From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has removed Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen, the Enogie of Siluko as the chief coordinator of all the Enigies (dukes) in the kingdom.
Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Iguobaro Osaigbovo, ina statement in Benin, yesterday, said: “This is to inform the public that Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen, Enogie of Egbaen Siluko, has been removed as chief coordinator to the palace on Enigie matters in Benin kingdom. His removal takes immediate effect.”
The statement did not, how- ever, give reasons for the removal. But sources said the removal may not be unconnected with a recent request to the state government to constitute traditional councils for Edo South local government areas, a request many see as a plot to balkanise Benin kingdom.
The request letter was addressed to Governor Godwin Obaseki and dated November 11, 2022.
The letter signed by Ogiegbaen did not go down well with the palace.
The letter read: “We the Enigie of the local government areas of Edo South, who enjoy recognition as traditional rulers in the schedule to the traditional rulers and chiefs law of Bendel State
(1979), as applicable in Edo State, bring to your excellency our warm felicitations and best wishes.
“We use this occasion to request that your excellency
kindly exercises the prerogative conferred on your exalted office by Part 7, Section 45 of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, at this critical stage in the development of our dear state, to establish traditional councils for the local government areas of Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Orhionmwon, Uhunmwonde, Ovia North East, Ovia South West of Edo State.”