26/09/2026
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The lawmaker representing Rivers East Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Distinguished Senator (Chief) Allwell Heacho Onyesoh, DSSRS, JP, FIBAKM, has condemned attempts by individuals to begin positioning themselves for the traditional stool of the Ochie of Etchรฉ Land and Paramount Ruler of the Etchรฉ Ethnic Nationality, following the death of His Royal Majesty, Eze E.N.B. Opurum, JP, GSSRS, MFR.
Senator Onyesoh stated this on Friday during a condolence visit to the Etchรฉ Palace, where he joined the royal family, traditional rulers, chiefs and people of Etchรฉ in mourning the late monarch.
He expressed support for the decision of the palace that all traditional celebrations and related activities should be suspended until the late monarch is laid to rest, describing the directive as consistent with the culture and traditions of the Etchรฉ people.
โI align myself with the decision of the palace that all forms of traditional celebrations, of whatever name, of whatever origin or intention, should cease until our monarch is buried. It is our tradition. It is our culture,โ he said.
The Senator warned that any community, clan or individual that deliberately disregards the directive during the mourning period would be acting contrary to the customs and values of the Etchรฉ people.
Onyesoh also expressed concern over what he described as premature discussions and moves concerning succession to the traditional stool, insisting that such conversations were inappropriate while the late monarch had not been laid to rest and the stool had not been declared vacant.
โIt is abnormal and very, very insincere and disheartening to hear people talk about succession when the seat is not even vacant,โ he stated. โWhen a traditional ruler has not been declared vacant, anyone who, by any means, tries to push himself to become what is not vacant may he not sit here.โ
He called on all sons and daughters of Etchรฉ to respect the sanctity of the traditional institution and allow the appropriate traditional processes to take their course at the right time, urging them to put aside personal interests and remain united in honour of the late monarch.
The Senator further urged the people of Etchรฉ to preserve the peace, dignity and unity of the kingdom throughout the mourning period, stressing that the death of Eze Opurum was a loss to the entire Etchรฉ ethnic nationality.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the late monarch and for God to grant the royal family, traditional institution and the people of Etchรฉ the strength to bear the loss.
Signed:
Peter Oriri
Special Adviser to the Senator
(Publicity & Communications)
26th September, 2026.
