Ooni of Ife and Oba Of Benin Superiority Feud Records 5 Casualties

The Ooni of Ife and Oba of Benin controversy over which of the two traditional thrones is superior, has recorded five casualties.

The five has been suspended from their roles for engaging in acts considered sacrilegious.

These are five, of the Benin traditional institution are Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries identified as Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo

They have suspended from office for allegedly rendering “inaccurate and disjointed accounts of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife”, says a release from the Benin traditional council.

The council announced their suspension in a statement signed by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe on Saturday.

The breach allegedly happened in the course of a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

“The attention of the Benin Traditional Council has been drawn to video clips circulating on social media in which a group of self-serving traditional functionaries from Benin engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin Custom.

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“In the said clip, the individuals who have been identified as Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries identified as Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo were in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, falsely claiming to be emissaries of the Omo N’ObaN’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare Il, Oba of Benin.

“These individuals not only declared themselves subjects of the Ooni but also rendered inaccurate and disjointed accounts of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.

“While the BTC does not wish to be drawn to restating the well-known connection between the two thrones of the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife, the general public is urged to disregard the inaccurate accounts rendered by the ill-bred individuals named above.”

The Council further described the conduct of these functionaries as “inappropriate, sacrilegious, and calculated to ridicule traditional history and to bring disrepute to Benin custom.”

“Consequently, on the authority of the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare Il, Oba of Benin the Prescribed Authority over Benin Custom, the BTC hereby announces the suspension of the individuals mentioned above from their role as Benin traditional functionaries.

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“The general public is advised to refrain from having anything to do with them as traditional functionaries in Benin kingdom throughout their suspension.”

The Ooni of Ife and Oba of Benin controversy is generating a lot of interest on both sides and beyond, in both the interest of accurate historical account, and in establishing in clear terms which should take precedence.