‘Benin Traditional Council Allocation Not Withdrawn’

Edo Justice League has chided the Edo National Voice (ENV) over its comments on the purported withdrawal of the monthly allocation of the Benin Traditional Council.

The group in a statement by its convener, Charles Omoregie, described as wrong for one Iyamu Osaro Culture to misrepresent facts on the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) and the Benin artefacts.

He said, “As a body that seeks cultural justice for indigenes of Edo State across the three senatorial districts (South, Central and North), we see it as self-serving for the ENV to try to sell a series of half-truths with the aim of misleading Edo people to believe that a disagreement exists between our revered Royal Palace and the government of Edo State.

“We will like to put it on record for the umpteenth time that the Edo State Government has repeatedly stated that it has no interest in taking custody of any of the stolen Benin artefacts being returned to the country.

“The state government is working with all stakeholders in Edo traditional institutions to enhance harmony in the administration of the traditional system in the state.

“Edo people recall an incident in January 2023 when some criminals launched an audacious kidnap attack on a train station in Igueben. It was the very harmonized and homogeneous traditional structure in Edo Central Senatorial District that helped the security agencies to quickly resolve the crisis, resulting in one of the most successful resolution of a hostage situation in Nigeria‘s history with all kidnap victims safely recused and perpetuators of the crime arrested.

“We have it on good authority that it is this same seamless traditional administration that the government seeks to develop in Edo State under the supreme leadership of the Royal Palace of the Benin Kingdom.

“We, therefore, caution ENV to desist forthwith from trying to drive a wedge between the government and the traditional institution as this does not serve the good interest of Edo people,” he said.