a traditional ruler in Uwheru, though it belongs to Uwheru but my father did not put me in Ukoro.”
