Ogbia Brotherhood: Where is the Way Forward?

By Ernest Samuel Odusi, Esq

The Ogbia Brotherhood is a socio-cultural organisation having its roots in the pre-colonial Ogbia Kingdom, which dates back to the 14th century.

The key objectives of the Ogbia Brotherhood include but not limited to:

1. To foster unity and solidarity among the Ogbia people.

2. To promote cultural heritage and traditions of the Ogbia people.

3. To support education and economic empowerment of the Ogbia people.

4. To advocate for social justice and human rights.

Sadly, the Ogbia Brotherhood whose major objective is to foster peace and solidarity among the Ogbia people is today a ready tool of disunity, acrimony and hatred between major political and traditional figures and the followers queuing behind these personalities in the Ogbia Kingdom.

READ ALSO: The Challenges Bedevilling Ogbia Brotherhood by Chief (Senator) Benson Agadaga

No wonder, it was widely rumoured that a past governor of Bayelsa State ones said that the brother in the BROTHERHOOD has been destroyed leaving only the Hood (termed and pronounced in this context as wood).

It is no news that the process of constituting the leadership of the Ogbia Brotherhood is ongoing. Preparatory to the inauguration of the new leadership of our revered Ogbia Brotherhood, positions were zoned to different clans, with the Olei Clan zoned to produce the National Chairman, the Assistant Secretary and the Assistant Financial Secretary.

With this zoning arrangement, it is expected that the political and traditional leaders of Olei Clan will in unity coordinate the clan with a view of producing qualified candidates for the positions. The candidates so produced by the clan were merely expected to be adopted and sworn into office on the 28th of September 2024.

On the contrary, it is now on record that two National Chairman-Elect, two Assistant Secretary-Elect and two Assistant Financial Secretary-Elect have emerged from two factions led by Highly placed gladiators in the political and traditional Institutions from and within the Olei clan.

While it is known that other very qualified Ogbia sons and daughters aspiring for different positions into the leadership of the Ogbia Brotherhood are patiently waiting, watching and expecting that an all inclusive democratic process of electing the new leadership of the Ogbia Brotherhood will in real soon be conducted, as a son of Olei Clan and by extension a member of the Ogbia Brotherhood by birth, and therefore an interested party, I am moved to ask, WHERE IS THE WAY FORWARD FOR OUR REVERED OGBIA BROTHERHOOD?

As we look forward to the unfolding events, it is my believe that God will raise and empower the younger generation, the upcoming generation of leaders, to take up the mantle of leadership and reawaken the dying spirit of unity and solidarity known to be the hallmark of our revered Ogbia Brotherhood and by extension the Ogbia Kingdom in general.

OGBIA, ALUA!

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author and in no way reflect the views of this blog.

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