From Omoregie Elvis, Benin
Traditional rulers in Edo North and Central have faulted the
installation of Pere of Olodiama in Gelegele, by the Ijaws living in
Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State calling it an act
of sacrilege.
His Royal Highness, Zaki Aidenojie Ehidiamhen I, the Enogie of Opoji,
expressed his resentment when he led other traditional rulers in both
Edo North and Central to the Palace of the Benin monarch in solidarity
of the people of the Benin kingdom on Tuesday.
The Enojie of Opoji and vice chairman, Edo State Traditional Rulers,
said they were against the decision of the Ijaws living in Gelegele
to instal their own king in the area as there can never be two kings
in Edo South.
“We the Traditional rulers from Edo North and the Edo Central, we have
gathered here to add our voice to that of the state government, the
Benin Traditional Council and those of them from Edo South who are
opposing the wrong move of the Ijaws”, he said.
He said the Portuguese gained access to Benin through the Gelegele and
even when the Benin was under western region, Gelegele was still part
of Benin and never a kingdom of its own.
Ehidiamhen I said if the Ijaws in Gelegele had wanted a chief, they
should have written to the Oba of Benin for one adding that the Oba in
his magnanimity could have sent them a duke.
“The Oba has the power to even appoint a duke in Gelegele as done in
other areas. If they have wanted a chief, they have done well and they
have come to the Oba, plead with him, of course he can decide to give
a chieftaincy title of Benin Kingdom to that Gelegele because it is
part of his kingdom. He has the power to send his dukes there or his
Enigies.
“It is never heard that somebody Pere from another kingdom from
Bayelsa or Delta to provoke himself to go to Edo State and crowned a
king in another man’s kingdom. I think it was an abomination.
“In 1955, an Itsekiri man, the late Okotiebor who was the minister of
finance in the first republic was made the Adolor of Benin kingdom. He
is an Itsekiri man. He may answer Pere or Olu of Benin. So, I think
the Oba has the power to give any title to whom he deemed fit”, he
said.
The Enojie of Opoji commended the Benin monarch and the state
government for the way and manners they have handled the matter since
the issues of the installation of the Pere began while also calling on
the state government to take a step further to order for the arrest of
those behind the installation.
“I must commend the Oba and the Benins for the maturity that His
Majesty have used in calming down situation and if not, there would
have been arson and serious problems would have come out.
“I also appreciate the governor of the state for their timely
intervention but I think they should not stop there because the Pere
and the elders in council should be located by the law enforcement
agents and the man that wanted to receive crown should be invited and
prosecuted”, he said.
The traditional of Opoji said it was misnormal for anybody to address
Gelegele as part of Beylsa or part of Delta State. The state governor
of Beyelsa and Delta should be countered by the Edo State governor to
tell them to maintain peace and should remain in their territory and
not transpassing into Edo State.
HRH, Razaq Ogiefoh III, the Enojie of Ewu said the installation of
Pere of Olodiama in Gelegele was the usurping of power by the people
of Ijaws which must be condemned in its entirety.
He said majority of those who are traditional rulers elsewhere have
their roots from the Palace of the Benin Kingdom adding that it would
be suicidal for a traditional ruler elsewhere to call himself a King
in Benin Kingdom
He said from history, there has always been one traditional ruler in
Benin Kingdom which is the Oba of Benin