BTC sanctions 6 officials over Ooni's palace gaff

The Benin Traditional Council on Saturday suspended six self-servicing Palace functionaries for committing sacrilege against the Benin Customs at Ooni of Ife Palace in Osun State.

The conducts of the suspended individuals are Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two others Ogbelaka functionaries also identified as Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo, considered by BTC as inappropriate and a calculated attempt to ridicule as well as distort Benin traditional history.

A statement signed by Chief Sam Igbe, Iyase of Benin on behalf of Benin Traditional Council, BTC
marked A40/VOL.LVVV168 and dated 26th April, 2024, said the affected individuals were suspended from their role as Benin traditional functionaries who described themselves as subjects of Ooni.

The BTC advised the general public to refrain from having anything to do with them as traditional functionaries in Benin throughout their suspension forthwith.

The group self- serving former palace functionaries, had in a disturbing video clips that went viral on the Internet, engaged themselves in a show of shame and falsehood by claiming to be emissaries of Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, CFR, when they were in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, His imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II) when they rendered inaccurate and disjointed account of connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and Ooni-ship of Ife Dynasty.

The statement said, “while the BTC clarified that does not need to be drawn to restating the 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 account rendered by the ill-bread
individuals named above “.
The BTC said, “for avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the BTC advice the general public to avail themselves of the official account of the connection between the two ancient monarchies as contained in the authoritative titled, “Sir, I remain your obedient Servant” authored by His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin (1979-2016), published by Spectrum Books/Safari Books, 2004 at pages 205-2012″.