By Austin Ogwuda
IT seems the cold war between Governor Godwin Obaseki whose tenure is almost coming to an end and the reverred Oba of Benin kingdom, Oba Ewuare 11, is degenerating as a result of unfolding events and unresolved impasse.
Apart from the governor running into troubled waters over the controversy surrounding who exactly should take custody of the age-long stolen/seized artefacts upon repatriation from the foreign land to the rejection of his (governor) efforts to broker settlement between two suspended Enigie (Dukes) namely – Enogie of Evbo-Obanosa, Prof. Gregory Akenzua and the Enogie of Egbaen, Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen and the Oba, attempt which was turned down with ignominy, another round of feud is brewing.
The latest imbroglio centred on the ban on the activities of Youth Leaders (Okhaigheles) and cultists in Edo South communities due to the alarming rate of insecurity.
Whilst the Palace kicked against the ban, Governor Obaseki vowed that government was not going to rescind the ban merely because the Palace is peeved by that action, noting that the decision was made in the interest of public safety and to curb the growing violence that has plagued the communities.
Edo State government went on to warn in the strongest terms that it would not allow any individual or organization, no matter how highly placed to undermine the efforts of the State Security Council to protect the lives and property of the people.
The Townhall gathered that the Palace of the Oba of Benin had last Friday rejected the decision by the Edo State Government to ban the Youth Leaders in the seven local government areas that make up the Edo South Senatorial District.
But in a sharp reaction to the decision of the Palace, the State Government issued a strongly worded press statement, weekend, signed by the Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare.
The statement stated that the Government is not rescinding its decision to ban the Okhaigheles, saying that “Chief Osaro Idah, Obazalu of Benin’s contradictory statement does not change the gravity of the situation at hand, and we stand by our decision to enforce this ban on Okhaigheles to protect the lives of our people.
“The State government notes that statements like the one made by Chief Idah embolden these criminals to take up arms against ordinary citizens, the Military, Police, and other constitutional security agencies.
“For example, the statement went on, “on Friday, June 7, 2024, some so-called youths opened fire on three members of the Nigerian Army attached to Okomu Oil Palm Plc in Ovia South West Local Government Area, injuring them and throwing the community into pandemonium.
“In the coming weeks, the government will proceed with a full-scale operation to disarm these criminal elements and neutralize their threat against public peace.
“We reiterate that the activities of cultists, Okhaigheles, and their sponsors remain banned in the state, and we will spare no effort to ensure that those who flout the ban are made to face the full weight of the Law”, the statement warned.
Source: Daily Trust
