His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni, Monbene III, the Ama-Okosu (‘Oldest Man’) of the historic Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State, turned 11 years on the throne in September 2026. His Majesty ascended the throne in September 2015 as the 12th monarch, after the 11th monarch, Ama-Okosu Oduwor III, joined his ancestors sometime in 2013. In this report PENGlobal takes readers in a journey back into time reliving memories of Monbene III ascension to the throne of his ancestors.

Founded by Ewein, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom is recognized in colonial and historical records—such as the 1928 Warri Township Assessment Report—as the earliest original settlement and nucleus around which modern Warri Township developed. As such it has asserted its deep-rooted indigeneity and ownership of foundational parts of Warri such as parts of Alders Town, old NPA areas, and local markets. Economically, some of its communities seat atop huge oil and gas reserves, making the kingdom a host to multibillion dollars oil installations and facilities of multinationals operating in the Niger Delta region.

According to a report published in The Nation, the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom is divided into six villages (or quarters), founded by children of Ewein, ancestor and founder of the Ogbe-Ijoh. These quarters comprise Arontegha, Perebiri, Ikiandumu, Oturubiri, Lotiobiri and Tambiri. However, only five quarters are considered ruling houses, while Tambiri, which is a crowning house, is exempted from producing a traditional ruler. Its function therefore is to oversee the process leading to enthronement of a monarch after also announcing the demise of a former king.

The journey to the throne by Monbene III began after a formal announcement of the passing of Ama-Okosu Oduwor III made by the Fie-Owei (spokesperson) of the kingdom, Chief Favour Izoukumor, at an emotional ceremony held at the Ewein Hall, on February 15, 2013, paving the way for burial rites, which were rounded up on May 31, 2014.

At the conclusion of the rites, the search for a new monarch began in earnest. The selection of a new Ama-Okosu was backed by the Bendel State Gazette of 1979, which rotates the stool among the five houses. With the late monarch from Arontegha quarter, the throne moved to Perebiri. Within the Perebiri quarter, there are three families among which the stool also rotates when it is their turn to produce the king. These families are Apribodoware, Biseboware, and Ejiware.

From the Perebiri quarter emerged a former Interim Chairman of the council, Chief David Pere; his predecessor in the office, Chief Couple Mackson Oromoni; and influential businessman, Chief Johnny Aribogha, all of whom the kingdom and their quarter viewed as immensely qualified, indicated interest. However, in line with the Ogbe-Ijoh tradition, only non-chiefs can aspire to the throne, leading to the three men, who were already titleholders, to renounce their chieftaincy titles in order to join the fray as ordinary citizens.

Among the three candidates, a consensus was supposed to emerge, in order for their quarter to take his name to the traditional authorities as their choice. But the Perebiri quarter could not reach an agreement as each of the trio insisted on testing their popularity before the larger clan. This inability of the quarter to reach a consensus on the trio, set the stage for a contest.

Indications that the process may not go as plan first emerged when rumour made the round that some candidates were throwing money around in a desperate bid to corrupt the process. It was alleged that while some notable leaders were reportedly being courted with huge sums of money, others were reportedly offered outboard engines (for speedboats) and these cost between N600,000 to N700,000.

Nonetheless, the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri kingdom commenced the process to select a new monarch from the three candidates in the race. A 15-man election committee, set up, the Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council, the administrative structure of the clan, comprising representatives from the five quarters in the kingdom was formed, headed by Elder Anthony Jolomi Okosu as Ware-Ookosuwei (oldest man, not by age, but by his position).

The candidates obtained an ‘Expression of Interest’ form, were screened and voluntarily signed a bond to be of good conduct during the election process as well as to abide by the voice of the 15 ‘Wise men’. To show their commitment, they also proceeded to a court to take an oath.

The three candidates were screened and they all scaled through. The committee too could not decide on whom to select, as there was no consensus. This led to the process of a conduction of an election done in a secret ballot format. After the election, the result could not be announced because the monarch-elect would have to be presented to the kingdom at an enlarged assembly of all members of the kingdom. For security reasons, the ballot box was kept in a bank.

About a week later, the general assembly of Ewein Congress convened at the town hall on May 19. The three contestants, their families and other members of the kingdom waited with anticipation to find out who their new monarchs would be. Elder Okosu, accompanied by a retinue of other community leaders and security agents, went to the bank, where the ballot box was retrieved from the vault. All the candidates participated in the election and reported for the announcement of the result.

Elder Anthony Jolomi, Chairman of the Selection / Succession Committee, decided the fate of the contestants after he considered the personalities of the three men, including “taking particular notice of their contributions to the development of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and their everyday life style.”

At the end of the counting, Aribougha and Pere scored two votes each, while Oromoni polled eight votes and was declared winner; three members of the 15-man committee abstained.

The spokesperson of the kingdom, Chief Izoukumor, while reacting to the outcome, said, “The entire kingdom is excited about the emergence of Monbene II, apart from a few persons who are acting in desperation. The influx of visitors from within and outside the kingdom on homage and solidarity visit is a clear attestation to his popularity and acceptance. Our neighbours from Aladja, Gbaramatu and others have all come to felicitate with us.”

However, the following months were marked with legal fireworks disputing the emergence of Monbene III, a situation that heightened to accusations leveled against the then Deputy Governor of the State, Dcn. (Barr.) Kingsley Otuaro, who appealed generally to the good people of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Kingdom "to embrace peace necessary for the enjoyment of democratic dividends under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s SMART agenda of prosperity for all Deltans."

Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/how-oromoni-became-amakosu-of-ogbe-ijoh-warri-kingdom/