The Palace of the Oba of Benin has called attention to the activities of the Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance Of Edo(ACERE) which is planning to stage/dramatise the performance of Igue Festival at Muson Centre, Onikan in Lagos on Sunday, November 24th without consultation and consent of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare Il, Oba of Benin, who is the custodian of Benin customs and tradition.
In a statement signed by Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Oba he affirmed that “the Palace of the Oba of Benin has serious reservation about the proposed drama.”
According to Mr. Iguobaro, “the dramatization of Igue festival by this association was disclosed few days ago by one Omorodion Uwaifo. He has fraudulently gone ahead to use Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo’s picture in the social media to publicize their so-called dramatization and staging of Igue festival in Muson Centre, Lagos State; in contrast to the cultural, religious and spiritual implications and relevance of the festival to the Palace and Benin people.
“In order for Uwaifo and his group not to distort our age-long custom and traditional performance of Igue festival by the Oba of Benin, the Benin Traditional Council has approached the court to restrain this association from staging the so-called ‘performance.’”
Going further, Iguobaro stressed: “The Court in its wisdom and as a result of the short notice, has granted the prayers of the Benin Traditional Council. The Court ruled that by virtue of Order 42 Rule 8 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, the court has restrained the Defendant/Respondent from, repeating the use or continuing to deploy or use the image, picture, video, signature of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II to advertise, market, propagate, or promote the staging of any play tagged IGUE-the Annual Thanksgiving Festival of Benin Kingdom, without his consent, pending compliance with pre-action Protocol.”
The statement advised the general public “not to be misled by any group of people claiming to be promoting Benin culture when they are not in consultation with the Palace of the Oba of Benin.”
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