There are 101 Enogies & Enigies in Edo State. 67 of them were suspended indefinitely last week for colluding with Edo State’s ex-Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in a brazen attempt to destabilize the Benin Traditional Council.
What Benins witnessed on 15 July 2024 was unthinkable. Along with strong statements from the Edo State Government there were very stern warnings to Edo youths, that anyone who got involved as the Enigies took the Oba of Benin to Court would be severely dealt with. How can we forget that day.
It was published in Newspapers on 15th July 2024, that only the state Government can suspend or remove Enigies. I wonder what they are saying today?
Judging by the comments of majority of Benins worldwide, the action to suspend the 67 Enigies and have been long overdue. The reasons are because the majority of the Enigies have long disconnected from their jurisdictions and the Benin people they are supposed to be looking after, including the Benin people in diaspora from their Dukedoms. The 67 suspended Enigies have not attracted any developments to their jurisdictions, nor have they attempted to make connection with successful Edo indigenes from their Jurisdiction locally or in diaspora in an effort to attract development. They have been described as land sellers who look down on the people they are supposed to look after.
Let us be honest, there was a calculated step by the ex-governor, Godwin Obaseki to decimate the Benin Kingdom, and if not for ancestral intervention, he already had 67% of our Enigies with him, waiting on the other side to get richer and celebrate a very sick victory. Over the last 12 months, Benins worldwide watched the many appearances of these Enigies, in many occasions and functions, showing their strong support for the ex-governor and his agenda against the Benin Palace. It was an ugly sight then and a very ugly memory to visit, especially for the Benin people. They let us down.
Elsewhere, Edos have observed how hard Oba Ewuare II is working since he ascended the throne to improve Edo lives everywhere. Oba Ewuare II dealt with CDAs, Human Trafficking and the return of Benin artefacts all by himself. Having time to look after Edos who are now spread internationally across the globe has become hard. We expected the Enigies to help but seeing the direction the 86 Enigies took, it became clear they did not care about the Benins anywhere in the world. The Edo diaspora needs royal support to encourage unity and togetherness in our foreign diaspora.
As at today there is very little sympathy out here for the 67 suspended Enigies but rather Benins are demanding an explanation from them. Many also predicted that Godwin Obaseki was going to dump them on the same technicalities listed above once he has used them to complete his evil mission.
Oba Ewuare II deserves praise, peace and loyalty, and to have people around him that have the best interest of the Benin Kingdom and Edos at heart at all times, qualities the suspended Enigies clearly did not show.
Obaghatorkpere Ise.