The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, on Tuesday warned individuals, groups and villages with genuine complaints and
claims that fall under the purview of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) to
desist from making any form of frivolous complaints and utterances to security
agencies in the state.
He urged them to exercise utmost restraint,
maintain peace and refrain from making such complaints to security agencies,
stressing that there are existing established palace structures, processes and
procedures for handling such complaints arising from disputes among and between
individuals, groups and villages.
Speaking at a press conference held in his palace
in Benin-city, Oba Ewuare II, who spoke through the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam
Igbe, stated that: "These structures at the moment have been placed on
hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that all necessary protocols
and advices as stipulated by the government and relevant authorities are
adhered to."
The king said: "It is expected that all pre-COVID-19
arrangements maintain the status quo as we all patiently await the lifting or
relaxation of the various lockdown protocols and the subsequent resumption and
adjudication of complaints emanating from individuals, groups and
villages."
According to the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, "His
Royal Majesty reiterates that this restraint and maintenance of peace is the
minimum sacrifice that all and sundry are expected to make to ensure that the virus
currently ravaging the globe is contained for the safety and security of lives
and the assurance of public health, pending when activities revert back to
normal and where issues pertaining to existing and emerging complaints and
disputes shall be resolved in line with established processes and
procedures."
The monarch further cautioned that "all
individuals, groups and villages which are engaged in this unwholesome practice
should desist forthwith," adding that "it is pertinent to note that
failure to heed to this word of caution may lead to a situation where erring
individuals and groups indicted for such delinquency will be made to bear the
consequences of their actions as stipulated by the provisions of extant laws of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and attendant sanctions on line with the Benin
traditional customs and norms."
The BTC stated that "It has come to the
attention of the Oba's palace that certain individuals, groups and villages
have engaged in making frivolous complaints and claims to various security
agencies. These complaints and claims are being communicated to the palace to
make the needed clarifications as they border on Benin traditional customs and
norms which falls directly under the purview of His Royal Majesty."
No comments:
Post a Comment