Benin Traditional Council suspends palace functionaries over Ooni stool supremacy claims

By Elvis Omoregie, Benin

The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has suspended some traditional functionaries of the Palace of the Oba of Benin from performing their traditional role.

They are Johnbull Igbinosun; Iduhonre (Ihogbe); S. E. Aigbiromwen;   Efeseoghoba (Ogbelaka); Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.

A statement by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, indicated that the suspension was on the authority of His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin.

According to the statement, the suspension was occasioned by their distorting of historical facts on the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife while they were in the presence of the Ooni of Ife claiming to be emissaries of the Oba of Benin.

“The individuals not only declared themselves as subjects of the Ooni, but also rendered inaccurate and disjointed accounts of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.

“The BTC considered the conduct of these functionaries as inappropriate, sacrilegious and calculated to ridicule traditional history and to bring disrepute to the Benin custom.”

The statement titled, “Sacrilegious Conduct Against Benin Custom by a Group of Self-Serving Traditional Functionaries,” described the action of the persons as ‘Sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin tradition and Custom.’

While urging the general public to disregard the inaccurate and disjointed account by the ‘ill-bred’ individuals, the BTC also advised the public to avail themselves of the official account of the connection between the two ancient monarchies as contained in the book, “I Remain Sir, Your  Obedient Servant,” authored by His Royal Majesty, Erediauwa 11, Oba  of Benin, 1979 to 2016.