A group, Aiguobasinmwin Movement, which is an umbrella body of Benin indigenes, has disowned Ndi-Eze traditional title in Igbanke, a community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.
In a statement reacting to what it described as the “false alarm and claim made by some Ika people of Igbanke extraction led by one self made Chief Jude Ugbekile and 9 others”
and signed by Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture(President) and Mr. Osayuki-Osa Benson(Secretary) the group said that
“for clarification, Igbanke Community is just a subset of community amongst numerous communities and villages that made up Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
“Historically, Igbanke community is a mixture of both Benin and Ika people just like some part of Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia South West and North Local Government Areas where we have the Benin, Yoruba, Itsekiri and Ijaws. Therefore being accommodative and receptive, doesn’t give the Ika, Itsekiri, Yoruba and Ijaws who came to the aforementioned local government areas of Edo South as settlers the right to begin to assume authority over the Benin who is their landlord.”
Going further, the group said that “it is imperative to note that the Odionweres and Enigie of the affected Igbanke communities which is under the rulership of Oba of Benin have been presiding over the affected communities/villages by the Benin before the British came to invade Benin Empire in 1897.
“Thus, the Ika people in Igbanke communities should not claim what they can never have in our Kingdom. Similarly, there is nothing like Ndi Nze(Traditional Rulers) in Igbanke communities or any part of the 7 local government areas that make up Benin Kingdom and we will not allow it in our land.”
Placing more emphasis on its declaration,
Aiguobasinmwin Movement affirmed: “However, if the Ika people are hell-bent on their move to be on their own, they should go back to Delta state where they originally came from because we will not allow settlers/tenants to continue to undermine our receptiveness and hospitality.
“To this end, the suspension of four Enigie in Igbanke communities, Orhionmwon Local Government Area which is under the rulership of Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom, has come to stay and we are ready to defend the historical pronouncement made by our highly revered Benin Palace.”
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