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Oba of Benin suspends six chiefs for ‘declaring loyalty to Ooni of ife
Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, has suspended six
traditional functionaries for pledging loyalty to Ooni of Ife, the Oba Adeyeye
Enitan Ogunwusi.
The palace aides are — Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre
(Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba (Ogbelaka), Ogbeide Osagie and
Osamudiame Edo.
Their suspension was announced in a statement issued by Sam
Igbe, the Iyase of Benin, on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC).
The traditional functionaries were alleged to have visited
Ooni and declared themselves as his subjects.
“The attention of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has
been drawn to video clips circulating on social media in which a group of self-serving
traditional functionaries from Benin engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show
of shame and falsehood against the Benin Custom,” the statement reads.
“In the said clip, the individuals who have been identified
as Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba
(Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries identified as Ogbeide Osagie
and Osamudiame Edo were in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, falsely claiming to
be emissaries of the Omo N’ObaN’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty Oba
Ewuare II, Oba of Benin.
“These individuals not only declared themselves subjects of
the Ooni, but also rendered inaccurate and disjointed account of the connection
between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.
“While the BTC does not wish to be drawn to restating the
well-known connection between the two thrones of the Oba of Benin and the Ooni
of Ife, the general public is urged to disregard the inaccurate accounts
rendered by the ill-bred individuals named above.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the BTC advise
the general public to avail themselves of the official account of the
connection between the two ancient monarchies as contained in the authoritative
book titled ‘I Remain, Sir, Your Obedient Servant’ authored by His Royal
Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin (1979 — 2016), published by Spectrum
Books/Safari Books, 2004 at pages 205-212.
“The BTC considers the conduct of these functionaries as
inappropriate, sacrilegious and calculated to ridicule traditional history and
to bring disrepute to Benin custom.
“Consequently, on the authority of the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku
Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare Il, Oba of Benin the Prescribed
Authority over Benin Custom, the BTC hereby announce the suspension of the
individuals mentioned above from their role as Benin traditional
functionaries.”
The Benin kingdom asked the public to “refrain from having
anything to do with them as traditional functionaries” throughout their
suspension.
The two kingdoms have a history of battle for supremacy.
In 2016, the Ooni of Ife said Benin Kingdom remained part of
the expansive Yoruba race.
