Tomorrow 20th January, 2024, marks the 20th Anniversary of the transition unto glory of His Royal Majesty, Orhoro I, J.P; OON, the Orodje of Okpe in Delta State of Nigeria. He was the second Orodje of Okpe Kingdom of the modern era. The first Orodje of Okpe of the modern era, Esezi II had joined his ancestors on the 26th of March, 1966. Before the ascension of Esezi II into the exalted throne on the 1st of January, 1945, the Okpe Nation has had a monarchical interregnum of over one hundred and sixty years.
This long period without an Orodje (leader or king) was after the epic regicide in which the Okpe people eliminated their first Orodje after they had concluded that Esezi I had become high handed and dictatorial against the type of office they had created which was a consultative and limited one and not a ruler with absolute powers. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Okpe Union was able to convince and mobilise the Okpe people to resolve that it was time to resuscitate the throne of the Orodje of Okpe. This the Okpe people succeeded in achieving in 1945 with the coronation of Esezi II who himself joined his ancestors in 1966.
Domingo Amujaine Ejinyere was crowned as Orhoro I, the Orodje of Okpe on the 30th of December, 1972 after his election by the accredited representatives of the the Orhoro Ruling House of the four ruling houses known as Adene Okpe (four gates of Okpe) and his acceptance by the Okpe people.
The newly crowned Orhoro I did not waste any time before taking steps to reassure the people that the Orodje Throne was for all Okpe people. Within a relatively short time he visited all communities of Okpe Kingdom. At each community town hall, there was arranged a befitting Royal Seat on which His Royal Majesty, Orhoro I sat to receive greetings and homage from his loving people. The memories of the feeling and spirit of grace, love, solidarity still remain with the generation of Okpe people that witnessed those visits and interactions with the people of the grassroot.
Orhoro I engendered love and unity and a sense of justice among the Okpe people throughout his reign. This heralded the decision by the Okpe people to hearken to the call and initiative by the Okpe Union under the leadership of Late Chief Philip Ewetuya as President General, to commence an all Okpe fund raising for the building of a Modern All Okpe Orodje Palace. This vision came to fruition when the then political leader of the Okpe people, the late Okakuro Sen. David Dafinone bought into the Okpe Union vision for the Okpe Modern Palace project. It was great relief and a sweet experience for the Okpe people to have witnessed Orhoro I moving into the All Okpe Orodje Modern Palace and being the first Orodje to have superintended over the Kingdom from there.
During his reign, Orhoro I occupied most offices attainable by a Traditional Ruler. He was First Vice Chairman, Midwest Council of Traditional Rulers (1973-1977); Deputy Chairman, Bendel State Traditional Rulers Forum (1977-1991); Member National Council of State (MNCS) 1992; Pioneer Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers (1993); and Chairman, Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities (TROMPCON). Also during his reign, he was able to handle and resolve many intra and inter communal conflicts in Delta State.
Throughout his reign, there were no notable intra or inter communities conflicts in Okpeland as potential ones were always handled by him in dispassionate and conscientious manner. HRM Orhoro I made all Okpes proud with his carriage, gracefulness and love for his people. Orerokpe the ancestral headquarters of the Okpe Nation felt his love and presence. Okpe people felt throughout his reign, that he was their prayer answered.
The Okpe Union worked so closely with him to address the challenges of the Okpe Kingdom. On several occasions when the Okpe Union headquarters visited, he would rise and symbolically personally serve entertainment to the Okpe Union and express as follows:
“… allow me to personally serve them. If not for the Okpe Union, this throne I seat today would not be in existence…”
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the passing unto glory of Orhoro I, a gift of the Okpe Nation to the world, and with whom the Okpe people are always pleased, we on behalf of the members of the Okpe Union the world over, join his immediate family, and the entire Okpe Nation, to celebrate once again, the life and times of the People’s Monarch; the grassroot Orodje of the Okpe people. May he continue to rest in peace. Amen!
*Prof. O. Igho Natufe*,
President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide).
*Barr. Kingsley E. Akpederin*, General Secretary, Okpe Union (Worldwide)