The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP. OON has issued a proclamation declaring Ugborijo a community in Etche R’Ugboroke(administrative unit) with effect from January 1st 2021 for traditional administrative convenience and not sharing of land or dispossessing of anyone of its legitimate ancestral lands or properties
He has therefore directed that “…all the Etches in Uvwie Kingdom should ensure a cordial, peaceful and better relationship among all the component parts/communities that constitute the Etche through regular meetings, fair and equitable sharing of common resources and most importantly by showing love and respect to each other”
The Uvwie Monarch who spoke in his palace in Effurun on Saturday 23rd January, 2021 while addressing community and youth leaders across his kingdom including Ugborijo, Ugborikoko and Ugboroke leaders gave a brief history of the creation of administrative units explaining that before now, there were four Etches namely, Alegbo,Ogbe, Ekpan and Ugbomro
But he explained that due to the rapid growth in Uvwie Kingdom, it became necessary to create more Etches namely, Erovie from Alegbo Etche, Ugboroke from Ogbe while three was created from Ekpan namely Ovwori, Oriokpor and Ohorhe bringing the total to nine
HRM Sideso noted however that he was taken aback when the issue of whether Ugborijo community is in Etche R’Ugboroke or Ogbe raised its ugly head which later resulted to a plot to declare Ugborijo autonomous community
The Uvwie Monarch said further that following the agitation, a committee was set up to investigate the issue. He said he had decided as follows upon the receipt of the committee’s report. “That for the smooth and better traditional administrative of Uvwie Kingdom and to dismiss any ambiguity on the status of Ugborijo in Uvwie Kingdom, I hereby pronounce and approve that Ugborijo is hereby recognized as a community in etche R’Ugboroke
“That Ugborijo is not autonomous community in Uvwie Kingdom
“That natural or historical land marks could be considered to delineate one Etche from the other and not ancestral land ownership
He also directed all chiefs in DDPA, Ugboroke, Olare, Ugborijo, Ugborikoko and others to report to Etche R’Ugboroke without prejudice that any chief when there are vacancies might seek for traditional chieftancy title through his family in any etche if he so wishes
HRM Sideso promised that a new map would be produced reflecting the administrative area coverage by each Etche.
The Monarch reminded youths that collection of levies or “deve” is prohibited by the state government and has repeated this several times, but added however that community may raise fund for specific events or project by appealing to individuals and corporate bodies for donations
Present on the occasion were Chief Peters Iffie, Unuevworo of Ekpan, Chief Sunday Agbugbu, Unuevworo of Erovie, Chief Dennis Omovie, Unuevworo of Ugboroke, Chief Samuel Eshenake, Unuevworo of Ohorhe, and Chief George Amurun, the Esirierha of Alegbor among others
