Hendrix Oliomogbe
The Oba of Benin, Omo N'Oba Ewuare II has painted a graphic picture of how former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki waged what could be described as a war of attrition against the Benin monarchy.
Oba Ewuare II, who spoke at his palace in Benin during a visit by the leadership of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said that for seven months, Obaseki deliberately withheld the monies accrued to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) from the seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial district.
The monarch remarked that it got to a point where he had to use his own personal money to offset the salary and accounts of workers and to maintain the palace, following the paucity of funds.
He said: "For seven months, no kobo was given to the palace. I had to personally look for money to pay the staff. Grasses grew everywhere in the palace and we didn't have money to cut them."
The royal father recalled that during the era of one of the wartime military governors of Midwest Region during the reign of his grandfather, Oba Akenzua II, the governor built a three story building in front of the palace, despite the monarch's vehement objection, adding that it is a known fact that tall buildings are not allowed near the proximity of traditional rulers' palaces.
The revered traditional ruler, who refused to disclose the identity of the military governor, however said that he was the first military administrator of Midwest Region but the title was later changed to that of military governor, fuming that the action was in very bad taste.
Oba Ewuare II noted that the building which housed the defunct New Nigeria Bank (NNB), was erected by the military governor to spite his grandfather, adding that it was ironical that his own father, Oba Erediauwa used his influence with then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon to elevate the military governor.
He fumed: "I am saying this to let you know how long they have been trying to bring the palace down but our God ancestors will not allow it to happen. Benin was a great empire, which was pauperized by the British and further pauperized by our own people. Why? I think because of jealousy and envy.
"That building which housed the former NNB is on sacred ground. It was built to spite the palace. It's a known fact that you don't erect tall buildings near the palace to intrude into its privacy."
The monarch said that with the coming of incumbent Governor Monday "Akpakomiza" Okpebholo, the situation has changed for the better, adding that his relationship with the governor is akin to that of father and son.
He canvassed for a Constitutional role for traditional rulers, adding that his father and predecessor, Omo N'Oba Erediauwa, had long ago presented a comprehensive paper, outlining what roles, should be assigned to royal fathers.
He said that he stand by that report, advising that traditional rulers should clean their acts and refrain from acts that denigrate the institution.
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