The Benin Traditional Council has again announce the suspension of former Omuada of the Palace, Roland Omo-Ekhoe Ogbebor who was discharged in November, 2018.
The Benin Traditional Council made the position known during a Press Conference in Benin City.
A statement issued by Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, and four other high ranking Chiefs of Benin Kingdom, says the Press Conference became necessary to inform the people of all the earlier suspension of Roland.
The statement reads, ‘It seems as if many communities are not aware of the announcement of the suspension of Roland.
“Hence, it became imperative to convene this Press Briefing.
“Therefore, Benin Traditional Council would like to state emphatically that there had been several verbal and written reports bordering on land grabbing and other fraudulent activities including extortion by the said Roland.
“Benin Traditional Council has reports that Roland allegedly gave express directives for Enogie, Ohen and Okao to be installed, giving a false impression that they were directives from the Palace.
“The general public is informed that the permission for Enogie, Odionwere, Ohen and Okao to be installed is giving directly by the Oba of Benin with the chiefs, Palace functionaries and members of the relevant community present in a small ceremony in the Palace of the Oba of Benin.
“The Ohen and Okao involved must present themselves in the Palace if they are innocent and pray to be exonerated.
“Furthermore, he paraded himself as deputizing for
Palace Authority to the extent of being addressed in an abominable manner as the second in command to His Royal Majesty.
“This is sacrilege and an abomination punishable by customary laws of our tradition.
‘This manner of address is tantamount to equating himself to the God King.
“Ovientaba, Ovienzowoba, Aiguobatakpen, Ovienrioba.
- Ovientaba- A subject does not imitates the King.
- Ovienzowoba A subject does not toe the footsteps of the King.
- Aiguobatakpen – No one engages in rivalry with the King.
- Ovienrioba- A subject cannot be crowned an Oba.
“He has also behaved in treacherous ways to the Throne that is akin to
being a traitor.
“He has been able to do this by disguising himself as a wolf in sheep clothing and confidence trickster.
“He was of the opinion that his services to the Throne were indispensable.
“He started behaving like what the Benin called “Okpokha Nemoba” who thought that the system cannot function without him.
“Few years ago, before the coronation of Oba Ewuare ll in 2016, there was a similar case of Okpokha Nemoba whereby an Ihogbe Chief thought that he was indispensible.
“He was known to be presiding over communities disputes in his house also give the impression that he had the approval of the Throne at that time.
“He was known to have shown disrespect to the
Chiefs, believing he was very close to His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory.
“He attempted to extend his disrespect to the then Edaiken of Uselu, now the present Oba of Benin. Shortly before the coronation of the present Oba of Benin in 2016, he abstained from the
traditional lhogbe duties, claiming that the coronation may not be able to take place without his active participation.
“The lyase cautioned him at that: time, that the Edaiken he was dealing with, was quite vast in Benin tradition and customs; and strongly advised him to quickly retrace his anti-Palace ways.
“The Ihogbe Chief apparently did not heed the lyase’s advice.
“The rest is history.
“Still on the matter of unacceptable behavioural pattern in the Palace, such
as the case of Roland, which is currently being handled, there was a Chief in the past, before the coronation of Oba Ewuare ll, who arrogated to
himself, the position of second in command to the Oba.
“In another case, a chief even paraded himself outside the Kingdom, as the Oba of Benin.
“This abominable nonsense must stop, henceforth.
“In any case, the on-going overhauling of the Palace administrative system
should put an end to all these.
“In view of these litany of abominable acts, Roland is hereby banned from Palace traditional and spiritual activities.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the ban is extended to his participation at all Oba Palace traditional establishments and functions, including spiritual groups, activities, festivals, shrines and, oguedion in Benin Kingdom.
“Finally, any person or village or community that has issue with Roland especially on land grabbing, extortion, intimidation, impersonation and fraud, is strongly advised to send written complaints to the Secretary Benin Traditional Council, or the Police, or Department of State Services and, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, copying Benin Traditional Council.” The statement added.
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