15th November, 2017
The Edo State Government has condemned the planned installation of a new monarch in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state, describing it as “criminal” and “sacrilegious”.
This is even as the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) Wednesday vowed to resist the planned coronation, saying that it was against the Edo State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979.
The government in its statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, explained that it had received information about the scheduled coronation of “Godwin Oguyenbo as the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom,” which it said constituted an unprecedented affront to the long-settled culture, traditions and norms of Edo people.
According to the statement, the state government has directed law enforcement agencies to arrest those found culpable and abort the process to forestall a crisis.
“Government is of the view that the claim of such a non-existent title in a non-existent community under any guise is a clear and pre-meditated breach of our laws, particularly the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of Edo state, which said law sets out the list of all recognised traditional rulers and chiefs in Edo state.
“The said law further makes it a criminal offence for any person to recognise or purport to install any person as a traditional ruler except as provided for under the law and, in fact, makes it an offence for any unqualified person to present or permit to be so addressed,” the statement said.
While maintaining that it was of the view that the planned installation was intended to precipitate strife and contestation, leading inevitably to the breakdown of law and order in the state, the government warned that it “will not tolerate actions and pronouncements which seek to abuse the hospitality which our land offers.
“Let it be clearly noted that this government will take all necessary steps to preserve our peace, enforce our laws and defend our revered institutions.
“All those who intend to test the resolve of Government in this regard should be assured of the certainty that swift and severe sanctions will be the natural consequence of their unlawful acts.
“Government calls on all citizens and or residents of the state, while remaining peaceful and law abiding, to report all actual and potential breaches of the peace to the nearest law enforcement agencies.”
Speaking on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), the Iyase (Prime Minister) of the kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, told journalists at a press briefing that the said local government was under the authority of the Oba of Benin.
“We only have one monarch in the whole of Edo south senatorial district; that is the Oba. The title, ‘Pere of Olodiama Kingdom,’ does not exist. Gelegele is under the overlording of the Oba of Benin and there cannot be two monarchs in Benin.
“We are advising the Pere of Gbaramatu, Delta State, to avoid falling foul of the relevant laws of Edo State. The Ijaw people in Gelegele are free to live in the area just as any other groups that live in that axis.
“Any attempt to law claim to non-existent title and community or village under any guise would be totally resisted,” the BTC said.