Five officials in the Benin Kingdom have been suspended for reportedly committing sacrilegious acts against Benin Custom.
In a lengthy communique on Saturday, the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) announced that the individuals were suspended due to their unauthorized visit to the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
The BTC said the individuals, falsely presented themselves as envoys of the Oba of Benin and provided misleading information about the historical ties between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.
In the statement signed by the Iyase (Prime Minister) of Benin, Chief Sam Ugbe, the BTC said “The attention of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has been drawn to video clips circulating on social media in which a group of self-serving traditional functionaries from Benin engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin Custom.
“In the said clip, the individuals who have been identified as Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries identified as Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo were in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, falsely claiming to be emissaries of the Omo N’Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare Il, Oba of Benin. These individuals not only declared themselves subjects of the Ooni but also rendered inaccurate and disjointed accounts of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.
“While the BTC does not wish to be drawn to restating the well-known connection between the two thrones of the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife, the general public is urged to disregard the inaccurate accounts rendered by the ill-bred individuals named above.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the BTC advise the general public to avail themselves of the official account of the connection between the two ancient monarchies as contained in the authoritative book titled “I Remain, Sir, Your Obedient Servant” authored by His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin (1979 — 2016), published by Spectrum Books/Safari Books, 2004 at pages 205-212.
“The BTC considers the conduct of these functionaries as inappropriate, sacrilegious and calculated to ridicule traditional history, and to bring disrepute to Benin custom.
“Consequently, on the authority of the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare Il, Oba of Benin the Prescribed Authority over Benin Custom, the BTC hereby announce the suspension of the individuals mentioned above from their role as Benin traditional functionaries.”
The BTC further urged the general public to refrain from having anything to do with the suspended individuals as traditional functionaries in the Benin kingdom throughout their suspension.
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