The Vice Chairman, Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, and the Onojie of Opoji, His Royal Highness, HRH, Ehidiamen Aidonojie I, yesterday alleged that the former chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih was threatening his life.
He told Vanguard that the threat was because he told the world that Esan Royal fathers never endorsed the PDP candidate in the forthcoming Edo governorship election, Ize-Iyamu.
The royal father disclosed that petitions were being prepared by his lawyers regarding the issue to the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in the State, Chris Ezike.
Anenih, however reacted to the allegation by the Royal father, saying that he never killed anyone even as a young police officer, let alone now that he is 83.
The PDP Chieftain, who spoke to the newspaper on the matter, said “Onojie of Opoji was one of the traditional rulers who received our candidate and the PDP’s governorship candidate for the September election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
“I know him very well. I never killed somebody in my life even as a Police Constable. Is it now that I will be 83 that I will kill somebody? I will not kill anybody in my life. I am a peaceful man.
“I will not kill an ordinary man, a big man, a traditional ruler or anybody. I will not even contemplate killing the Onojie of Opoji, why will I do that?”
The Onojie had narrated, “He (Anenih) called me shouting at me ‘Your Highness, I am disappointed in you.’
“I asked him what I had done, he kept shouting ‘what has Oshiomhole (governor) done’ for me in my life and I told him to stop insulting me even if he is Anenih, that I am a traditional ruler for Christ sake.
“He said that was why he was not happy that I attended the function at the Onojie of Uromi’s palace.
“He went on to say that he thought we had settled, he said he thought we had settled our problem. But I told him that what we agreed was that he should make an Esan man governor but he never did it.
“Rather what he brought to Esan people now was deputy governor and he still kept it in Uromi. And that was the same thing we have been complaining, all the ministers have come from his place in Uromi and in every election, he will ask Esan people to vote PDP.
“I asked why did he not move the deputy governorship to another community in Esanland, must it be Uromi?
“He said I should be careful and he was warning me. First of all, it is an abomination to insult a Royal father like me. I have briefed my lawyers and we are petitioning the IG of Police.
“I have already informed the state Commissioner of Police and the DSS. Why must Esan people vote PDP when in Esan, most of us have been marginalised while Uromi remains the Israel.”
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