Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has taken significant steps to mend relations between the state government and the Benin Traditional Council.
In a statement released on Sunday, Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, announced that the governor has restored the full statutory rights of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
Okpebholo also backed the Federal Government’s recognition of the Oba’s palace as the custodian of repatriated Benin artefacts looted during the 1897 British colonial expedition.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, noted that the governor’s gesture signals the resolution of the crisis between the Oba of Benin and the Edo State government. Osagie explained that the cases in court are civil matters and that parties are encouraged to settle amicably. He stated, “The cases in court are cases which the Oba of Benin himself and the Benin Traditional Council instituted against the state government, and they are all civil matters… So, if the parties are already settling and one side is already meeting the condition of settlement, the next step you are going to hear is that the party who went to court, which is the Oba of Benin, and the Benin Traditional Council, will instruct their counsel to withdraw the cases from court and that will be the end of the matter.”
Governor Okpebholo’s administration has also shown commitment to restoring the dignity and authority of the Benin monarch. The statement by Okepebholo’s Chief Press Secretary outlined the administration’s efforts to uphold the cultural and historical integrity of the Benin Kingdom. Additionally, Okpebholo revoked the decision of the Obaseki’s administration to convert the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre into a motor park, and instead announced plans to restore the cultural centre to its original purpose.
This development comes after the previous administration’s policies impacted the Benin Traditional Council, leading to lawsuits. However, with Okpebholo’s gesture, the Oba of Benin and the Benin Traditional Council may withdraw their suits against the state government.
The governor abolished the new traditional councils in Edo South created by the immediate-past governor, Godwin Obaseki. Okpebholo also backed the Federal Government’s recognition of the Oba’s palace as the custodian of repatriated Benin artefacts looted during the 1897 British colonial expedition.
According to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, the governor’s actions signal the resolution of the crisis between the Oba of Benin and the Edo State government. Osagie explained that the cases in court are civil matters and that parties are encouraged to settle amicably.
