Oba of Benin hails Obaseki for defending Edo heritage

 Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has hailed Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki for defending Edo heritage and rejecting unreasonable criticisms by Enigies (Benin Dukes), intended to bring down Benin Kingdom.

The first-class monarch spoke yesterday in his palace, while receiving the management team of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), led by its outgoing Zonal Director, Benin Network Centre, Mrs. Pauline Igbanor.

Oba of Benin’s commendation of Obaseki came in the wake of suspension from duties of the Enogie of Evbuobanosa Dukedom in Orhionmwon Local Government, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, and the Enogie of Egbaen-Siluko, Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen, by the traditional ruler, for allegedly leading rebellion against the Benin throne.

The Benin monarch, according to his Chief Press Secretary, Iguobaro Osaigbovo, said Edo government would not accede to the request of disgruntled Dukes, who spearheaded a petition against him last November.

The petition sought the creation of parallel Benin Traditional Councils (BTC) across the seven local governments in Benin kingdom.

Oba of Benin said: “We thank Governor Obaseki for not acceding to that particular request. We thank him for not giving them a listening ear. I hope he will not give them the opportunity, as a Benin man.

“He (Obaseki) should not, because, what we have left from the Benin empire, after the British invasion, is now Edo South Senatorial District. Benin Kingdom used to extend to Lagos, Ghana, Dahomey and other parts of Africa

“We are pleased by those of them (loyal Dukes) who, having understood the sinister motives, dissociated themselves from the evil-doers among them.”

The traditional ruler urged people to rally support and defend Benin culture and tradition against aggression, including attacks by rebellious Dukes.

He said being a Benin Duke was not a political appointment, but a cultural assignment.

He said the Benin throne would not tolerate a situation whereby the same structure that was created by his palace would be used to undermine Benin culture and tradition by way of scheming or scamming.

He said: “We do not want what we created from the palace (Enigies) structure to bring down our culture and tradition. We won’t tolerate it. We are sure the government of the day in Edo State will not tolerate it. We cannot create something that will bring us down.

“Enogie is not a political appointment. It is a cultural assignment.

“The Benin culture is for all of us. The portrait of Queen Idia N’ Iyesigie (Oba Esigie’s mother) is in Nigeria’s new international passport. Benin culture represents Nigeria, it is the cultural icon of Nigeria.”

The outgoing zonal director had hailed the Oba of Benin for supporting her assignments in the zone.