House Steps Into Obaseki, Oba Of Benin Rift

House of Representatives has taken steps to stop Governor Godwin Obaskeki-led government of Edo State from creating new traditional councils in the Edo South senatorial district. This is to stop Obaseki from constituting parallel customary authorities to compete with the Oba of Benin dominion over the kingdom.

Consequently, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to interact with the government of Edo State and the Benin Traditional Council with a view to ending the conflict brought about by the plan of the state government.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon Billy  Osawaru and two others at plenary, yesterday.

Moving the motion, Osawaru said despite the creation of seven local government areas in Edo South, the Oba of Benin remains the sole traditional ruler in the entire areas comprising Edo South senatorial district.

He said the Oba of Benin (with the support of Chiefs appointed by him) exercises his customary dominion over the Benin Kingdom through the Benin Traditional Council, as the only competent traditional authority in Edo South senatorial district.

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The lawmaker expressed worry that, “Without any cause the government of Edo State has announced its intention to institute a “new regime” by creating new traditional councils in the said seven local government areas of Edo South senatorial district, with chiefs appointed by the Oba constituted into these separate proposed traditional councils.

“This plan amounts to constituting parallel customary authorities to compete with the Oba of Benin’s dominion over Benin Kingdom, thereby balkanising the age-long Kingdom.

“This is provocative and unconscionable infiltration into the revered ancient traditional structure of the Benin Kingdom, which is generating monumental distress and tension in Edo South Senatorial District, with serious possibilities of degenerating into violent breakdown of law and order in the district.”

He said there is urgent need for the federal government to take decisive steps to avert the possible breakdown of law and order in the Edo South Senatorial District because of the highly provocative plan to split the Benin Kingdom, under multiple traditional councils.

Osawaru said if no urgent federal government mediatory intervention is initiated, the security of lives and properties in Edo South senatorial district may be jeopardised.