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Chief Arueyingho Okoro.

Chief Arueyingho Okoro of Ugbege Warri North local government area and Ologbo in Edo State was a distinguished Itsekiri man. He came to Ogharefe from Ologbo and stayed with his cousin Okpimiren who had an Urhobo blood. They lived in the midst of the Urhobo's somewhere near the Express road. He noticed the Urhobo's where burying their dead carelessly everywhere so he decided to leave there to where he is presently. He was a Fisherman. Before the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 he went fishing on one with his hair braided. Chief Dore Numa was on his official assignment where he saw Chief Arueyingho and liked him. He then gave two of his daughters to Arueyingho as wives. And appointed Arueyingho a Chief to oversee part of Sapele and the whole of Oghara Kingdom. Chief Arueyingho was given a staff of office by the Lord Lugard administration before the amalgamation. We have the staff of office with us today as a symbol of authority. He sat in council as the Paramount Chief of Oghara. On one occasion the Oghara Chiefs confronted him on why he pays his tax to Warri kingdom and not to Oghara where he lives and rules. As a fair man he saw their reasons and began to pay his tax to the Oghara Kingdom. On another occasion one Urhobo man slept with one of his wives. He invited the man to his residence and the whole Urhobo people wept bitterly because they felt the man will not come back alive. But he forgave the man after he pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness. The Urhobo's were shocked. This was before the coming of Kpatako and Futughe to Ogharefe. Futughe a younger person and nephew to Arueyingho was serving his Urhobo master outside the Oghara Kingdom. He was said to have slept with a married woman and ran to Ogharefe to meet with his uncle, Chief Arueyingho who accommodated him and gave him a piece of land close to Chief Arueyingho. The Urhobo's in council opposed Chief Arueyingho for bringing Futughe to the council. Chief Arueyingho wanted an Itsekiri relation to support him at the council. He then appointed Futughe an untitled Chief. When Chief Arueyingho became older and couldn't continue with the rigors of going to and fro Sapele he built his Court at where Futughe presently stays in Ogharefe. Kpatako is elder brother to Chief Arueyingho. He wasn't a Chief. Chief Arueyingho went to Benin kingdom to bring Kpatako to Ogharefe to live with him. Kpatako was to be sold into slavery by the Benin slave merchants when Chief Arueyingho was informed of his brothers predicament. Chief Arueyingho was said to have attended to his brother's health and condition for over three months. Kpatako finally settled close to Chief Arueyingho. When Chief Arueyingho died, it was said that nobody could bury him and anybody that buried him will die in seven days after the burial. One of his younger children Omaelesun Amatorimidedon Itsoko took the bold step and gave Chief Arueyingho a befitting burial. Most of Arueyingho's children were said to be afraid. Some days after the burial Pa Itsoko sensed death was coming to him so in the company of his younger brother and friend Pa Charles Arueyingho left Ogharefe for an unknown destination where they stayed for about 14 days to avert the death. They both lived a glorious long life. Upon their return Pa Itsoko started acting some roles naturally bestowed upon him for burying their father. Chief Arueyingho's staff of office was given to him. It was also said Chief Arueyingho took his entourage to Ode Itsekiri in his bid to be the Iyatsere of Warri kingdom but he was turned down by Palace who told him his father wasn't from Ologbo. Being a prominent Itsekiri son he was asked to go to Ugbege where he was made the Aàré of Ugbege Warri kingdom. He lived in peace with his Urhobo neighbors. The Otubu family of Oghara was adopted as a son by Chief Arueyingho after he freed him as his slave. Eshemitan, an Urhobo of Oghara was one of Chief Arueyingho's staff. Chief Arueyingho did not buy the land from anyone neither did anyone gave him the land. The Urhobo's never had anything to do in Idimi Arueyingho until 1970s when they changed the name of the primary school from Baptist Primary school to Uburhie primary school trying to establish their their Urhobo presence. The Itsekiri's had nothing to do with the Oguedion of the Urhobo's. They always reported to the Olu Palace and participated in all matters in Warri Kingdom. It was said sometime ago by some mischievous persons that three brothers founded what is presently called Itsekiri quarters. The persons were immediately rebuked by the Arueyingho's who told them the history of the place which they changed from Idimi Arueyingho to Itsekiri quarters. They didn't like the shame that brought their fathers to Idimi Arueyingho which is a place that naturally is in the Urhobo Kingdom. Chief Arueyingho's bed is still intact in his bedroom today. You can visit to see for yourself. You can get Chief Arueyingho's photograph which he took with his son Pa Charles. I grew up to see some of Chief Arueyingho's sons. His last child was Pa Anthony Arueyingho who lived in Warri before his death. He came to Ogharefe to do his role in the burial of Chief Arueyingho in the 1970s. I witnessed it. It was said Chief Arueyingho's pronouncement that his children should leave Ogharefe is one reason why some of his children never came back to Ogharefe. I remember the family was to do a prayer festival to reverse Chief Arueyingho's pronouncement but it wasn't done to the best of my knowledge. Long live the Arueyingho Family. God bless, prosper, promote and protect everyone of us in Jesus Name. Amen.