By Igbotako Nowinta – Alltimepost.com Nigeria Bureau Chief
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ctivists of the Niger Delta Alliance for Human Rights (NDAHR), on Thursday stormed the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Benin City, Edo State in a peaceful protest march to draw the attention of the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II to the plight of Mr. Julius Aiwuekhoe.Aiwuekhoe, the son of a Benin Chief allegedly lost his paternity rights due to family intrigues.
The human rights activists, led by the Publicity Secretary of NDAHR, Comrade Osato Iwinosa carried placards with inscribed words like: “We want the judgment of Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory; Julius is homeless and motherless; Julius Aiewekhoe’s life is in danger; Oba Ewuare 11 listen to him please; Julius Aiwekhoe has sought for justice in vain for four years; We beg Oba Ewuare 11, the great to intervene in Julius Aiwekhoe’s matter.”
Speaking during the march, Comrade Osato Iwinosa said: “Julius Aiwekhoe is the son of Chief Osarunwense Aiwekhoe from Ugboko. A judgment was given in his favor by Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory in 2014, in a matter that involved him, his father, step mother (Mrs. Grace Aiwekhoe) and others.
“Shortly after the judgment Julius became a target of intimidation, assassination attempts and orchestrated persecution. He had made several attempts to seek audience with Oba Ewuare via administrative channels within the palace, including the Benin Customary Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (BCADRC) to no avail…We beg Oba Ewuare 11 to please grant him audience so that he can execute the judgment of Oba Erediauwa.”
Julius Aiwekhoe who was with the activists during the peaceful protests posited thus: ‘’In this struggle a murder attempt on my life on December 14th, 2012 has destroyed my left eye cornea and lens and cut my right hand vein, which affected my hand bone with a tender swollen making my hand to shake when writing…Oba Ewuare 11 is my last bus stop in this matter, I have suffered enough.’’
Mrs. Daoju D. Whyte, the Assistant Director of News, NTA Benin Network Centre, who received the protesters on behalf of the Zonal Director ensured the they were interviewed by reporters and said that the Zonal Director had given permission for the coverage to be used free of charge.
Last week, Alltimepost.com interviewed the gentleman, following his outcry and published the story on Wednesday January 10, 2018.
Aiwuekhoe had complained to Alltimepost.com that he lost his paternity rights due to family intrigues and that as a result he took the matter to Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory in November 2012, following which the Benin Monarch finally delivered a judgement in his favor on March 21 2014.
‘‘I never knew my mother; I was deported from Switzerland in 2011. After the deportation I went to my father’s house but was prevented from gaining access to the house by my step mother.
“Everything was done to frustrate me before I took the matter to the Oba’s Palace. At the palace my father was advised to allow me and my siblings to enjoy our paternity since me and my brothers never knew our mother and her family.
“Unknowingly to me then, that was the beginning of my present ordeal and trauma as my step mother and other collaborators orchestrated an assassination plot against me and my siblings, using dare devil cult member. Today I am homeless, unsecure, hungry and being chased around the town by hired thugs,’’ Aiwuekhoe said during the interview.
The Niger Delta Alliance for Human Rights, said in a letter of appeal, signed by its Chairman, Peace & Conflict Resolution Practitioner, (professional mediator/conciliator), Mr. Igbotako Nowinta that after an extensive investigation of the issue and found Julius Aiwuekhoe’s situation to be pathetic the organization decided to add its voice by making an appeal to Oba Ewuare for his royal intervention to effect late Oba Erediauwa’s judgement.
“Having studied and investigated the present traumatic plight of JULIUS OSAHON AIWEKHOE as a result of his lost paternity to his father; and having seen that he had made several spirited but unsuccessful efforts to see His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare 11,Oba of Benin via the administrative processes available within the palace; and to seek justice via the Benin Customary Dispute Resolution Committee, the Niger Delta Alliance for Human Rights (NDAHR) hereby uses this medium to passionately appeal to the Benin Monarch to kindly grant him an audience to enable him state his case.”
The organization said that Julius Osahon Aiwekhoe’s ultimate wish is an opportunity to access and reap the benefits of the judgment delivered by OBA EREDIAUWA of blessed memory on the 21st of March 2014,which his step mother and others have allegedly been blocking till date, by using everything available to them including an alleged assassination attempts on his life.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we at the NDAHR have related documents to show bodily harm done to him; and how he had indeed painstakingly sought justice to no avail.
“Julius Aiwekhoe is motherless and homeless. He is a bundle of promise being wasted every inch of the day!” the organization said.
