Traditional council urges residents to embrace peace

The Okpella Traditional Council in the Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State has urged residents to embrace peace and disregard “recurring misleading narratives surrounding the Okuokpellagbe traditional stool.”

The council noted that the community’s focus should remain on unity, development and stability.

The Council’s spokesman, High Chief Hanson Aimofumeh, on Wednesday said the statement was issued in response to a recent viral post by another person who had continued to present himself as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella despite pending appeals in court over the traditional stool.

He maintained that the community deserved “peace and progress, not recurring campaigns of falsehood, self-promotion and unfounded claims.”

Aimofumeh said that Mike Sado remained the recognised Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, adding that he continued to enjoy the support of the community as well as recognition by the relevant authorities.

“The public should ignore the misleading narratives being circulated. Engr. Mike Sado remains the recognised Okuokpellagbe of Okpella and will continue to work with the government, stakeholders and the people to preserve the peace, unity and dignity of the kingdom.

“I will urge residents of Okpella and the general public to embrace peace and disregard recurring misleading narratives surrounding the Okuokpellagbe traditional stool,” he said.

The spokesman acknowledged that the dispute over the traditional stool remained before the courts, noting that appeals arising from the High Court judgment were yet to be determined by the Court of Appeal.

The spokesman further stated that a cross-appeal had been filed in the matter before the Court of Appeal, arguing that the legal process should be respected by all parties until a final decision is reached.

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