The Aidonogie of South-Ibie, His Royal Highness Aliyu Kelvin Danesi, Oba Danesi 11 has appealed to all sons and daughters of the community to remain calm and disregard the news that he is no longer the Clan Head of South-Ibie kingdom, saying he remain the paramount traditional ruler of South-Ibie.
Danesi disclosed this at a press conference held at his palace in South-Ibie, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, on Tuesday following the appointment of Umoru Inusa Umoru as the traditional ruler of the community by the Edo State Government.
Danesi said the appointment of Umoru as the traditional ruler was politically motivated due to a petition filed against him to the state government that he was not supporting them.
He described the action of the state government as “executive lawlessness”
Danesi noted that he had earlier filed an originating summon restraining Edo government, the state Executive Council, the Governor, the state Attorney General, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Etsako West Local Chairman and Inusa Umoru from disturbing him and that all his entilment be restored.
He added that he also filed an exparte order to put government on hold not to do any damage and the exparte order was duly granted and that it will last until originating motion is held and determined.
“Just the way you saw it in the news is the way I saw it that one Umoru Inusa Umoru has been appointed by the Edo Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
“I saw the video clip on social media and on Edo Broadcasting Station (EBS).
“It is an embarrassing news to me because I am still alive as Aliyu Kelvin Danesi, his Royal Highness, the Aidonogie of South-Ibie.
“No law or any court of law that has remove me from the throne and for somebody to be given a letter of appointment as the Aidonogie of South-Ibie, to me, the best way I will describe it, if it is true, is executive lawlessness.
Advertisement
“I am a lawyer of over 40 years I know the law and I have always believed in the rule of law
“I am the defacto, the jury, Aidonogie of South-Ibie kingdom, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo” Danesi said.
Danesi said there was no Supreme Court judgement removing him as the traditional ruler of South-Ibie since he ascended the throne on May 22,1999.
He described the state government action as a clear violation of the judiciary .
Danesi stated that Umoru inusa Umoru was never a party to any of the court cases regarding the throne, adding that he was only metion when the state government decided to hand over the throne to him which he approached the court for originating motion and exparte order restraining the state government to carry out such action.
According to him, there was an Appeal Court judgment in 2003 that clearly stated that the throne is the turn of the Danesi lineage to occupy the throne.
,”it was on this bases that the king makers of Danesi family ruling house nominated me and I was duly appointed in accordance with extant law, the Chieftaincy Law 1979.
“But the court said by virtue of the fact that I am not the eldest son of the surviving son of the last Clan head in the Danesi family so I was not qualify.
“The court of appeal however, went ahead and recommended that the law be amended to avoid situation in future where both ruling house will not be able to produce a candidate if it insist on eldest surviving son.
“On that bases I went to Supreme Court for them to pronounce that as long as it is the turn of Danesi family, the Danesi should be free to choose any candidate of their choice.
“Because the throne devoided any family not on an individual so the case was pending and the then government of Chief Lucky Iginedion who was the governor then in his wisdom decided to implement the court of appeal judgement by sending the bill to Edo State house of assembly for the law to be amended so that we avoid all this crisis and the house debated the bill and approve it and it was signed into law on 27th of Dec 2006.
“So on that bases of the law, the executive council now said since there is a pronouncement by the court of appeal that the Danesi family can produce the king that I should be given a fresh letter of appointment as the traditional ruler of South-Ibie and my appointment was duly gazetted and I have been on the throne since then” he said.
