By Fidel Ozugha
The traditional chief priest of Okhuoromi community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State has been deposed by Oba of Benin.
The chief priest, Ovbokhan Igbinova, was stripped of his title of Ohen, meaning chief priest, on Thursday by His Majesty, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11, because of committing abominable traditional practices which included alleged land grabbing, extortion and unauthorized private property demolition.
Seeing this as a clear violation of Benin customs and tradition, Igbinova’s title of Ohen was stripped by Ewuare 11. This decision was conveyed to the elders of Okhuoromi community by Chief Osaro Idah who is the Obazelu of Benin. The Odionwere (Village Head) of Okhuoromi community, Pa Oghagbon Edosomwan was therefore mandated to administer the area henceforth.
Happy 84th birthday to you, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, Agbogidi, Obi of Onitsha. Courtesy of The NationGuardNews family
Idah, with other Palace Chiefs, Isaac Oyeoba (Oyeoba of Benin) and Chief Uyi Okungbowa (Ogua of Benin), addressed the Okhuoromi elders and victims of land grabbing and property demolition in the Oba Palace in Benin.
According to Idah, ”Anyone who contravenes the verdict will incur the wrath of the law and ancestors,” stressing that the throne and Palace of Oba Ewuare does not support acts of lawlessness and criminality under any guise. He distanced the Benin Palace from the alleged sacrilege and urged the Okhuoromi people to eschew violence.
Going further, the revered Oba Ewuare assured the victims of the deposed chief priest’s excesses who were caught in the web with his agents, that justice would be served in due course.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Palace chiefs had been assigned to further investigate and assess the level of damage in the community. Ewuare therefore urged individuals with claims regarding the issues to channel their complaints, with pictorial and video evidence, to the appropriate authority.
