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| Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State — October 9, 2025 |
Fresh controversy is brewing within the Ogwashi-Uku community following revelations that the President General of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), Elder Izu Osammor, allegedly promised members of the Izediunor family a pathway to the Ogwashi-Uku traditional throne, despite the Supreme Court’s final ruling affirming the perpetual right of the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family to the throne.
Confidential sources who attended a closed-door meeting last Tuesday at Elder Osammor’s residence disclosed that the ODA President General—whose mother hails from the Izediunor family—told attendees that his “mission” was to help the family balkanise the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom into smaller autonomous communities. According to him, this would enable the Izediunor family to appoint their own ruler since their legal challenge to the throne had been conclusively dismissed by Nigeria’s apex court.
One of the sources quoted Elder Osammor as saying that the current ODA leadership was determined to “restructure” the community by dividing it into several “self-governing” sections under the guise of promoting local autonomy. “He said openly that his plan was to help the Izediunor family get a throne of their own, even if it means dividing Ogwashi-Uku,” the source said.
It was further gathered that several members of the ODA executive allegedly bought into the plan after being promised lucrative chieftaincy titles and access to community lands for sale as a means of “sustaining themselves.” According to one insider, “some of them are retired civil servants without any source of income. They were told they could get land and titles if they supported the agenda.”
Pre-planned Communiqué and Paid Media Strategy
Following this understanding, the ODA executives reportedly convened a meeting where an already typed communiqué—believed to have been prepared in advance—was read and adopted without consultation with other chapters or the wider membership of the association.
The same sources revealed that a retired media practitioner from the Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) was recruited and allegedly paid a large sum of money to handle the propaganda and media component of the plan. The retired broadcaster is said to have previously worked closely with Mr. Francis Oduwanor, who in 2022 declared Otulu Ogwashi-Uku as an autonomous community, a move that triggered violent clashes and ultimately led to Oduwanor’s arrest. He is presently facing multiple criminal charges at both the State and Federal High Courts, including attempted murder, rape, robbery, and incitement of communal crisis.
Some ODA members reportedly objected to the choice of the retired broadcaster, citing his previous involvement in Oduwanor’s failed campaign and the unrest it caused. “They said employing him again was dangerous because his last job for Francis led to chaos and landed Francis in prison,” said another source.
Backlash Within ODA and Growing Community Discontent
It was further gathered that many ODA chapters across Nigeria and abroad were not consulted about the meeting or the alleged plan to assist the Izediunor family. Some have reportedly refused to endorse or participate in what they described as “a reckless and divisive mission.”
A member of the ODA National Council who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Most of us were shocked when we heard about it. No chapter was briefed. We cannot be part of any agenda that promotes division or attempts to undermine the peace of our community.”
Several attendees who were unaware of the true agenda at the time of the meeting are said to have since distanced themselves from the plan, describing it as dangerous and self-serving. One of them reportedly remarked, “You cannot want to break Nigeria apart simply because you and your supporters lost a court case. That kind of thinking is treasonable and should not be tolerated.”
Community Reaction and Calls for Investigation
The revelations have sparked outrage within Ogwashi-Uku, with many residents accusing the ODA leadership of overstepping its mandate. The association, originally established to promote development and unity, is now facing allegations of political manipulation and collusion with discredited elements to destabilise the peaceful kingdom.
Several prominent figures in the community have called on security agencies to investigate the alleged meeting and the broader plot to incite division in Ogwashi-Uku. They urged the ODA to return to its constitutional role of fostering development rather than meddling in traditional or political affairs.
As one community elder put it, “The ODA was never created to decide who becomes a king. Their job is development, not destabilisation. If these reports are true, it is a shameful betrayal of the community they claim to represent.”
The Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku has not yet issued an official statement, but insiders describe the matter as a dangerous attempt to undermine lawful authority and reignite unrest that had long been settled by the courts.
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