Dangote workers kidnapped, dozens injured in Edo

By Kadiri Christopher-

The legal counsel to the Benin Traditional Council, BTC, Prof Edoba Omoregie Esq has recently led a team of chiefs from the Oba's Palace to a world press conference. Addressing newsmen at the NUJ Press Center, the legal luminary said dukes who are referred to as enigie, are not traditional rulers in Benin City. In a statement jointly signed by Chief J.E. Oviasogie the Eribo of Benin Kingdom, Chief S.O. Obasohan the Esere of Benin Kingdom, Chief Ovienrioba, Chief Esasoyen and Chief Osaro Idah, it stated that, "by the virtue of Benin customary Law, which is part of the existing laws of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and earlier affirmed in the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979, as applicable in Edo State, the Traditional Rulers and any community in Benin Kingdom is a creation of the Oba of Benin and under the authority of the Benin Traditional Council.

"Upon appointment, an Enogie is assigned as a chief of the Oba Palace to a community as a representative of the Oba of Benin in the community; but never as a traditional ruler as there is only one traditional ruler in the whole of the Benin Kingdom, who is the Ōba of Benin. "There's a serious breach of traditional protocol which has caused unnecessary confusion to many unsuspecting members of the general public who are unaware of this serious sacrilegious blunder", the statement said. Prof Omoregie went further to appeal to the public to note that "any further breach of this traditional protocol would be considered by the BTC as a serious affront to the entire Benin people and the Palace of the Oba of Benin, which breach will be visited with serious consequences under the law".