From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has sacked Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen as the Enogie (Duke) of Egbaen Siluko Dukedom in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
His sack comes one month after he was shoved aside as chief coordinator to the palace on Enigie matters over alleged rebellion, dereliction of his duties and uprising in the Enigie’s fold in Benin kingdom, triggering a wave of backlash.
Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Iguobaro Osaigbovo, in a statement, yesterday, said the Benin monarch, made the proclamation during ‘open mediation’ in his palace in Benin where he announced the appointment of Uwadiae Ohonbamumwen as the Odionwere in Egbaen Siluko’s Dukedom.
Earlier, Ohonbamumwen, former Ozukpogieva (second most Senior Elder in Egbaen Siluko), distanced himself from the atrocities levelled against Ogiegbaen, who bluntly refused to honour several entreaties made to him to retrace his steps from unbridled avarice.
He lamented that several appeals, by elders of the Egbaen Siluko to Ogiegbaen, fell on deaf ears after the later led some dissident Dukes to petition the Edo State government, requesting the constitution of traditional councils for Edo South Local government Area in a bid to balkanise Benin kingdom.
Ohonbamumwen appealed to the Oba to appoint administrative head in Egbaen Siluko which has been due since the past five years, to save the administration of the area from lawlessness.
Meanwhile, Ewuare II has appointed Aimuamwosa Oyemwense Agidi as the Odionwere of Obazuwa Dukedom in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state, ahead of the installation of the next Enogie in Obazuwa, which was formerly administered by Edun Akenzua, who transited in 2022.
The Oba proclaimed Aimuamwosa as the Odionwere of Obazuwa, after he reconciled elders in the area to embrace peace, with a caution on a slew of criminals fermenting trouble in some parts of Benin kingdom to be careful not to incur the wrath of the ancestors.
The proclamation of the Oba sparked jubilation among indigenes of Obazuwa, with the Odionwere promising to unite his people and develop the locality in accordance with the will of God.
One of the aggrieved elders in Obazuwa, Sunday Osagie Egharevba, was joined by elder Sunday Emwinokpagharuomwan and the youth leader in the Area, Odaro Ibizugbe, to commend the Oba for his foresight, wisdom and timely intervention.
No date has been fix for the formal installation of Edionwere of Egbaen Siluko and Obazuwa, respectively.
The installations will be preceded by some traditional rites.