Schools, markets and other commercial activities in Uwheru community were shutdown as the people staged a peaceful protest to reject the reinstatement of the their suspended former president general by the Ughelli North Local Government Council Chairman without due consultation.
The protesters armed with placards with inscriptions and a white coffin stained with red liquid, rejected their suspended president general, Chief MacPherson Igbedi reinstatement during a security meeting held at the council Secretariat last Monday.
It was learned that, the president general of Uwheru kingdom, Chief MacPherson Igbedi was suspended by the traditional ruler of the kingdom and Ughelli North Local Government Council Chairman Olorogun Jaro Egbo in 2025 over multiple allegations.
In a statement by youth Leader and Secretary of the community, Comr. Otuogba Mudiaga and Comr Oghenevwede Obruche said, “While the Uwheru Kingdom appreciates the efforts of the Executive Chairman and security agencies toward peace and stability within the Ughelli North Local Government Area, the Kingdom finds it necessary to state its position with clarity and finality.
“Uwheru Kingdom says an unequivocal ‘NO’ to the return of Chief MacPherson Igbedi as President General.
“This position reflects the collective and overwhelming will of the people of Uwheru Kingdom, arrived at after exhaustive consultations involving the five quarters of the kingdom, elders, opinion leaders, youth and women stakeholders.
“It is neither the opinion of an individual nor the decision of a single institution, but the settled resolution of the Uwheru people.
“Following his suspension, an investigative committee was constituted and its report was reviewed by broad-based representatives of the Kingdom.
“The conclusion was unanimous Chief MacPherson Igbedi has irretrievably lost the confidence of the people, and his continued leadership is no longer acceptable or compatible with peace, unity, and social cohesion in Uwheru Kingdom.
“Repeated efforts to engage Chief MacPherson Igbedi and allow him to respond to the allegations against him were rebuffed, reinforcing the breakdown of trust between him and the community he purported to lead.
“Uwheru Kingdom respectfully emphasizes that leadership without legitimacy and acceptance of the people cannot foster peace.
“Any attempt to impose a leadership that the people have clearly rejected is impractical and risks deepening tensions rather than resolving them.
The Kingdom remains committed to peace, dialogue, and cooperation with government and security agencies.
“However, the people of Uwheru Kingdom have clearly spoken, and their position is firm: Chief MacPherson Igbedi cannot return as President-General of Uwheru Kingdom.
“For the avoidance of doubt, any individual, organisation, or corporate body that chooses to engage, transact, or do business with Chief MacPherson Igbedi on matters concerning Uwheru Kingdom does so strictly at its own risk, as he no longer possesses the legitimate authority or mandate to represent Uwheru Kingdom or the Uwheru Development Union in any capacity.
“Uwheru Kingdom calls on all stakeholders to respect this collective will in the interest of enduring peace, stability, and development.
On his part, Chief Edewor Stephen Akpedafe, Secretary general of Uwheru Development Union, while speaking during the protest said, “We went to the council for security meeting of Ughelli North to discuss security issues..
“Surprisingly when we got to the meeting to discuss security issues, forcefully against the wish of Uwheru people, the council chairman reinstated the removed president general.
“The president was not suspended by the Council Chairman, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, rather he was suspended based on the letter that emanated from the King of the kingdom, HRM Simpson Sapele, Obruche II.
“There was a protest against the ousted president general for obstructing the construction project at KM 49 bridge,along the East West road, to the palace and it on that note the council chairman, Olorogun Jaro Egbo suspended him for security reasons after a letter from the palace.
“The president general never honoured the invitation of the committee and after the investigations, it was recommended that he should step aside.
“The report of the committee are with the government and security agencies and from that moment, the 5 quarters of Uwheru at a general meeting resolved that he should never be their president general and that is what we stand with.
“Mr Wilson Oghenekevwe Umukoro was unanimously adopted and accepted as the president general of Uwheru kingdom as we will not accept the reinstatement of Chief MacPherson Igbedi our president general because ot is against the wish of thr people and King.”
Others who spoke on the same vein are, Olorogun Steve Wack Obruche, Mrs Omotejohwo Ovibi amongst others.
Contacted, Chief MacPherson Igbedi said, “The council chairman during a security meeting held on Monday reinstated me back after he find out that all allegations against him were false.
“They initially alleged that rods that worth N40 million belonging Setraco construction company were taken by me but when the company came they held that they have not brought any items to site.
“Those who thought that their lies will stay are the ones protesting against my reinstatement as God being on my side, the Council Chairman discovered that all the allegations were not true and he has to reinstate me back to my position.”
