By Mick Oseji, Asaba
BENIN – The Benin Traditional Council (BTC), has advised the people of Igbanke in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State not to allow themselves to be misled into conflicts with the Benin Palace or acts of infamy.
The timely advice followed what the palace deemed as acts of rebellion when about half – a dozen Benin traditional rulers (Enogie) claiming Igbo identity, attempted to undermine the palace by changing their titles from Enogie to ‘Obi’ and ‘Eze’ in a Benin kingdom .
The advice was contained in a statement titled “The Igbanke people are Benin’s and domiciled in Benin Kingdom: “Putting the records straight” signed by Chief George Igie Ekhator-Obasogie, the Obasogie of Benin, Chief Stanley Obamwonyi, the Esere of Benin and five other palace chiefs and made available to newsmen in Benin.
Chief Ekhator-Obasogie said the claim that the Igbanke people who are domiciled in Benin are Igbos is baseless as they have never been able to prove their roots in Ibo land.
Ekhator-Obasogie said the the recently suspended Enigie in Igbanke were among the other Enigies in Benin Kingdom with long undeniable history of affiliation with the palace of the Oba of Benin, whose final authority and prerogative of Benin Kingdom rulership was necessary for any Enogie to be recognized and installed across the Benin Kingdom.
He revealed that the recent acts of rebellion in which some sought to undermine the long standing tradition of Benin Kingdom by their acts of sacrilege were actively carried out by the suspended Enigies, including those of Igbanke.
He said, “The Benin Traditional Council has watched with utter consternation the attempt by some self-styled individuals parading themselves as igbanke elements to turn history on its head with respect to the place of the igbanke people in the Benin history. More concern Is their false narrative and claims that they are igbos without pointedly identifying their roots in Ibo land.
“Against the background of this false narrative by these ignorant and unscrupulous persons, it is therefore important to set the record straight and to state unequivocally that the Igbanke people who are known to be enlightened and very hardworking ethnic community in Edo State have their ancestral links with the Benin even though over time their language have been influenced by their location and interactions with other ethnic groups from Delta State, particularly the Ika speaking people.
“They are historically and genetically Benin people whose ancestors have constantly paid homages to the Oba of Benin on whose traditional land they inhabit.
“One curious aspect of the false narrative and claims by the so-called igbanke dissident group is that their erstwhile traditional heads were identified as Obis and Ezes.
“This is strange as right from the time of the Midwest and even before then, up to the enactment of the Bende State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, No Obi or Eze or any such Igbo title existed in Edo land and Igbanke for that matter”
He said in addition, the Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin, had for a long time recognized Igbanke people as Benins.
He said the Igbanke people migrated from Benin City in history to settle in their present location in Benin Kingdom and present Edo State.
He records have explicitly shown this for long and in the Benin Traditional Council.
He said that the Enigie that have lived in Igbanke have all been loyal and played their traditional chieftaincy roles loyally in history to the Oba of Benin as other Enigie in the rest of the Benin Kingdom.
He said some pertinent questions to be asked are: If they claim they are not Benin people, under what law are their so-called Obi and/or Eze recognized in old Midwest, Bendel and now Edo State?
He however noted that the Benin Traditional Council wishes therefore to inform the general public, particularly the security agencies, to take particular note of acts capable of causing breach of public peace which these persons of igbanke stock have now embarked upon through illegal and unlawful claims/means.
Ohanaeze Kicks
But the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has strongly condemned the suspension of six traditional rulers in Igbanke clan in Edo State by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, describing the move as an “unwarranted interference” in the affairs of an indigenous Igbo community.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Ifeanyichukwu Nweke, and National Publicity Secretary, Ukpabi Michael Authority, the OYC accused Oba Ewuare II and the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) of attempting to foist a Benin identity on the Igbanke people of the State, despite their longstanding Igbo heritage.
The Daily Crucible reports that the Oba in suspension letter, dated April 30, 2025, and co-signed by several prominent Benin chiefs, suspended six traditional rulers of Igbanke Clan following the community’s reaffirmation of its Igbo identity.
The Okiko Uwa Sociocultural Group had on April 23 declared that Igbanke is an “original Igbo tribe” with no ancestral ties to Benin, a position the OYC says reflects historical reality.
“It is astonishing that Oba Ewuare II, disregarding historical context, would move against the traditional rulers of Igbanke simply for asserting their true heritage,” the statement
