His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, CFR has commended the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki for rejecting what he considered unreasonable criticism by Enigie (Benin Dukes), intended to bring down the heritage of Benin Kingdom.
This is coming in the wake of the recent suspension of the Enogie of Evbuobanosa Dukedom in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Prof. Gregory Akenzua and the Enogie of Egbaen-Siluko, Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen from duties by the Oba for allegedly leading a rebellion against the Benin throne.
Oba Ewuare II said this when he received the Management team of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) led by its outgoing Zonal Director, Benin Network Centre, Mrs Pauline Igbanor in his Palace where he honoured her.
The traditional ruler assured that the State government would not accede to the request of disgruntled Dukes who spearheaded a petition in November 2022.
The petition was seeking the creation of parallel Benin Traditional Councils (BTC) across the seven Local Government Areas in Benin Kingdom.
Oba Ewuare II said, “We thank governor Godwin Obaseki for not acceding to that particular request; we thank him for not giving them a listening ear and I do hope that 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 intervention is what Edo South – Benin Kingdom, which used to extend to Lagos, Ghana, Dahomey, and other parts of Africa.
“We are indeed pleased by those of them (loyal Dukes) who, having understood the sinister motives, dissociated themselves from the evildoers among them,” he said.
The monarch called on loyalists to rally support and defend Benin culture and tradition, which belong to Nigerians, remain a source of pride to everyone.
“Therefore, it should be defended against all forms of aggression, including attacks by rebellious Dukes against his Palace,” he added
Oba Ewuare II, who clarified that being a Benin Duke is not a political appointment, but, a cultural assignment, warning that the Benin throne would not tolerate a situation whereby the same structure that was created by Oba Palace would be used to rubbish Benin culture and tradition by way of scheming or scamming
“We do not want what we created from the Palace (Enigie) structure to bring down our culture and tradition; We won’t tolerate it. We are sure that the government of the day will not tolerate it. We cannot create something that will bring us down for goodness sake.
“Enogie is not a political appointment. It is a cultural assignment,” Oba Ewuare II said.
Recalling some of his exploits after he ascended the throne in 2016, the Oba said, “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; Benin culture is the cultural icon of Nigeria,” according to the Oba.
Addressing the Benin throne earlier, the outgoing Zonal Director, Benin Network Centre, Mrs Pauline Igbanor, who solicited for prayers from the Benin throne, highlighted her achievements in service and paid tribute to the Oba for supporting her assignment in the Zone.
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