Ogbia—The palace of the Obanema of Otuabula community and acting Obanobhan of Oloibiri Clan in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, HRH King Dogood Omiloli, has expressed concern over media reports of a purported meeting recently held by some paramount rulers and community representatives over zoning arrangement for the Ogbia Federal Constituency seat and elections to fill the stool of Obanobhan of Oloibiri clan.
The palace, in a statement issued by its media consultant, Azibalua Sunday, insisted that it is only King Omiloli who is authorized to convene a legitimate meeting of traditional rulers and chairmen of the council of chiefs of various communities to take positions on issues concerning the entire clan.
According to the statement, many traditional rulers and community leaders from the clan were not aware of such a meeting and as such the reported resolutions reached therein are not valid and should be disregarded by the public.
The statement warned against the usurpation of the powers solely exercisable by the acting Obanobhan of Oloibiri clan and urged the perpetrators to desist from indulging in divisive actions.
“Consultations are ongoing toward activating the processes for the installation of a substantive monarch for the clan, and the issue of zoning of political offices is for the political parties and politicians.
“Traditional rulers should be apolitical and to always confine themselves to their assigned traditional roles and resist the temptation of being partisan in the matters of politics,” the statement reads in part.
The acting Obanobhan of Oloibiri clan stressed that Ogbia is one and prayed for new year blessings for his subjects as well as the communities that make up the clan.
