Benin city – The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has expressed worry over what it termed ‘recent disrespect by one Richie Arisco Osemwegie for the Benin Culture and tradition.”
At a press briefing held at the Palace of the Benin Monarch, yesterday the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe said the “Benin Monarch, Benin Chiefs, well meaning Benin People and lovers of our culture and tradition are appalled” at the disrespect.
The press briefing session had in attendance, Palace Chief, Dukes, Priests, market women and other stakeholders across the seven Edo Speaking local government areas that make Edo South Senatorial district.
Chief Igbe disclosed that “the said Richie Arisoc Osemwegie and his cohorts cast aspersion and insult on our revered Benin Monarch.
“Of most recent was the brazen violation of certain sections of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, wherein the selfstyled Richie Arisco Osemwegie proclaimed himself as “His Imperial Majesty, the Ogiamien of Utantan Benin Nation.”
Besides, Chief Igbe said Osemwengi “purporting to appoint Enogie (Duke) in a suburb of Benin City as well as conferring other chieftaincy titles on some of his cohorts.”
“This act of the said Richie Arisco Osemwegie and his dissidents is totally unacceptable to the Benins” according to the brief signed by eight palace chiefs including the Iyase of Benin.
According to the Iyase, the said Arisco, the publisher of Ogiamien trumpet newspaper, the Ogiamien family and their cohorts “are investing in and supporting a cause that could lead to self destruction.
He disclosed that, no true Benin citizen can be indifferent to a matter of this nature as “we have one Oba, one Benin” adding that Oba makes Chiefs.
While urging the people of Benin Kingdom not to sleep over the matter, Chief Igbe remarked that whoever desecrates Benin Kingdom is cursed and an enemy of the Oba.
