Don’t circumvent Ekiokpagha Treaty, family warns Benin Traditional Council

BENIN—THE Ogiamien family of Utantan, Benin, Edo State has warned the Benin Traditional Council, BTC, that any attempt to circumvent the Ekiokpagha treaty between the family and the Oba during the coronation rites of a new monarch, will bring an end to the reign of the current dynasty in the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the family has given a 14-day ultimatum to one of the Bini palace chiefs, Chief Osamede Adun, to withdraw the falsehood levelled against it that members of the Ogiamien family, who they said were the Bini aborigines, were slaves/strangers in the kingdom, or face legal action.

The family, in statement by Chief Monday Whewhe, was reacting to a publication in the media, where Chief Adun had said that the Ekiokpagha treaty cannot affect the coronation rites of an Oba as the mock battle between the forces of the Oba and Ogiamien was a mere formality.

However, Chief Whewhe called on Chief Adun to stop making mockery of them, describing his comments on the Ogiamien family as embarrassing, insisting that the family was a descendant of the Ogisos, who had ruled the land for 300 years before the coming of the Eweka dynasty.

He contended that the Ekiokpagha treaty “is the rent a new Oba must pay before being allowed the occupation of Benin Kingdom leased to them by the Ogiamen family.”

Don’t circumvent Ekiokpagha Treaty, family warns Benin Traditional Council

Palace expels queen mother in Delta over alleged adultery

Residents of the Idumuje-Ugboko Community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State were pensive on Saturday following a revelation by the queen mother, Okwukwe Nwoko, that she was sent away from the palace two years ago over allegation of infidelity.

Okwukwe accused the crown prince and his loyalists of sending her out of the palace so the former could achieve his desire of succeeding the 90-year old monarch.

She also threatened court action to reclaim her position in the palace.

The monarch, Obi Agbogidi Nwoko III, reportedly married four wives but divorced two while one is dead, leaving Okwukwe as the only recognised wife staying with him before the development.

 Okwukwe, 37, in an interview with newsmen said she was unjustly accused of infidelity and sent out of the palace with seven-month-old pregnancy belonging to the monarch.She said trouble started after a failed plan to reconcile one of the Obi’s former wives with the palace and some persons vowed that no wife of the Obi would remain in the palace since the move failed.

The queen mother claimed that when she was accused of infidelity, she agreed to a DNA test or be allowed to take the traditional oath to prove her innocence.

She added that her accusers, working on speculations, refused and drove her out despite the unproven case of infidelity.

Okwukwe claimed that while the matter was being addressed, she was stopped from entering the palace.

According to her, she lived peacefully with the monarch before the incident. She stated that the pregnancy she was accused of getting through infidelity produced a baby who is now about three years old.

She also said the baby had neither been seen nor touched by her father since her birth.

Okwukwe appealed to the Obi-in-Council, opinion leaders and the royal family to intervene in the matter, adding that she “wants to go back to the palace and take care” of her husband.

When contacted, the Iyase of Idumuje-Ugboko, Chief Chris Ogwu, said the Obi-in-Council had yet to address the issue, noting that the traditional ruler was not happy with the expulsion of his wife from the palace.

Our correspondent, who visited the palace, was unable to speak with either the monarch or the crown prince on the matter.

However, a member of the royal family, who identified himself as Prince Obi Nwoko, alleging that Okwukwe committed infidelity and sent out of the palace by the royal family according to tradition.

Palace expels queen mother in Delta over alleged adultery