*Shuts 2 Fake Meeting Points
By Owen Eresoyen, Benin City
Oba of Benin Kingdom,Omo N’Oba Edo Uku-Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has warned individuals who are not members of the Benin Royal Family against using royal titles pertaining to the reverred monarchy.
The warning came after two fake royal family meeting points were shut down in Benin, the Edo State capital.
The Oba expressed his disapproval of the use of the word “chapter” in the name “Benin Royal Family Evbiemwen chapter”, stressing that no such title exists in all of the Benin Kingdom.
According to the Oba, royalty is ordained by God and ancestors, warning that persons involved in impersonating royal family members will be investigated and brought to book.
The shutdown of the fake royal family platforms was announced by Prince (Dr.) Owen Osifo Urighifo Eresoyen, Chairman, Research and Documentation of Oba Eresoyen N’Obowigho, N’Okpogun, citing reasons such as lack of legitimacy, misrepresentation, and cultural taboo.
The Oba’s warning is a reminder that impersonating royalty is a serious offence in Benin tradition, saying those found guilty may face legal action and ostracization from the Royal Family.
At Ukhiri-Eresoyen Community, some persons who moved into the community from Evboeghae community in Orhiomwon Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State, have been parading themselves as descendants of Oba Eresoyen N’Obowigho, N’Okpogun, whereas they are not; they are traders who moved into the community for business and refused to go back to their native community, the Oba’s palace stated.
It added that their original greeting was “Labo” which, the palace said, they suddenly changed and adopted the royal family’s own greetings.
Another location, the palace pointed out, is at Evbiemwen community where,it added, some unknown persons with fake royal identity constituted themselves into royal family members under the aegis of “Benin Royal Family Evbiemwen chapter”.
The palace described this as a taboo, hence the shutting down of the group’s meeting point every second Friday of each month.
*PHOTO CAPTION: His Royal Majesty Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
