A group, Aiguobasinmwin Movement, which is an umbrella body of Benin indigenes, has disowned the Ndi-Eze traditional title in Igbanke, a community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.
The group clarified that Igbanke community is just a subset of numerous communities and villages that make up Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
The group in a statement signed by Mr. Iyamu Culture, president and Mr. Osayuki-Osa Benson, secretary, respectively, explained that it was reacting to the false alarm and claim made by some Ika people of Igbanke extraction, led by one Chief Jude Ugbekile and nine others.
“Historically, Igbanke community is a mixture of both Benin and Ika people, just like some parts of Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia South West and North Local Government Areas, where we have the Benin, Yoruba, Itsekiri and Ijaws.
“Therefore, being accommodating 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 Binis who are their landlord,” the group said.
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It added that the odionweres and enigies of the affected Igbanke communities, which are under the rulership of the Oba of Benin have been presiding over the affected communities/villages by the Binis before the British came to invade the 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 seven local government areas that make up Benin Kingdom, and we will not allow it in our land.
“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 enigies 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,” the statement said.
