A deepening rift has emerged in the Benin Kingdom as local communities openly defy the authority of Oba Ewuare II over traditional leadership structures.
At the center of the controversy is the suspension of several traditional leaders, including the Enogie of Ehor, prompting calls for the monarch to reconsider his decisions before the situation deteriorates further.
According to a report by Leadership NG, the tensions escalated following the Benin Traditional Council’s suspension of 67 Enigies (traditional dukes) across the kingdom, a move that has sparked fierce resistance from affected communities who view it as an attack on their cultural autonomy.
Bishop Osaren Enokpae of Macedonia Call Global Assembly has stepped into the fray with a passionate appeal for reconciliation.
The cleric, who identifies himself as both a descendant of Ohor in Benin Kingdom and a cousin to the Oba, warns that the current path could lead to lasting damage to the kingdom’s unity and structure.
“It is in the enlightened self-interest of the Oba of Benin to immediately reverse his current path,” the bishop stated, drawing on biblical references to remind the monarch that wisdom in leadership comes from divine guidance.
He urged the Oba to consider that life’s brevity should inspire leaders to leave positive rather than divisive legacies.
The strongest pushback has come from Igbanke community in Orhionmwon local government area, where residents have flatly rejected palace directives ordering their traditional rulers to hand over authority to community Odionweres (elders).
“Our Kings are born and inherit kingship from our fathers,” declared the Igbanke Strategic Group in an open letter to the Oba.
Four Igbanke traditional rulers reportedly received letters from the Oba’s representatives demanding they step down – a directive community leaders Chief Jude Ugbekile and nine others have described as an unacceptable “affront” to their identity and a “desecration” of their cultural heritage.
The community has now appealed to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene in the dispute, emphasizing the need to protect their unique cultural practices in accordance with fundamental human rights principles.
