Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has commended the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, for rejecting a proposal which was seeking the creation of parallel Benin Traditional Councils across the seven local government areas in Benin Kingdom.

The Oba stated this when he received the management team of the Nigerian Television Authority, led by its outgoing Zonal Director, Benin Network Centre, Mrs Pauline Igbanor, in his palace where he honoured her on Tuesday.

The traditional ruler assured citizens that the state government would not accede to the request of disgruntled dukes who spearheaded a petition in November 2022 seeking the creation of parallel Benin Traditional Councils.

Oba Ewuare II said, “We thank Governor Godwin Obaseki for not acceding to that particular request. We thank him for not giving them a listening ear and I do hope that he will not give them the opportunity as a Benin man.

“He (Obaseki) should not grant their request. What we have left from the Benin Empire after the British intervention is Edo South (Benin Kingdom), which used to extend to Lagos, Ghana, Dahomey, and other parts of Africa.

“We are indeed pleased by the loyal dukes who understood the sinister motives of their colleagues and dissociated themselves from them,” he added.

The monarch called on loyalists to rally support and defend Benin culture and tradition, which belong to Nigerians, as well as, remain a source of pride for everyone.

The Oba said the Benin Duke is not a political appointment, but a cultural assignment. The Benin throne would not tolerate a situation where the same structure that was created by Oba Palace would be used to rubbish Benin culture and tradition by unnecessary scheming.

“We do not want what we created from the Palace (Enigie) structure to bring down our culture and tradition. We won’t tolerate it. We are sure that the government of the day will not tolerate it. We cannot create something that will bring us down. Enogie is not a political appointment. It is a cultural assignment,” the Oba added.

Addressing the Oba earlier, the outgoing Zonal Director, Benin Network Centre, Igbanor, who solicited for prayers from the Benin throne, highlighted her achievements in service and paid tribute to the Oba for supporting her assignment in the Zone.

*Text, except headline, courtesy of THE PUNCH