A prominent Benin socio-cultural group, the Ogbakha-Edo Indigenous Peoples Welfare Foundation, has vehemently rejected a proposed bill before the National Assembly seeking to make the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto permanent co-chairmen of the Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers.
In a strongly worded press release issued on Thursday by the Foundation’s Chairman, Professor Sam Guobadia, and Secretary, Hon. Dr. Andrew Osaretin Izekor, the group described the bill as “provocative, divisive, and historically unjustifiable,” warning that it threatens the delicate balance among Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
The Ogbakha-Edo stated that the bill is “a blatant attempt to institutionalize supremacy where none exists” and represents an affront to the centuries-old authority of the Oba of Benin.
“The Benin people, anchored in centuries of cultural pride and historical sovereignty, vehemently reject any move that seeks to subordinate the imperial and highly revered throne of the Oba of Benin to any other traditional or religious authority under the guise of national unity or representational balance,” the statement read.
The group emphasized that prior to colonial intervention, the Benin Empire existed as a powerful and sophisticated polity with the Oba of Benin at its helm, ruling over vast territories that spanned modern-day Edo, Delta, parts of Ondo, Lagos, and even into present-day Benin Republic.
They argued that many of the kingdoms now enjoying national prominence either did not exist or were mere village settlements during the era of the Benin Empire.
Describing the bill as a “politically motivated assault,” the Ogbakha-Edo warned that enshrining such a law could fuel regional discontent and reignite historical grievances among ethnic nationalities.
“The current proposal fails to take into account the historical, territorial, and cultural pedigree required in determining leadership within the Council of Traditional Rulers,” the group stated.
The Foundation demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed bill, or in the alternative, that the leadership position be made non-permanent and rotational among all first-class traditional rulers in the country.
They also urged the National Assembly to resist political manipulation and safeguard the dignity and integrity of Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
“The Benin people remain steadfast in defending their glorious heritage, and will continue to resist any act that seeks to erase or marginalize their history,” the statement concluded.
