Oba of Benin: Edo group rejects Gov Obaseki’s peace move, warns against sacrilege

Piqued by the Governor Godwin Obaseki peace move following the continued crisis in the suspension of the alleged rebellious Enigies by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare11, among others, a group in Benin Kingdom, EDO National Voice on Thursday rejected outrightly the peace initiative by the governor.

The group, which accused the governor of working towards sacrilege, warned that he has no locus to initiate such a move.

Recall that in the last few weeks there has been a war of words between the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s group and the All Progressive Congress (APC) over a court case involving the Oba of Benin and his subjects ( The Enigies) where the governor was accused as the mastermind.

But in a statement issued and signed by the President of the group and its Secretary, respectively, Mr. Iyamu Osaro and Mr Collins Osaghae Amadin, the Edo National Voice expressed dismay that Governor Obaseki, who allegedly fuelled the crisis, is being seen as a mediator, stressing that his role will continue to conflagrate the crisis, knowing full well that he allegedly masterminded the rebellious Enigies against the Oba of Benin.

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Part of the statement reads: “We are once again compelled by the meeting Obaseki held with the suspended Enigies on Wednesday wherein he promised to broker peace between the palace and the suspended Enigies which he used to initiate the sacrilegious Court case against our revered palace and the good people of Benin Kingdom, to address the issues. ”

The statement averred that it is an abomination for anyone to even think of dabbling into a matter that has been settled by the revered Palace , adding that  Obaseki not aware that he cannot call the revered Oba of Benin Kingdom to negotiate with his subjects.

Further, the group stated that the word ”EGUAE” means court, and whatever matter “Eguae” has settled can never be tempered with by third parties no matter highly placed.

The statement therefore explained the utterances and actions of Obaseki in the mediation were confirmation that he is the architect of the court case against the revered palace and the good people of Benin Kingdom, disclosing that it is on record that the revered palace suspended the defiant Enigies but Obaseki in  his utterances and actions, however, recognized them as Enigies, contrary to the customary law of the land.

The statement further said, “If we may ask, can a Commissioner or Minister take a Governor or President to court because he or she was suspended by their appointor, i.e., Governor or President?? The answer is no!”