Edo: Group appeals to Oba of Benin over Duke of Ologbo’s suspension

A Benin City- based Social Cultural Group, ‘Oseghevbo Social Cultural Organisation, has appealed to the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, to tamper justice with mercy by lifting the suspension imposed on Prince Owen Jason Akenzua, as the Duke (Enogie) of Ologbo Dukedom.

The group, which made the appeal in a press statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday opined that the suspended duke, was a victim of the circumstance of the offence levelled against him.

Recalls that the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, had on March 8, 2025, announced the suspension of 67 Enigie in the seven local government areas that make up the Edo South senatorial district.

The Enigie were suspended over antic-palace and rebellious activities against the Oba of Benin

The statement signed by the President of the organization, Comrade Collins Oghomwen, and Secretary, Comrade Osunde Sunday, appealed to the Benin Monarch to forgive the Enogie, noting that to err is human and to forgive is divine.

Oghomwen, however, appealed to those appointed by the Benin Monarch to replace the suspended Dukedoms to uphold the ethics of truth and fairness and to promote good co-existence in their respective designated domains.

He noted that trying to undermine the existence norms and traditions of their various communities and domains would amount to taking the people backward and creating unnecessary crises in a hitherto peaceful community.

He also urged the new appointees to do everything possible as leaders with special privileges to curtail the likely rising tension along the ethnic divide in their various domains instead of allegedly pursuing shadow and personal vendetta with issues that have to do with land that predated their appointment.

The group, which condemned the alleged pulling down of a signboard of the Oba of Benin, however, reminded the alleged perpetrators that the residents of Ologbo, irrespective of ethnicity, are sons and daughters of the Benin Kingdom that have co-existed peacefully.

Oghomwen attributed the peaceful co-existence to one of the achievements of the suspended Enogie of the Dukedom.

He threatened that the group would not hesitate to resist any action to destabilize Ologbo Dukedom or any part of Benin Kingdom from overzealous people.

He, however, alleged that many of the appointees have abdicated their primary responsibilities of maintaining law, order, and peace to probing land allotments done over decades of their appointment.

“We Oseghevbo Social Cultural Organization, also sons and daughters of Great Benin Kingdom, believed that all the newly appointed leaders of different Dukedoms and communities where Enigie were suspended are now leaders with special privileges.

“As such, they must be in tune with the ethics of truth and fairness and promote good co-existence in their respective designated communities.

“But, instead of standing on the mandate and their primary assignments from Benin traditional council, many of these newly appointed Odionwere and Okao have decided to derail into probing of land allotments done over decades ago. Engaging in forceful discrediting of some good achievements they met. An action, we Oseghevbo organization sees as misdirection.

“On this premises, we are calling on the newly assigned Okao of Ologbo Dukedom to please drop the ongoing probe of land sales that predate his appointment and other bogus assignments he allegedly accorded himself in the Dukedom.

“We see such assignments as a deep distraction preventing him from focusing on his primary assignment and other disturbing activities allegedly ongoing in Ologbo at the moment.

“We appeal to the current Okao of the Dukedom to please sit up and manage the rising tension along the ethnic divide instead of pursuing shadow and personal vendetta with where landed issues that predate his appointment,” he said.

Oghomwen, however, commended the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II for his wisdom in piloting the affairs of the kingdom.