COMMUNITY REPORT
‘Olorogun’ Title Is Yoruba, Not Urhobo – Delta Monarch Insists
Those who brand and proudly celebrate being ‘Oloroguns’ in Urhobo land should read this.
The Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Warri, HRM Emmanuel Okumagba, Okumagba II, has insisted that the word ‘Olorogun‘ often and proudly used by most Urhobo chiefs is a Yoruba and not Urhobo word.
Okumagba ll, who was recently crown as King, will be presented with Staff of Office next week Tuesday, January 6.
He asserted that an Urhobo chief ought to be properly addressed as ‘Ohonworen’ or ‘Okakuro’ and not ‘Olorogun’.
He, however, advised Urhobo sons and daughters against being boastful, saying, “We should not compare ourselves with God and should avoid uttering statements such as ‘If you disobey me, you are disobeying God and ‘Over my dead body”.
He earlier pledged to continue to work for the growth and development of Urhobo nation as a traditional ruler.
The leader of UPU delegation, Chief Kenneth Iwhewhe, who is also the Secretary General of the apex sociocultural body of Urhobo nation had earlier congratulated HRM Okumagba II on his installation as the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Warri.
He also urged the Warri Urhobos of Agbarha Warri and Okere Urhobo to always unite in the interest of Urhobos in Warri South Local Government Area.
BIGPEN understands that the title Olorogun title which is being described as alien to Urhobo culture became popularized by the Ibrus.
A Facebook post credited to one Ejiro Etaghene, a lawyer sometime ago had explained that although a high Chief in Urhobo is referred to as an Olori Ogun (Olorogun), it is not a title of an Urhobo Chief until recently when Late Chief Felix Ibru assumed the prefix during his governorship campaigns and after his swearing-in as first civilian governor of Delta state.
“There are two categories of chiefs arising from our republican nature. Palace chiefs and community chiefs. We also have streets and family chiefs but they are now irrelevant in the current scheme of things”.
He said that an Urhobo Chief who is an Okakuro in the palace and uses the prefix “Olorogun”, is unknowingly reducing his title to a mere olori Ogun which is a Chief Priest of the god of Ogun in Yoruba.