Oba Of Benin/Ooni Of Ife Tussle: Benin Traditional Council Suspends Palace Functionaries

The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has suspended some traditional functionaries of the Palace of the Oba of Benin from their posts for their alleged roles in the tussle between the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife
The Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, in a statement, said the suspension was on the authority of The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. The functionaries are Johnbull Igbinosun; Iduhonre (Ihogbe); S. E. Aigbiromwen; Efeseoghoba (Ogbelaka); Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.
According to the statement, the suspension was sequel to an alleged distortion of historical facts on the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni of Ife Stool. It said the chiefs were in the presence of the Ooni of Ife as supposed emissaries of the Oba of Benin when the facts were distorted.
“The individuals not only declared themselves as subjects of the Ooni, but also rendered inaccurate and disjointed account of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.
“The BTC considered the conduct of these functionaries as inappropriate, sacrilegious and calculated to ridicule traditional history and to bring disrepute to the Benin custom.”
The statement titled, “Sacrilegious Conduct Against Benin Custom by a Group of Self-Serving Traditional Functionaries,” described the action of the persons as ‘Sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin tradition and Custom.”
While urging the general public to disregard the account by the suspended functionaries, the BTC also advised the public to avail themselves of the official account of the connection between the two ancient monarchies as contained in the book, “I Remain Sir, Your Obedient Servant,” authored by His Royal Majesty, Erediauwa 11, Oba of Benin, 1979 to 2016.