Residents of Oyede Community in Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, have strongly rejected a controversial government gazette that seeks to alter the community’s longstanding traditional kingship system. The development has reignited tensions in the community, with local leaders condemning what they describe as government interference in age-old customs and governance structures.
The matter came to the fore following the publication of a Delta State Government Gazette dated December 23, 2020, which amended local customary succession laws — replacing Oyede’s indigenous system with one that critics say does not reflect the community’s historical governance structure. According to community stakeholders, the change was effected without broad consultation or consent from Oyede’s traditional elders and indigenes and is viewed as illegitimate and disruptive to cherished customs.
The publication of the gazette sparked widespread protests from Oyede indigenes, both at home and in the diaspora, who argue it undermines the community’s gerontocratic system — a governance structure in which the eldest man traditionally assumes leadership rather than a monarch selected through hereditary ruling houses and gazetted by the state. Oyede has historically been known for this gerontocracy, rather than conventional kingship, and a 2019 national conference of the community explicitly reaffirmed this approach and prohibited the introduction of foreign kingship models.
Background: Traditional Leadership in Oyede
Unlike many neighbouring communities in the Niger Delta where chieftaincy titles such as Ovie or Obi denote established kingship, Oyede’s leadership tradition is distinct. Historically, community leaders explained that Oyede did not operate under a formal kingship but rather entrusted authority to elders who, by virtue of age and wisdom, led the community. This was reaffirmed by Oyede Development Union (ODU) leaders, who appealed to the state government to protect the system from what they called “provocative moves” by a limited faction seeking to impose an unnatural structure.
In February 2020, the then-Odiologbo of Oyede — HRM Joseph Emasibeta Idiareh — publicly denied any kingship dispute, insisting that local governance was stable and rooted in traditional arrangement and that any conflict narratives were exaggerated.
Community Backlash and Leadership Condemnation
The latest rejection of the gazetted change reflects long-standing discontent among community members who see the move as a backdoor attempt to disrupt cultural continuity and impose a system favourable to narrow interests. Prominent indigenes have labeled the document “illegal, illegitimate and alien to Oyede tradition,” and called on Delta State authorities to rescind the gazetted amendment.
Leaders of the Oyede Peace and Reconciliation Committee — an ad-hoc body formed to address local unrest — evaluated the controversial gazette and concluded that its enactment violated customary law, lacked endorsement by the community’s traditional decision-making organs, and contravened the resolutions of the 2019 Oyede National Conference.
Socio-Political Undercurrents
Observers point out that beyond cultural governance, the crisis intersects with deeper socio-political issues in the oil-producing region of Isoko North, where contests over authority and resource influence often carry broader implications. Isoko North LGA, which includes towns like Ozoro, Emevor, Oghara-Iyede, and Oyede, has significant economic activity tied to agriculture and natural resources, including oil and gas exploration.
Traditional rulers in the Niger Delta have also expressed broader concerns over the lack of constitutional recognition and clearly defined roles in community governance, arguing that ambiguity in legal status undermines stability and fuels internal disputes. Organizations such as the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities have publicly called for national reforms to give traditional institutions clearer constitutional backing, which they believe will help mediate conflicts and enhance peace at the grassroots.
What’s Next?
With community leaders united in their rejection of the controversial gazette, stakeholders are urging:
- Delta State Government to re-engage with the Oyede Development Union and stakeholders to revisit the 2020 gazette;
- Traditional institutions to reaffirm their customs and leadership structures through legitimate community mechanisms;
- Security agencies and local authorities to ensure peace and prevent escalation of tensions.
As of now, formal dialogue between community delegates and state representatives is anticipated in the coming weeks, with civil society groups offering support for peaceful resolution and respect for cultural norms.
Reporter: Isoko Nation News Team
Contact: info@isoko.com.ng
Socials: @IsokoNationNG