• Priests, Enigies, Edionweres, others protest
From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Adjoto Kabiru, has warned the self-acclaimed Pere of Olodiama clan at Gelegele in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state not to mess with Benin Kingdom.
The speaker’s spoke against the backdrop of the purported installation of one Godwin Ogunyebo as the Pere of Olodiama clan, breaching the Old Bendel State Traditional rulers and chieftaincy edict and norm of 1979, now applicable to Edo State, and a subsisting Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the Oba of Benin as the supreme authority of the area.
The lawmaker said the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, is one of the strongest monarchs in the world who deserves to be respected.
The speaker disclosed this when priests, Enigie, Edionweres and prominent citizens of the state, across 42 communities in Ovia North East and Ovia South West councils took a peaceful protest to the Assembly complex in Benin, the state capital, yesterday.
The protesters carried placards of various inscriptions, marched through major streets of Benin and chanted Benin solidarity songs.
Kabiru urged the protesters, including the youths, to remain calm and be law-abiding and promised the parliament would look through the relevant laws with a view to render useful advice.
“By the grace of God, our Oba is, perhaps, one of the strongest Oba in the world. So, God will continue to protect him. As legislators, we will look through the laws and, by God’s grace, we will do the needful. You put us here we are answerable to you. We are not going to disgrace you. You have laid down all the issues. We are going to look at it…”
with all seriousness it deserves.
“The Benin kingdom dates back thousands of years. It is not just starting now. As legislators, we will look through the laws and by God’s grace, we will do the needful.
“As elders of the communities, we came in peace and you will go back in peace. The way you have come in peace. With peace, you can achieve a lot. But war can only destroy.
“No matter the amount of provocation, please appeal to our people particularly our youths to exercise restrain and patience. By God’s grace, there will be no war. By God’s grace, there will be peace and that peace will be in our favour,” he said.
Spokesperson for the group and the Enogie of Iguogie, Festus Osagiede, had told the speaker, that the title of Pere is not known to law.
Osagiede alleged further that the current threats by IJAWS on their lives for not supporting the installation of Oguyenbo as the Pere of Olodiama kingdom has caused the villagers across Ovia communities sleepless night.
He appealed tothe lawmakers to use the necessary instrument of the laws to bring peace to the troubled region which he said had being under the control of the Oba of Benin.