The Oba of Benin Palace has legally aborted plans plans by a group of persons acting under the label of ‘The Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE)’ for attempting to ignite, fake cultural war against the highly revered age-long Benin tradition — Igue Festival.
In response to the oterior moves and unauthorized use of the Benin Palace effigy, by the group led by Omorodion Uwaifo, a Lagos State High Court has restrained the Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE) from staging/dramatizing the performance of Igue Festival at Muson Centre, Onikan in Lagos without the consultation and consent of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin, who is the custodian of Benin customs and tradition.
Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, conveyed the notification in a statement after Lagos Court granted the restraining order made by the Benin Tradition Council (BTC) on behalf of Oba Palace.
The dramatization of Igue festival drama, which was disclosed few days ago to the Palace, which expressed “serious reservation about the drama” by the convener of the Programme, Uwaifo who was said to have “fraudulently gone ahead to use Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo’s picture in the social media to publicize their so-called dramatization and staging of Igue festival in Muson Centre, Lagos State; in contrast to the cultural, religious and spiritual implications and relevance of the festival to the Palace and Benin people in contrast to the cultural, religious and spiritual implications and relevance of the festival to the Palace and Benin people”, according to the statement by Iguobaro.
“In order for Uwaifo and his group not to distort our age-long custom and traditional performance of Igue festival by the Oba of Benin, the Benin Traditional Council has approached the court to restrain this association from staging the so-called “performance”.
“The Court in its wisdom and as a result of the short notice, has granted the prayers of the Benin Traditional Council. The Court ruled that by virtue of Order 42 Rule 8 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, the court has restrains the Defendant/Respondent from, repeating the use or continuing to deploy or use the image, picture, video, signature of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II CFR, to advertise, market, propagate, or promote the staging of any play tagged IGUE-the Annual Thanksgiving Festival of Benin Kingdom, without his consent, pending compliance with pre-action Protocol”.
“This order was made today, Friday, 22nd November, 2024 against the event that is taking place on Sunday, 24th November, 2024.
“The general public is advised not to be misled by any group of people claiming to be promoting Benin culture when they are not in consultation with the Palace of the Oba of Benin”, according to the statement, which was made available to Journalists in Edo State.
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