Uvwie today is besieged by a lot of anxiety and conflicts. Some people believed that this is due to the various contradictions in the political and spiritual systems resulting rightly or wrongly for the inability of the elders to tame the youths. Others say it is due to rapid urbanization and yet there are those who hold the opinion that there are no role models in Uvwie as most of the leadership position has been occupied by people who used unconventional ways, devoid of due process to occupy their positions
In this write up, we shall take a brief look at the history of the Uvwie people and the traditional institutions, perhaps this maybe the beginning of understanding the people and how the various conflicts may be resolved.
A brief on Uvwie as stated by the intelligence report written by one Mr. E.R. Chaohonil, the district officer in Warri Division in August 16, 1932 is very obscure, but the founder of Uvwie was called Uvwie and was said to have migrated from Ife. The family moved and settled at various times in Urhobi, Arokwa on the Patani creek before finally settling down at Effurun-Otor(Uvwie R’Ohro). That is why today, many of the tradition and rituals perform in Effurun-Otor are very similar to the present day Uvwie.
EXODUS TO UVWIE
According to stories transmitted and confirmed by the elders and Effurun-Otor(Uvwie R’orho) history, the migration to the present day Uvwie was due to the tyrannically rule of Ogoni, after the death of Eruowho Ogun, resulting to some Eruowho children moving away.
The Itive family moved to Ohro-Agbaro, while others continue their movement to Usiaeffurun. From Usiaeffrun to Okpaka and from Okpaka to Igboroke, Ekpan and then Effurun.
The Imedo/Abe family history had it that Ephro or Ofene beget Owhre and Owhre begot Egite and Imedo who are of different mothers. While Imedo begot Abe, Egite begot Ekwe and Ekwe begot Imowhe and Ogun who are of different mothers while Ogun begot Eruowho. The Imowhe family who were said to have spiritual powers at that time bequeathed to them by their mother, became the sole custodian of the community’s deity. A visit to Effurun-Otor will confirm this.
It was reported that when they heard that their third cousin Eruowho was prospering in Effurun-Otor, the Imedo and Abe family decided to relocate from Ogun-Olomu to Effurun-Otor, that is why the family of Imedo and Abe do not have any historical records and their extended family cannot also be found in Effurun-Otor
HOW THE UVWIE OVIESHIP EMERGED.
It is an historical fact that in the entire Urhobo nation and indeed most parts of the Niger Delta as well as in some Yoruba community, for a town to have a chieftaincy stool of an Ovie or Oba of a clan /community, one must go to Benin Kingdom to meet the Oba of Benin who has the singular prerogative to give the chieftaincy title with the staff of office and other paraphernalia to the person.
It is also an historical fact that in Urhoboland and others, the first person who the Oba bestow the Ovie Chieftaincy stool with the staff of office is regarded as the Ovie. Thereafter, succession to the stool devolves either by primogeniture and/or on the descendants of the first Ovie which is known as the Royal family.
THE TRIP TO BENIN KINGDOM BY ERUOWHO
Following the humiliation by the Ovie of Ughelli, Eruowho, a prominent wealthy son, and leader in Effurun-Otor started making preparation to obtain the kingship title and staff of office. However, Eruowho being too old decided to send his eldest son called Uvwaro Eruowho. He was accompanied by the son of Abadi, Orhorhobe, who is his relation. On getting to Benin, it is on record that the Oba of Benin gave the chieftaincy regalia to Uvwaro Eruowho. They included a staff of office, a crown, a wide bladed cutlass and one shield-like sword and proclaimed him, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom. Some of these items are still with the Eruowho family. The Orhorhobe was given a short mace and a native accordion(a tradition instrument for predicting dangers) by the Oba who instructed him to play the native accordion given to him on their way home and by so doing, they would be directed home safely.
However on their way from Benin, and at Igun, Orhorhobe warned of the danger ahead through assistance of the accordion but Uvwaro Eruowho, according to historical reports, refused to change direction while Orhorhobe passed through another route. Uvwaro was reported attacked and murdered by Ogoni, a relation of Uvwaro Eruowho who stole the regalia from him.
THE ERUOWHO RULING HOUSE IN UVWIE
As said earlier, following the dictatorial rule of Ogoni, there was exodus of some Uvwie people from Effurun-Otor to the present location in Uvwie. After years of interregnum, the people decided to install their own King just like they have it in Effurun-Otor. When the Mid West Chieftaincy declaration review commission was constituted and questionnaire were sent forth for submission of memorandum in 1956, the Uvwie peole then went into the archives and the history of Effurun-Otor and find out that only Eruowho Ogun family went to Benin Kingdom to obtain the kingship.
In recognition of the fact that the Eruowho Ruling House is the sole owner of the Ovie title, the Eruowho family were asked to provide one of their children to be crowned as Ovie. After several challenges, Johnson Ajuvwiekoko Ajekowho was crowned as His Royal Highness, Eruowho 11, after all the necessary customary rites as stipulated by Uvwie tradition and customs were performed by Chief Agwefe Erumagborie and were gazette in Western Nigeria Gazette No. 23 of 29 March 1962
It will be recalled that after the installation of Chief Johnson Adjekowho, one Chief Ovedje Erumagborie from Imowhe family and grandson of Chief Agwefe Erumagborie instituted a legal case against the Eruowho Ruling House. He lost both at the High Court, Appeal Court in Ibadan and the Supreme Court in Lagos in Suit No. SC, 23/1965. It is a well know historical fact that in Effurun-Otor, children from Imowhe family were solely appointed as the Chief Priest of Edjuvwie, the community’s deity, with names like Ajuwe, Iyokoko, Okpo but they were never the traditional rulers.
Unfortunately, the Imowhe family in the present day Uvwie have been dethroned from performing this spiritual rites due to various actions taken by Chief Ovedje Erumagborie
In the present day Uvwie, most of the political and spiritual leadership positions are currently being occupied by total strangers and it is generally believed that this is taboo and may be one of the reasons for the continuous restiveness in Uvwie towns unlike our neighbours who enjoy relative peace.
