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Tag: Oba of Benin

  • Edo govt cautions against politicising affairs of Oba of Benin

    Edo govt cautions against politicising affairs of Oba of Benin

    Edo Government has cautioned politicians in the state against politicising affairs of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Ewuare II, and the palace.

    The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Chris Nehikhare said this while briefing newsmen on Monday in Benin.

    Nehikhare said that recent findings showed that members of the opposition in the state had been allegedly propagating distasteful and demeaning information against the Benin Royal Palace,

    He urged people of the state to be wary of political parties that thrived on lies and propaganda.

    “We all admit that we are going into election season and a lot of campaign of calumny and mudslinging is ongoing.

    “It has become clear that its the intention of the opposition to drag the reputation of our Royal Majesty into the murky waters.

    “Members of the opposition are openly propagating this distasteful and demeaning information against the Royal palace.

    “Clearly, they have decided to weaponise negative campaigns against our respected traditional institutions as their only strategy toward the coming election because they do not have a sellable candidate.”

    According to the commissioner, we want to warn them that these disrespectful comments about our traditional institutions are not a strategy for campaign .

    He said: “but since they have brought forward a candidate that is not trust worthy for Edo people, PDP will trounce them come September 21, 2024 governorship election. ”

    Reeling some of the state government’s achievements that would lead to victory for the PDP in the state, the commissioner said Edo was the only state currently paying N70, 000 minimum wage.

    “This government is the only government in Nigeria that today pays N70,000 as minimum wage.

    “We are not the state with the highest allocation or Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) but our people matter to us. This government gives automatic employment to its citizens with first class, ” he said.

    Nehikhare, while warning against misinformation and fake news ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial polls, emphasised that Journalists also have a role to play as they need to be neutral.

  • We have no case against Oba of Benin – Edo State Govt

    We have no case against Oba of Benin – Edo State Govt

    The Edo Commissioner for information and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, has said that the state government has no case in court against Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin.

    Briefing newsmen in Benin on Thursday, Nehikare said the Oba was being sued by the Enogie of Evbo-Obanosa/Abudu, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, and the Enogie of Egbaen-Siluko, Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen.

    He said “The attention of the Edo state government has been drawn to the misinformation regarding a court case involving our revered traditional ruler, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, and some Enigie.

    “The case with suit no B/29005/2023, is between Akenzua, the Enogie of Evbo-Obanosa/Abudu and Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen, the Enogie of Egbaen-Siluko, against Oba Ewuare II.

    “The Oba of Benin and the state government are defendants in the suit.

    “It is sad and painful that the matter, which is essentially among brothers, has degenerated to the point of litigation.

    “The government hereby appeals to all parties in the matter, being blood relatives, to work together and withdraw the matter from the court.

    “They should begin a process of dialogue towards the amicable resolution of the issues in the interest of the sanctity of our most respected traditional institution,” Nehikhare said.

    According to the commissioner, the state government is also open to working with all parties for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

  • Real reason Oba of Benin banished 6 palace chiefs

    Real reason Oba of Benin banished 6 palace chiefs

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has stripped six palace Chiefs of their traditional titles and banished them from the palace over alleged traditional sacrilege.

    Their banishment is contained in a  statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Mr Osaigbovo Iguobaro, on Monday in Benin.

    Iguobaro said the affected chiefs engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin custom.

    The palace spokesperson described the Chiefs as “self-serving traditional functionaries and integrity-challenged individuals”.

    The affected chiefs include Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesoghoba (Ogbelaka).

    The other two “Ogbelaka” funtionaries are Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.

    “These former palace functionaries had falsely claimed to be emissaries of the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare Il, CFR, Oba of Benin, in the presence of the Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II) in his palace.

    “There, they recently rendered inaccurate and disjointed accounts of the link between the Benin Royal Dynasty and that of the Ooni of Ife.

    “They later admitted before an investigative Committee, led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin, that they erred against Benin Custom.

    “The Uwangue of Benin, who described their action as a deliberate attempt to rubbish the Benin Kingdom, pronounced their banishment.

    “Consequently, they were also stripped of their Benin Royal beads, recognition as Palace functionaries and their traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors.

    “The affected palace functionaries were also barred from parading themselves as Benin Palace functionaries and stopped from participating in any traditional rites in Benin.

    He said: “The banished former traditional functionaries were thereafter escorted out of the Palace by Chiefs, including Ewaise (traditional seers) with occipital horns invoking ancestral spirits to bear witness.”

  • Who founded Lagos: Controversy trails Oba of Benin’s claim

    Who founded Lagos: Controversy trails Oba of Benin’s claim

    …as netizens react online

    A comment by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, that the Binis founded Lagos State, has generated arguments on social media networks.

    Recall that during a visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, the monarch said, “It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos.

    “When some people will hear it now, they will go haywire, what is the Oba saying there again? But it is true. Go and check the records. Maybe not all over Lagos as we know it now but certain areas in Lagos, maybe the nucleus of Lagos, was founded by my ancestors. The Oba of Lagos will say so.”

    Following the comment, notable personalities and netizens have taken to social media to air their views on the matter.

    A Lagos Chief, the Balogun of Eko, Abisoye Oshodi, disagreed with the monarch, stating that Lagos was not founded by the Binis.

    He partly said, “Point of correction Sir, Lagos was never founded by the Binis. I am glad that you said some parts of Lagos, not the entire Lagos. You are right, your ancestors settled on a small Island that was called Eko then, before the creation of Lagos. On this very Island, they never created it.”

    Comedian, Seyi Law, said on X, “The distortion of our history in the South West will never cease to amaze me. What is the sin of South-westerners that make some tribes want to revise our history? Maybe we just have to revisit our liberalism.

    “The same way some Itsekiri warriors settled in Epe was the same way some Benin warriors settled in Isale Eko of Lagos Island.

    The journey of the Binis to Lagos was a joint war of the Binis and Itsekiris against my ancestor, the King of Mahin Kingdom, Oba Alagwe.

    “Oba Alagwe of Mahin Kingdom had terriorised the Itsekiris and Binis so much they joined forces to kill him which led to search teams to the interior of Lagos. The fierce battle between the Binis and ilaje mahin led to the drowning of the Benin Oba which weakened their warriors and caused them to settle in Lagos.”

    Knocking the Yorubas, an X user, B0lutife said, “You ridiculed our traditional leaders before and during the election. The Ooni of Ife and Oba of Lagos were your regular punching bags but small ‘clearance’ by the Yorubas when your Oba misyarned on Lagos history, you are threatening us with curses.”

    “Oba of Benin is 70. Oba of Lagos is 80. There are certain things you wouldn’t say to your 70 years old father or 80 years old grandfather.

    ” Please control your emotions, moderate your language and disagree in a civil manner. It’s the right thing to do,” OgbeniDipo said on X, warning netizens about their comments on the issue.

    The agelong controversy on the founders of Lagos State has always sparked debate among the Yorubas and the Binis.

    A prominent Lagos Prince, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, in 2019 stated that the Binis were the first settlers in Lagos, adding that Lagos was part of the Bini Empire.

  • How my ancestor founded Lagos -Oba of Benin reveals

    How my ancestor founded Lagos -Oba of Benin reveals

    The Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, has revealed that Lagos State was founded by his ancestor, Prince Ado, the son of the first Oba of Benin.

    The revered monarch made this revelation on Sunday evening during a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina.

    The Oba of Benin said that according to history, Prince Ado left Benin Kingdom in the 15th century and established a settlement on the island of Lagos, which later became the capital of the state.

    He said that Lagos and Benin share a common heritage and culture, and urged the people to preserve their identity and values.

    The Oba of Benin also expressed his support for the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 general elections.

    He said that God had ordained Tinubu to be the next president of Nigeria and called on all Nigerians to support him to achieve a greater Nigeria.

    The monarch said that Tinubu’s victory and emergence as the president of Nigeria showed God’s plan for him to rule the country. He said that Tinubu had the vision and experience to lead the nation to the next level of development and prosperity.

    The Oba of Benin also emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence in the country to achieve sustainable development in all areas of its economy. He said that diversity is a blessing for Nigeria and urged the people to iron out their differences and live as a family in peace, unity and harmony.

    The Oba of Benin congratulated Governor Sanwo-Olu on his reelection and commended his giant strides in Lagos. He charged him not to rest on his oars to achieve greater heights in his second term in office. He also prayed for the success and wellbeing of the governor and the people of Lagos.

  • Oba of Benin visits Lagos, harps on Nigeria’s unity

    Oba of Benin visits Lagos, harps on Nigeria’s unity

    The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omonoba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, on Sunday harped on the diversity and unity of Nigeria.

    The Oba stressed the need for unity of Nigeria, while on a visit to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, at the Lagos House, Marina.

    He said the diversity and unity of Nigeria made the country big and the gaint of Africa.

    According to him, it is good for Nigerians to be together, and iron out the differences of the different groups.

    ”Nigerians should know that diversity is good for the people. Nigeria is big but we are still together. We will remain together like this but have to iron our differences. We should learn to live together like one big family,” he said.

    The Oba further congratulated President Bola Tinubu, saying that it was the will of God that he would be the president of the country.

    He also congratulated Gov. Sanwo-Olu on his re-election, and urged him to uphold his electoral promises to the masses.

    Reacting, Sanwo-Olu thanked the Oba of Benin for visiting, as he rarely left his kingdom, hence, Lagos would not take such visit for granted.

    He commended the Oba for not falling short of the role his forefathers gave to him, as the Benin Kingdom remained a known and respected kingdom worldwide.

    The governor also thanked the Oba for his fatherly role, prayers, best wishes for President Tinubu’s government.

    ”I am sure that he will not disappoint you. He will do everything possible to ensure the real dividend of democracy that helps our country to reduce the poverty in the land, to give us a new sense of hope and to redefine social economic development.

    ”We are beginning to see some of these interventions, just last week, we saw another quarter of GDP growth in the country, the GDP growth has improved from what it was the last one or two quarter.

    ”So, we are believing that with him at the helm of affairs, he will do a good job,” he said.

    According to him, Lagos is the shoulder and neck of the country, hence, the government will continue to make sure that it remains home to a lot of people.

    Sanwo-Olu also conducted the Oba round the John Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History at Onikan.

    ”We are preserving the Yoruba culture and heritage for the today’s and future generations,” he said.

    The Oba commended Gov. Sanwo-Olu for promoting culture and tradition with the centre.

  • Speaker Abbas hails Oba of Lagos at 80

    Speaker Abbas hails Oba of Lagos at 80

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has congratulated the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, as he clocks 80.

    Speaker Abbas described Oba Akiolu as an exemplary traditional ruler, whose kingdom hosts and accommodates all tribes and religions as the commercial capital of the country.

    Oba Akiolu, the Speaker said, has been a unifier and a peace builder since his ascension to the throne two decades ago, which is one of the reasons why Lagos has become a reference point in Nigeria.

    The Speaker noted how Nigerians from diverse cultures have been conducting their businesses peacefully in Lagos under Oba Akiolu’s reign.

    He wished the Oba, who is the permanent Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, many more years of peace and prosperity in Lagos under his reign.

    A retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police and a fellow of the Nigerian Law School, Oba Akiolu was born on October 29, 1943, and became the Oba of Lagos on May 24, 2003.

    Signed:

    Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Oba of Benin celebrates 7th coronation anniversary

    Oba of Benin celebrates 7th coronation anniversary

    It was a colourful moment and double celebration for the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, as he concluded the 7th year anniversary on the throne of his forebears on Saturday in Benin.

    The royal event coincided with his birthday as every available space at the palace was filled to capacity by friends and well-wishers from all walks of life.

    The celebration started with two days of free healthcare and ended with thanks giving on Saturday at National Church in Benin.

    Omo N’Oba Ewuare on Saturday rose from the inner chambers amidst drumming and praise singing by Iweguae society, waving to the seated audience who responded with thunderous ovation.

    The Friday event ended at the early hours of Saturday before the Thanksgiving service.

    The royal father sat on the ancient throne of his ancestors at the Aruo- Ozolua axis of the palace where he received homages.

    The traditional homages were paid by different traditional rulers, dignitaries, palace chiefs and functionaries, native doctors of various classifications, priests and priestesses of different deities, traditional worshipers and a host of others.

    The Inne Theatre Troupe, Efesoghoba Palace Troupe, Epko-Avbiama, Igbabonelimi from Esan land and others from different states took turns to perform to the delight of audience.

    Oba Ewuare, who was full of praises to almighty God and ancestors, thanked everyone for celebrating with him.

    Traditional Chiefs, including Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin and Ozigbo Esere and the Osuma Of Benin, hailed the Benin king for his achievements since ascending the throne of his ancestors.

    However, the Benin ruler urged members of Edo State House of Assembly to consider some important cultural bills that would promote and strengthen cultural norms and value systems in the land.

    According to Oba Ewuare, such bills would in no small measure curtail the surging social crimes amongst youths in the country.

    The royal father made the call when the speaker of Edo House of Assembly Mr Blessing Agbebaku led principal officials of the house to cerebrate with Oba at his palace.

    He admonished Edo law makers to be focused in their legislative business rather than being tied to the apron string of the executive arm of government.

    Omo N’Oba posited that the independence of legislature was key to roburst democracy, insisting that the law makers must live up to expectation of the people who voted them into power.

    Oba Ewuare hailed the assembly’s leadership, just as he pledged palace support for the law makers.

    The speaker, Agbebaku had told the monarch that they were at his palace to congratulate him on the occasion of his birthday and the 7th coronation anniversary on the throne.

    Agbebaku also pledged Edo assembly’s loyalty and promised to work with the palace for the overall development of the state.

  • Oba of Benin ends Ugie-Emoro with ancient dance display

    Oba of Benin ends Ugie-Emoro with ancient dance display

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has concluded this year’s maiden edition of the Ugie – Emoro (New Yam festival) with an ancient traditional dance performance by top palace chiefs.

    This is contained in a statement, signed on Sunday by Mr Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin.

    Ugie-Emoro festival, according to Oba Ewuare, is meant to usher all into a new harvest season as well offer prayers to God and ancestors for a bountiful harvest ahead of next year’s farming season.

    He said that the ceremony witnessed various chiefs, in colourful attires, dancing to ancient traditional beats from their different homes to the palace with their families and friends.

    According to the state, Oba Ewuare II, who is already seated at the throne of his forebears alongside his Queens, at the public reception axis of the place, watched chiefs of different categories in accordance with their title endowments take the dance floor amidst shout of IYARE IYARE by families and friend present.

    Shortly after performing the traditional dance, Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, explained that the traditional performance was done in honor of the monarch at the end of the festival.

    Speaking on the significance of the festival, Chief Emovoen Ogbemudia, the Aghamioba of Benin, stated that he is joyful to be part of the historic event.

    Chief Ogbemudia, joined by other Palace Chiefs, Chief Ozigbo Esere, the Osuma of Benin, Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, Chief Oghafua Oyeoba, the Oyeoba of Benin, and others, commended Oba Ewuare II for achieving milestones in all fronts.

    Visitors from different religions backgrounds were also present at the event.

  • Edo 2024: Oba of Benin blesses Prof Osunbor’s guber ambition

    Edo 2024: Oba of Benin blesses Prof Osunbor’s guber ambition

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has blessed the governorship ambition of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor and prayed for him, wishing him well in his aspiration.

    The monarch spoke on Wednesday when he received the former Governor of Edo State, who is a frontline governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

    The Oba of Benin, however, said that his palace remains apolitical and would always pray for political office seekers who seek his blessing and support.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prof Osunbor was at the palace of the Oba of Benin to ask for the Oba’s royal blessings and support.

    The arrival of the aspirant at the palace courtyard appeared carnival-like, accompanied by different support groups and cultural dancers.

    Speaking on Osunbor’s ambition, the highly revered monarch said that the capability of the former governor, who was sacked by the election petition tribunal, was not in doubt.

    He promised him that a prayer team would be put in place so that he would be free from any harm and also achieve his heart’s desire.

    Osunbor was Edo governor between May 2007 and November 2008 before he was removed and replaced with Sen. Adams Oshiomhole.

    Earlier in a speech, Osunbor said that he was governor for a short period.

    “So it is my desire to come back and complete my mission and also contribute in my own way to assist Your Royal Majesty in developing our state to an enviable level.

    “I know it is in the interest of Your Royal Majesty that whoever is coming to govern the state should be somebody who has the interest of the state at heart and prepared to do what is required to elevate Edo to an enviable height,” he said.

    Osunbor recalled that within the short period of his stay in office, he exhibited excellence in governance.

    He also recalled that he initiated a successful students’ bursary scheme and ensured that pensioners were paid their pension arrears without any of them owed by his government.

    Speaking on his academic brilliance, he disclosed that he graduated with First Class in Law to become the first Nigerian to achieve the feat at the University of Nigeria.