Benin Group Wants ‘Rotational Headship’ For Proposed Nigerian Council Of Traditional Rulers

A group based in Benincity, Edo State, the Ogbakha-Edo has expressed opposition to a provision in the bill proposing the establishment of the Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers which has suggested that the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto should be the permanent co-chairmen.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the group in a joint statement issued by its chairman and secretary, Prof. Sam Guobadia and Dr. Andrew Osaretin Izekor on Saturday, said such a plan will ‘undermine or diminish’ the authority of the Oba of Benin and the history of the kingdom, which had existed centuries before the advent of colonialists and when several other kingdoms were either non-existent or in obscurity.

‘We find it highly inappropriate to perpetually subjugate the Oba of Benin by way of an illogical constitutional enactment.

This ill-conceived and historically unjustifiable proposal is not only logically flawed but also provocative, divisive, and culturally offensive. It represents a blatant attempt to institutionalize supremacy where none exists, and to exploit past protocols of convenience-wherein certain decisions are made and certain actions taken for the sake of political expediency.

The Benin people, anchored in centuries of cultural pride and historical sovereignty, vehemently reject any move that seeks to subordinate the imperial and highly revered throne of the Oba of Benin to any other traditional or religious authority under the guise of national unity or representational balance.

While the Oba of Benin is currently categorized among the highest-ranking traditional rulers in Nigeria, it is absolutely unacceptable-indeed, an affront to justice and history-to diminish his stature through such an unwarranted and biased constitutional manipulation.

The Oba of Benin was not merely a king, but an emperor with vast dominions, extending across present-day Edo, Delta, parts of Ondo, Lagos,and into present-day Benin Republic. Northwards, the influence of the Oba reached beyond Esanland and Afemai territories to the foothills of the Kukuruku Mountains.

At that time, many of the kingdoms now elevated in public discourse were either non-existent or mere village clusters, without the sophistication or authority that the Benin monarchy wielded’ the statement added.

The group has also demanded that the bill should either be withdrawn or made to feature a rotational headship.

‘It is very obvious that in arriving at the conclusion that only the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto should be permanent co-chairmen, ostensibly to represent the geopolitical north and south regions, historical, territorial, and cultural pedigree in determining leadership within the Council of Traditional Rulers, were not taken into account’ the statement said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you