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E Don Cast: Benin Traditional Council Counters Obaseki’s Purported Dispute

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E Don Cast: Benin Traditional Council Counters Obaseki’s Purported Dispute Resolution(Photos)The recent developments between the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, and the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) have sparked significant controversy. The dispute centers on the Governor’s response to a court suit filed by some Enigie (Benin chiefs) against the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Governor Obaseki previously celebrated what he described as peace moves with His Royal Majesty and the Enigie. However, the Benin Traditional Council has issued a press statement refuting these claims and condemning the actions of the Enigie. The BTC emphasized that the Enigie’s actions against the longstanding traditions of the Benin Kingdom are unacceptable.

Key Points from the Benin Traditional Council’s Statement:

Customary Arbitration Channels: The BTC highlighted that there are well-established customary arbitration channels involving the Oba and his subjects. If any chief feels aggrieved, they are expected to use these traditional pathways. The BTC declared it inappropriate for the Oba to sit down with his subjects for any conflict resolution outside these channels.

Tradition and Respect: The council described any attempt to alter these age-old traditions as an aberration and an abomination. The BTC also strongly objected to labeling the issue as a “family dispute,” asserting that the Oba of Benin reigns supreme and cannot be in dispute with his subjects.

Proposed Solutions:

Abolish the Seven Traditional Councils: The BTC suggested that the state government should abolish the seven traditional councils created in Edo South.

Restore Financial Entitlements: They called for the complete restoration of the statutory financial entitlements of the BTC to the status quo before the creation of these councils.

Non-Interference: The government should cease interfering in the internal affairs of the BTC.

Revoke the Revocation of Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre: The BTC demanded the withdrawal of the state’s letter revoking the concession of the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre and the restoration of the centre to its former glory.

Implications and Concerns:

The conflict between Governor Obaseki and the Benin Traditional Council has raised concerns about the potential disruption of peace in Edo State. Some fear that Obaseki’s actions may echo those of his great-grandfather, who historically betrayed the Oba of Benin. The community is questioning the Governor’s motives and the potential sacrilegious nature of his moves.

The situation calls for careful navigation to avoid exacerbating tensions within the state. Respecting traditional institutions and their established dispute resolution mechanisms is crucial for maintaining harmony. Governor Obaseki’s approach will need to balance modernization and governance with deep-seated cultural and traditional practices. The outcome of this conflict remains uncertain, but it will undoubtedly shape the political and cultural landscape of Edo State.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, Principal and CEO of Bush Radio Academy, underscores the seriousness of the issue and its potential impact on the state’s stability.

Source: iReporteronline

Please see the unedited press statement below:

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Peter Obi’s Convoy Attack: Police Unmask Arrested Suspect, Disclose What Happened.

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The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a suspect over the attack on the convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Calabar, the state capital.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The incident reportedly occurred at about 2:20 p.m. at the Watt Market Roundabout while the convoy was returning from the palace of the Obong of Calabar to the Metropolitan Hotel, where the party’s presidential town hall meeting was scheduled to take place.

The attack resulted in the windshields of some vehicles in the convoy being smashed.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, identified the arrested suspect as 27-year-old Victor Edet Yellow Duke.

According to the command, a group of suspected hoodlums, allegedly armed with machetes and sticks, emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis before attacking vehicles in the convoy.

The police said the exact number of vehicles affected had yet to be determined.

Officers deployed in the area quickly intervened to contain the violence. Their response, which involved the use of tear gas, resulted in the arrest of Duke, while the other suspected attackers escaped.

The suspect was subsequently transferred to the State Police Headquarters by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) for what the command described as a discreet investigation aimed at preventing possible reprisals or further threats to public order.

The police added that normalcy had returned to the area.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend the other suspects involved and establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.

The command also cautioned the public against assuming that the arrested man was guilty, stressing that he remained entitled to the presumption of innocence.

“The arrest of a suspect does not amount to a determination of guilt, as the suspect remains entitled to the presumption of innocence pending the conclusion of investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings,” the statement said.

The police assured residents, political stakeholders and visitors that adequate security arrangements remained in place across the state.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to “providing equal security protection to all political parties, candidates and their supporters, irrespective of political affiliation.”

The command urged members of the public to remain calm, refrain from circulating unverified information and report suspicious activities through established police channels.

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Osun Govt Moves Against Oluwo, Places Monarch Under Close Watch

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The Osun State Government has placed the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, under close monitoring over what it described as inflammatory remarks capable of threatening communal and religious harmony.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The government disclosed its decision in a letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Office of the Permanent Secretary. The letter, with reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, was dated November 2026 and signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.

In the correspondence, the government directed the monarch to stop making remarks targeting people of other religious beliefs and fellow traditional rulers.

A copy of the letter was also forwarded to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas.

The government warned that the Oluwo’s alleged conduct was heightening communal tension, encouraging religious and communal division, and undermining the traditional values of his people and the Yoruba race.

In the letter, addressed to the monarch and received by his secretary on Tuesday, the government said it had taken note of several widely publicised statements and pronouncements attributed to Oba Akanbi, which it believed could trigger religious confrontation, conflicts between communities and a breakdown of public peace.

It added that the continued pattern of what it described as crisis-inducing remarks and disruptive behaviour had reached a point that the administration could no longer overlook.

The letter read:

“You cannot, and you must not, conduct yourself in any way that can foment religious crisis through serial attacks on people of other faiths. Your Royal Majesty is also invited to note that just as the traditional stool should not be used to incite religious war, its occupants should also be mindful not to erode the traditional values, culture and tradition of the society over which they preside.

“The government notes with shock and disbelief several statements and public utterances credited to Your Royal Majesty without denial.

“Your activities are raising communal tension, sowing seeds of communal and religious discord and increasingly discrediting the traditional values of your people and Yoruba society, of which your domain is a major part.

“These developments constitute serious threats to the peace, unity and stability of Osun State and your immediate domain.”

The government subsequently outlined a series of cautionary measures aimed at preventing a possible outbreak of religious or inter-community conflict.

It directed the Oluwo to:

  1. Immediately stop making further attacks against people of other faiths, stressing that every citizen has the right to freedom of religion.
  2. Refrain from attacking fellow traditional rulers to prevent possible conflicts between communities.
  3. Protect and promote the culture and traditions represented by the traditional institution he occupies.
  4. Conduct himself in accordance with the standards and regulations contained in the Chieftaincy Laws and resolutions of the State Council of Obas.
  5. Comply with the ministry’s cautionary directives, with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs tasked with monitoring his conduct.
  6. Take note that the State Council of Obas had also been directed to monitor and respond to recent developments in Iwo land.
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Fresh Setback For NDC As Court Blocks INEC From Recognising Gwarzo.

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Fresh court documents from the Federal High Court in Kano have provided an explanation for the absence of Aminu Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, from the updated list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Certified true copies of the court processes indicate that INEC was restrained by a court order from publishing the name of any NDC governorship candidate in the state.

The suit was filed by three party members, Garba Isa, Yau Nasiru and Atiku Abubakar, who listed INEC and the NDC as defendants.

The plaintiffs are challenging the emergence of Gwarzo as the party’s governorship candidate and Mustapha Kwankwaso, son of NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso, as his running mate. They accused the Kwankwasiyya leader of imposing the candidates on the party.

Through their lawyer, S.A. Abdullahi, the plaintiffs filed an ex parte application on October 17, 2026.

In a ruling delivered on October 27, Justice Amobeda restrained INEC and anyone acting on its behalf from publishing the name of any NDC governorship candidate in Kano State until the court hears the motion on notice.

The judge also ordered the commission not to alter the final list it released on October 10. He directed that the court processes be served on the defendants and scheduled an accelerated hearing for November 2.

The documents appear to support INEC’s position that Gwarzo had been cleared but could not be listed because of the subsisting court order.

However, the hearing scheduled for Monday could not proceed after Gwarzo’s lawyer applied to join the case as a party.

The court subseq

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