Edo State On Edge: Obaseki’s Continued Assault On Benin Kingdom’s Heritage Sparks Outrage

Edo State On Edge: Obaseki’s Continued Assault On Benin Kingdom’s Heritage Sparks Outrage

In a brazen display of insensitivity and disrespect, Governor Godwin Obaseki has once again shown his true colors by escalating his public war against the revered Benin Kingdom.

The Edo State High Court is set to resume hearing today in the contentious case between His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, and a group of disgruntled Enigies (Dukes). Tensions are high across the state as the people anxiously await justice.

Yesterday, the Edo State Government issued a stern warning against any disruption of court proceedings. However, this warning reeks of irony given Obaseki’s continuous meddling in the affairs of the Benin Kingdom.

The governor, who has been at loggerheads with the Oba over the repatriation of stolen artifacts, has proven time and again that his agenda is to undermine the traditional authority of the Benin monarch.

The saga began with a seemingly cooperative effort to establish the Benin Royal Museum for the returned artifacts. But in a duplicitous move, Obaseki created the Legacy Restoration Trust (LRT) and unilaterally decided to house the artifacts in the Edo Museum of West Africa Arts (EMOWAA), sidelining the Oba’s role and authority. This blatant disregard for the Royal Court’s involvement sparked outrage from Oba Ewuare II, who rightly condemned the governor’s underhanded tactics.

Adding insult to injury, Obaseki sealed off the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, proposed by the Oba as a temporary home for the artifacts. The center now lies in a state of neglect, a stark symbol of the governor’s contempt for the kingdom’s cultural heritage.

The governor’s machinations did not stop there. In a calculated move to weaken the Oba’s influence, Obaseki convened a meeting with selected Enigie from Edo South, led by Professor Greg Akenzua, the suspended Enogie of Evbuobanosa and Abudu.

The governor’s own interpretation of the 1979 Edict (Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law) granted these Enigie independence from the Oba in the seven Local Government Areas of Edo South. The allocation previously directed to the Oba’s Palace is now to be paid directly to the Enigie by the state government.

Obaseki’s latest affront to the kingdom is his ban on the operations of Okaigheles across Benin. These age-old institutions, established by the great Obas of Benin, have been instrumental in palace administration for centuries. By dismantling this structure, Obaseki continues his relentless campaign to erode the power and authority of the Benin monarchy.

Rumors are rife that the state government has put measures in place to monitor those attending the court proceedings in solidarity with the palace. This move only serves to confirm the widespread belief that Governor Obaseki will stop at nothing until he has completely desecrated the Great Benin Kingdom, a kingdom that holds His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, as the representative of divine authority on earth.

The people of Edo State must rise and stand with their Oba against this onslaught. It is time to hold Governor Obaseki accountable for his actions and protect the cultural heritage and dignity of the Benin Kingdom. The eyes of the world are watching, and history will not look kindly on those who stood by in silence while a great kingdom was undermined.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Principal and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.

Source iReporteronline.