— 29th November 2017
• Priests, Enigies, Edionweres, others protest
From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Speaker of
Edo State House of Assembly, Adjoto Kabiru, has warned the
self-acclaimed Pere of Olodiama clan at Gelegele in Ovia North East
Local Government Area of the state not to mess with Benin Kingdom.
The speaker’s spoke against the backdrop of the
purported installation of one Godwin Ogunyebo as the Pere of Olodiama
clan, breaching the Old Bendel State Traditional rulers and chieftaincy
edict and norm of 1979, now applicable to Edo State, and a subsisting
Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the Oba of Benin as the supreme
authority of the area.
The lawmaker said the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, is one of the strongest monarchs in the world who deserves to be respected.
The speaker disclosed this when priests,
Enigie, Edionweres and prominent citizens of the state, across 42
communities in Ovia North East and Ovia South West councils took a
peaceful protest to the Assembly complex in Benin, the state capital,
yesterday.
The protesters carried placards of
various inscriptions, marched through major streets of Benin and chanted
Benin solidarity songs.
Kabiru urged the protesters, including
the youths, to remain calm and be law-abiding and promised the
parliament would look through the relevant laws with a view to render
useful advice.
“By the grace of God, our Oba is,
perhaps, one of the strongest Oba in the world. So, God will continue to
protect him. As legislators, we will look through the laws and, by
God’s grace, we will do the needful. You put us here we are answerable
to you. We are not going to disgrace you. You have laid down all the
issues. We are going to look at it…”
with all seriousness it deserves.
“The Benin kingdom dates back thousands
of years. It is not just starting now. As legislators, we will look
through the laws and by God’s grace, we will do the needful.
“As elders of the communities, we came in
peace and you will go back in peace. The way you have come in peace.
With peace, you can achieve a lot. But war can only destroy.
“No matter the amount of provocation,
please appeal to our people particularly our youths to exercise restrain
and patience. By God’s grace, there will be no war. By God’s grace,
there will be peace and that peace will be in our favour,” he said.
Spokesperson for the group and the Enogie
of Iguogie, Festus Osagiede, had told the speaker, that the title of
Pere is not known to law.
Osagiede alleged further that the current
threats by IJAWS on their lives for not supporting the installation of
Oguyenbo as the Pere of Olodiama kingdom has caused the villagers across
Ovia communities sleepless night.
He appealed tothe lawmakers to use the
necessary instrument of the laws to bring peace to the troubled region
which he said had being under the control of the Oba of Benin.