A massive protest was on Tuesday staged in major
streets of Benin-city, capital of Edo State, by youths under the umbrella of
Benin Nation Congress (BNC) against one Chief Arisco Osemwengie, who they alleged
was attempting to carve out a new kingdom from Benin-city to be headed by
Ogiamen which Osemwengie claimed to be.
The protesters carrying several placards and a mock
coffin which they said signifies the death of the enemies of the Oba of Benin, said
the real Ogiamen of Benin kingdom has never been declared dead even though he
is supposed to be a palace chief, and therefore cannot be replaced.
Speaking at the Government House where they were
received by the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, President of BNC,
Ayamenkhue Edokpolor, said the Ogiamien family led by Pa Samuel Ogiamien has
since disowned Arisco Osemwegie which made him an impostor to the title he
claimed.
Furthermore, Edokpolo noted that the Ogiamien title
belongs to a group called Uzama N'ibiewhich in the hierarchy of Benin palace
functionaries
According to him, “The Ogiamien family led by Pa.
Samuel Ogiamien have duly and publicly disown the said Osemwegie since 2015 as
an impostor trying to impersonate or criminally take the place of the
chieftaincy title of Ogiamien whose current holder is Chief Osarobo Okunoghae,
and who has been absent from Benin for several years but has not been declared
missing or dead by relevant authorities.
“This begs the question that if the holder of the
Ogiamien title has not been declared missing or dead, then Osemwengie and his
illusionary adventurers trying to claim a title of Ogiamien must be held
accountable for his whereabouts because a title is only vacant by death or by
other established proviso. The public must be informed that by the Benin traditional
palace structure, the Ogiamien title is one of the titles belonging to a group
called Uzama ni bie which is a junior title in the palace hierarchy of
functionaries.”
Addressing the protesters, the deputy governor said
there are only two known kingdoms in the world, Benin Kingdom and United
Kingdom, adding that anyone trying to reduce the influence and ancestral
history of Benin will not succeed.
According to him, “There are two kingdoms in the
world-Benin Kingdom and United Kingdom-and anybody who tries to reduce the
image and ancestral history that we have in this kingdom is just daring what human
being cannot dare.
"As a government, we are with you, and by the
grace of God, we will not only protect our Benin kingdom but we will support
every means to make the revered kingdom what it has always been. The Oba of
Benin is revered all over the world, and nobody can reduce that image that we
have got in the kingdom. The state government will use everything possible to
protect our cultural heritage which is represented by the Oba of Benin.
“The state governor and the good people of the state
will join you to preserve the kingdom, and we will put those bad people where
they belong. Benin kingdom has come to stay, Oba has come to stay and nothing
can change it.”
However, when contacted on phone yesterday,
Osemwengie said he cannot comment on the matter because it is in court.
He said: “That is a matter that is before the Supreme
Court, and I don’t like commenting on an issue that is before the apex court,
so I cannot comment on it.”
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