TheNewsGuru

Tag: Oba of Benin

  • JUST IN: Oba of Benin visits Ooni of Ife

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com now has it that the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has just arrived at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for a visit.

    The Oba arrived at the palace in Ile-Ife at 1:15 pm with his chiefs and some dignitaries from the ancient city of Benin.

    Prominent traditional rulers and notable indigenes of Ife, who joined the Ooni to receive the Benin monarch are the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, traditional rulers from Ile Ife and Dr. John Odeyemi.

    Oba Ewuare II first went to the residence of the Ooni

    Security was beefed up around the Ooni’s Palace at Enuwa in Ile-Ife as an armoured personnel carrier, armed policemen and other security agents are stationed at the entrance to ensure that there is no security breach.

    Cultural troupes from Benin, entertainers and drummer from Ile-Ife started drumming, singing and dancing as early as 10:am inside the hall where Oba Ewuare was received.

    Details later…

  • Obaseki lauds Oba of Benin’s salary support for Libya returnees

    Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has hailed the magnanimity of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewaure II, for placing some returnees from Libya on salary, noting that the gesture was a landmark effort in rehabilitating the returnees.

    The governor, in a statement, said that the gesture shows Oba Ewuare II’s commitment to seeing that the youths, who have returned home from treacherous sojourn overseas, are catered for and protected from the vagaries of idleness.

    According to the governor, “I commend the Oba’s support for the returnees. This has shown that the Oba is not just committed to ensuring that our youths break loose from the grip of human trafficking, but that those who survived the hellish experience in Libya are catered for and do not have any reasons whatsoever to go back to their vomit.”

    Noting that the Oba Ewaure II’s gesture came at a time the returnees need to be assured that they were not left in the lurch, Obaseki said, “This gesture came at the right time and will further complement the state government’s efforts to rehabilitate the returnees and reintegrate them into society. We are delighted and appreciate the Oba’s support since the onset of the recent campaign to stem the tide of illegal migration and human trafficking.”

    The governor said much as the Oba of Benin is to be commended for the gesture, it was imperative to use the opportunity to call on philanthropists, wealthy Edo businessmen and others to support the campaign by also providing such palliative measure in rehabilitating the returnees.

    “We, at this juncture, want to call on our illustrious sons and daughters to join in this campaign and help our brothers and sisters as they settle back into society. The Oba’s gesture is a clarion call to all. Much as the state government is committing resources to make this happen, we are certain that this cause could do with more hands. This will help build structures and institutions to stem the tide of the menace and restore our ethos and pride as a people,” Obaseki said.

     

  • Oba of Benin places Libya returnees on salaries

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has placed each returnee from Libya, on three months salaries.

    A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Desmond Agbama, on Thursday said Oba Ewuare, announced this when he hosted to Libyan returnees in his palace.

    Apart from the allowances, the Oba said the Oba Ewuare Foundation would provide the necessary tools/facilities for those who had gone through the various skills acquisition programmes.

    He expressed disappointment over the mentality of the Nigerian youth, with the quest to make quick money without legitimate means, noting that youths must embrace agriculture and other legal businesses to excel.

    The statement said the monarch frowned at the attitude of some parents who encouraged illegal migration via sea and desert, stressing that the palace would employ all traditional means to eradicate the scourge.

    Oba Ewuare, who was full of praises for ancestors and for steps taken so far to curb the menace of human trafficking and wave of crime in the state, called for concerted efforts of all to win the fight against the inhuman acts.

    Earlier, the leader of the returnees, Mr Vincent David, told Omo N’Oba that they were at the palace to seek assistance for tools to enable them start up lives after acquiring the necessary skills from the government.

    The returnees further praised Oba Ewuare for deploying traditional means to rescue trafficked victims from their slave masters.

    The monarch further promised to assist all the trafficked victims to begin better lives.

     

  • Oba of Benin curses human traffickers, revokes oath taken by victims

    The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II on Friday cursed trafficking cartels and criminals in the state.

    Oba Ewuare II on Friday also broke the oath taken by human traffic victims in the past, adding that they were free to expose the perpetrators behind the crime.

    He spoke at a meeting with palace functionaries, including all senior and junior priests of Okhuaihe, Ovia, priests of Benin traditional religion in Iyekogba and Isi, priestesses of Benin traditional religion and native doctors of “different spiritual manifestations.”

    Also at the meeting were officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

    Those to be affected by the curse are sponsors of human trafficking, native doctors who administer oaths on the victims, cultists and persons flouting the ban on community development associations.

    The monarch noted that the curse was also binding on persons planning to engage in such acts outside the state.

    He stated, “You native doctors whose businesses are to subject people to the oath of secrecy and encouraging this evil act in the land, you have to repent; stop doing it. This is not a joke and if you do not repent, you have to wait for the repercussion.

    “We want to use this medium to tell those who are under any oath of secrecy that they are now free. We revoke the oath today.”

    Oba Ewuare II noted though the palace was not against native doctors, it would not tolerate those who used it to perpetrate evil in the land by aiding and abetting human trafficking in the state.

    According to him, the interest of the palace was to support the development and progress of the state and urged citizens of the state to work towards that direction by doing what was right.

    The monarch stated, “What the palace stands for is peace and the development of the state. I want to use this medium to tell you that the act of using charms to aid trafficking; the palace seriously frowns on it. We want us to join hands together to fight against human trafficking in the land.”

    In a related development, Governor Godwin Obaseki has called on the House of Assembly to expedite work on the bill for a law to prohibit human trafficking and establish the Edo State Task Force against Trafficking in Persons.

    Obaseki, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said that the bill, which was sent to the House in January, was part of measures legalise the fight against human trafficking in the state.

     

  • Investigate properly before making arrests – Oba of Benin charges EFCC

    Investigate properly before making arrests – Oba of Benin charges EFCC

    Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N`Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to carry out its operations with due diligence.

    The revered monarch stated this on Thursday when he received officials of the EFCC from Benin zonal office in his palace.

    The Oba charged the EFCC to uphold the principle of fairness and uprightness in the discharge of its duties.

    “You should not be intimidated, be transparent in your work. Always ensure that petitions are investigated thoroughly before arrest so that EFCC is not seen as a witch-hunt agency,” he said.

    He admonished the commission not to allow itself to be used by greedy and unscrupulous individuals to achieve their goals, saying “EFCC should be independent, fight corruption and desist from being partisans”. The monarch thanked the federal government for establishing an EFCC office in Benin and wished the commission success in all its endeavours.

    Earlier, Mailafia Yakubu, head of the Benin Zonal office of the EFCC, said he and his team were in the palace to pay homage to the Oba and also inform him that EFCC now has an office in his domain.

    He said the commission deemed it imperative to inform the Oba and seek his royal blessings and support.

  • Easter: Oba of Benin tasks Christians on virtues of Jesus Christ

    Easter: Oba of Benin tasks Christians on virtues of Jesus Christ

     

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has enjoined Christians to imbibe and exhibit the qualities and virtues of Jesus Christ in their daily living and dealings with others.

    The monarch; in a statement signed and issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Desmond Agbama, said that should people exhibit those qualities enumerated above, they would pave way for a better society.

    Oba Ewuare II while felicitating with the entire Christian community as they celebrate Easter, urged them to see the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ as symbols of the Christian faith.

    He admonished Christians to be guided by the principles, gospel and the commandments of Jesus Christ at all times.

    The Benin monarch urged Christians to endeavour to live harmoniously with one another, irrespective of religion, tribe or race.

    He, however, called on Christian leaders and their congregation to pray for the unity, peace and progress of Benin kingdom, Edo and Nigeria in general.

     

     

    NAN