The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) providing clarification on the structure of the Benin Traditional Institution, declared that the Oba of Benin is the sole traditional ruler in the whole seven local government areas constituting Edo South Senatorial District,” which comprise the Benin Kingdom.
The Benin Traditional Council further identified the Edo South Senatorial District to comprise seven local governments, which include Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Orhionmwon, and Uhunmwonde local government areas of Edo State.
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The Benin Traditional Council in a statement by its solicitors – Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, and Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN, on Tuesday, noted that “it has come to the attention of the Benin Traditional Council, the only competent traditional council in all the seven Local Government Areas of Edo South Senatorial District, that there is a complete misunderstanding of the true structure of the traditional institution of the Benin Kingdom and invariably the Benin Traditional Council.
The statement indicated that for the avoidance of doubt, the Benin Traditional Council makes the following clarifications: the Council asserted that the Oba of Benin is the sole traditional ruler in the whole seven local government areas constituting Edo South Senatorial District in the Benin Kingdom.
The Benin Traditional Council maintained that all other traditional title holders in the entire seven Local Government Areas of Edo South Senatorial District aforementioned are no more than chiefs appointed by the Oba of Benin.
That in particular, the Enigie in the entire seven local government areas of Edo South, are classified as chiefs and not traditional rulers.
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That in the said seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District, the Enigie are chief representing the Oba of Benin in the various communities or domains to which they are sent.
Apparently, the Enigie do not have the status of traditional rulers since they represent His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, on whose authority they function within the traditional hierarchy of the Benin Kingdom. The Enigie are, therefore, subordinate to the Oba of Benin.
The Council asserted that “all the Enigie are required to relate with the Oba of Benin through the Palace Chiefs of the Oba being the traditional channel of communication, unless waived by the Oba.
The Council cautioned: “this age-long traditional hierarchy is undisputed and fully captured under Benin Customary Law which is also affirmed and declared in the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict 1979 (as applicable in Edo State). According to the Council, See in particular Second Schedule at page A128 to page A139 of the Edict.
The Council, accordingly, declared: “in the light of the foregoing, we firmly advise the general public to TAKE NOTICE of this traditional structure of the Benin Traditional Council and disregard the misinformation being spread about the status of traditional title holders in the Benin Kingdom.”
The Benin Traditional Council made it clear that no one shares the status of traditional ruler with the Oba of Benin in the seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District. the Council insisted that the structure of the traditional institution in Benin is well defined in extant laws and culture.