Oba Of Benin Remains Only Traditional Ruler In Benin Kingdom – Benin Traditional Council

By Ayodele Oni

The Bini Traditional Council has clarified that the Oba of Beni, Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II,  is the only one qualified to be addressed as a Traditional ruler in Bini kingdom.

The Benin Traditional Council, (BTC), which gave the  Clarifications on the structure of the Benin Traditional Institution, has placed a caveat on addressing the Enigies also known as Dukes in the Kingdom as Traditional Rulers.

Making the clarifications on Friday in Benin on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council, Prof Edoba Omoregie, (SAN), disclosed that the Palace frowns at some media organizations for addressing the Enigies or Dukes as Traditional Rulers.

The clarification document was signed and made available to the press by Chief J.E Oviasogie, the Eribo of Benin, Chief Oviensoba, Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazulu of Benin.

Prof Omoregie pointed out that the Dukes are only assigned as a Chiefs of the Oba’s Palace to oversee the Community at the instance of the Oba of Benin.

He added that they were never appointed as Traditional Rulers as there is only one Traditional Ruler in the whole of the Benin Kingdom as stipulated in the Benin Customary Law.

According to him, this is part of the Existing Laws of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and earlier affirmed in the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979 as applicable, in Edo State.

Prof Omorogie,  described this as a serious breach and sacrilegious blunder of Traditional Protocol causing unnecessary unrest to unsuspecting members of the public who are unaware of the consequences.

He admonished the media organizations cut across print and broadcast, as well as members of the public to discontinue the further referencing of Enogie, Duke, as Traditional Rulers in the Benin Kingdom.

The spokesman stated that the BTC will consider the breach as a serious affront to the entire Benin People and the palace of the Oba which will be visited with serious consequences under the law.

The Benin Kingdom is cut across seven local government areas in Edo State, which are embellished in the provisions of the Benin Customary Law within the Purview of the Palace of the Oba of Benin.