By Kelvin Ohoror
Chief Paul Oletu Eriri, a former United Nations Consultant was on Friday installed as the 15th Odio-Ologbo of the Emede Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Performing the inauguration at his Uruovo residence in Emede, Chief Efe Calabar, the Orhioba-Edio of Emede Kingdom stated that the installation was in fulfillment of the age-long tradition guiding the Edio Council in Emede.
According to Calabar, the new Odio-Ologbo met all the requirements before the installation and he now must preside over all meetings of the Edio and other related activities to be handled by the council.
Speaking to reporters after his installation, Chief Eriri, a former United Nations Consultant stated that his emergence is the accomplishment of destiny because, right from when he was a young boy, his late father had not only named him Oletu, meaning leader or traditional head but had also enlisted him into the “Ukoro” which is like being registered in the league of the Edio institution.
Chief Eriri stated that as a former lecturer at the University of Lagos(UNILAG), a trained Economist and widely travelled technocrat, he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of his duty as Odio-Ologbo.
He maintained that hitherto, he has been a champion of peace and development hence he was unanimously selected to head the Emede peace community that interfaced with the IDU and other stakeholders in resolving the then lingering boundary dispute between Emede and Igbide last year.
The new Odio-Ologbo then enjoined the youths to stay away from cultism, internet fraud, and other antisocial vices and rather strive to get a quality education or acquire skills in any tangible vocation to earn legitimate income and be self-reliant.
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While commending Governor Okowa for the new University in Ozoro, Chief Eriri appealed to the State Governor to magnanimously add a teaching Hospital to the university to provide a tertiary health facility for the people of the area.
Similarly, Chief Eriri called on Governor Okowa to do everything possible to put the Emede Craft Centre into optimum use to engage and empower the many unskilled youths in the area.
On power supply, Chief Eriri who also is a one-time member of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to fix the electricity matrix of the country to ensure constant power supply, particularly in the Niger Delta to ensure that the very energetic and enterprising youths in the region are progressively engaged to subsequently stem criminality.
The one-time Managing Director of the defunct Public Finance Plc and Arewa Mortgage Bank charged all Isoko People to exhibit love, tolerance and extend the hand of fellowship to each other and amongst the different clans to upscale the development drive across the critical sectors of education, health, trade, and commerce.
While affirming that his duties as Odio-Ologbo do not conflict with that of the Ovie, Chief Eriri maintained that the Ovie of Emede is the gazette authority and traditional head of the Clan while he is a cultural compliment that should regularly interface with the palace to ensure peace and sustainable development of Emede.
The installation ceremony was witnessed by several dignitaries from and outside Emede and Isoko land including High Chief Iduh Amadhe, former IDU President General and a host of other notable Isoko sons and daughters.
