…Reads riot act
Benin City – The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has cautioned members of the public, particularly, the media to refrain from addressing the Enigie (Dukes) as traditional rulers.
According to BTC, “there is only one traditional ruler in the whole of Benin Kingdom who is the Oba of Benin.
“Any further breach of this traditional protocol would be considered by BTC as a serious affront to the entire Benin people and the Palace of Oba of Benin which breach will be visited with serious consequences under the law.”
Briefing the press at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin City on Friday, counsel to BTC, Professor Edoba Omoregie said that addressing the Enigie as traditional rulers has caused unnecessary confusion to many unsuspecting members of the general public.”
Speaking on the title, “Further clarification on the structure of Benin Traditional institution,” as a follow up to the August 29, 2023, “clarification on the structure of the Benin Traditional institution,” Professor Edoba said that the traditional chieftaincy title of Enogie of any community in Benin Kingdom is the creation of the Oba of Benin and under the authority of BTC.
This, he said is in line with the Benin Customary Law and earlier affirmed by the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of 1979 (as applicable in Edo State).
He said that “Upon appointment, an Enogie (Duke) is assigned as a Chief of the Oba Palace to a community as a representative of the Oba of Benin in that community, but never as traditional ruler.
