Alltimepost.com Sincerity of Purpose
By Dr. Harrison I. Okao, JP (Ohen Osa)
Recent developments surrounding the purported and unauthorized installation of an “Iyaloja” in Benin City against the express admonition of His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, have stirred a matter that goes far beyond politics or administration. This is not merely a breach of protocol; it is an assault on the cultural and spiritual foundation of the Benin Kingdom.
In Edo culture, the Oba is far more than a political figurehead. He is the ancestral link between the living and the departed, the custodian of customs, and the embodiment of divine kingship. His words are not casual suggestions; they carry with them the sacred weight of history, tradition, and the spiritual mandate bestowed by the ancestors. To disregard the Oba’s directive is to tamper with forces that sustain not only communal order but also spiritual balance.
As our elders say: “ When the Oba decrees, the land itself decrees. To resist his command is to resist the voice of the land and its ancestors.
Consequences of Defying the Oba’s Authority.
Ancestral Wrath: Every command of the Oba echoes the voices of generations past. To ignore him is to insult the ancestors, breaking the sacred covenant between the people and their forebears. Such disregard may invite ancestral anger, which history teaches can manifest in mysterious and catastrophic ways.
Loss of Spiritual Protection: The Oba’s blessing is more than ceremonial. It is a shield of favour and protection. To act against him is to step outside this spiritual covering, leaving individuals and even communities vulnerable to unseen dangers.
Community Ostracism: In Benin tradition, loyalty to the throne is the highest test of trust and unity. Those who defy the Oba risk isolation, rejection, and loss of dignity within the society. Such individuals may find themselves treated as outcasts, cut off from the collective respect that comes from obedience to tradition.
Demand for Ritual Restitution: Acts of defiance often demand purification and appeasement rituals. Without them, disharmony festers and the spiritual imbalance caused by disrespect may linger across generations. In extreme cases, the community itself insists on such rituals to safeguard the common destiny.
Divine Retribution: The Oba is regarded in Benin cosmology as a divine presence on earth. To rebel against him is tantamount to challenging the gods themselves, a dangerous gamble that can invite unpredictable retribution, be it sickness, loss, or generational misfortune.
As another Edo proverb warns: ” The child who rejects the Oba’s authority will one day face the leopard’s authority. In other words, defiance brings calamity.
Historical Lessons of Defiance
Our history bears witness to the dangers of disregarding the Oba’s authority. Oral traditions recall the story of a certain chief’s betrayal during the reign of Oba Ewuare I, when attempts were made to usurp the sacred authority of the palace. The revolt ended in disaster, leaving families broken and bloodlines scattered, and it took years of rituals and sacrifices before harmony was restored to the land. The episode became a warning for future generations about the heavy price of disobedience. Our elders captured this wisdom in the saying: “When the Oba speaks, the world listens.
A Warning and a Call to Reflection
It is important to recognize that the authority of the Oba is not rooted in mere human tradition but in divine ordination. His throne is an ancient covenant seat, handed down through centuries of uninterrupted lineage and sanctified by sacred rites. Any attempt to weaken this authority is not only a cultural affront but also an act of spiritual recklessness. One that threatens to unravel the very fabric of Edo civilization.
Furthermore, history has shown that societies that trivialize their traditions eventually lose their sense of identity. Cultural erosion begins with small acts of defiance, often masked as “modernization” or “freedom,” but it ends in the destruction of communal unity and respect for sacred institutions. The Benin people must therefore remain vigilant, ensuring that ambition or external influence does not lure us into a path of cultural self-destruction.
This issue is not about titles, markets, or political influence; it is about the sanctity of our cultural soul. Traditional offices such as Iyeki or Iyaloja are not mere positions of commerce or influence. They are spiritually bound roles that derive their authority from the palace. Any attempt to create such roles outside of royal approval renders them void of legitimacy and stripped of spiritual potency.
When the throne of the Oba is undermined, it is not the Oba who loses; it is the people. To weaken the palace is to erode the very center of unity, identity, and continuity in the Benin Kingdom. Disregarding tradition is a slippery slope. One that leads to fragmentation, disunity, and, ultimately, cultural desecration.
Conclusion
As custodians of Edo heritage, it is our collective duty to preserve the sanctity of the Oba’s authority. No personal ambition, political maneuver, or external influence should be allowed to stand against centuries of divine order. The wisdom of our ancestors is clear: he who disregards the Oba disregards the gods themselves.
For the peace, unity, and continuity of our great kingdom, let us tread with reverence, lest we awaken forces beyond our control.
Or as the Benin elders succinctly say: “Oba gha to kpere, ise!”. May the Oba live long so that peace and order may endure.
Dr. Harrison I. Okao, JP (Ohen Osa) is the
Director-General, Center for Good Governance, Development and Socio-Cultural Advocacy
