Benin palace chiefs rain curses on alleged Oba’s enemies

By Simon Ebegbulem
 BENIN CITY—THE travails of a top chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo state, Arisco Osemwengie and others declared as “Oghion Oba”, meaning enemies of the Oba of Benin, continued last Friday in Benin City, Edo State, as top palace chiefs went round strategic shrines in the ancient kingdom to proclaim curses on Osemwengie and his cohorts.
Osemwengie and gang supposedly created a parallel kingdom in Edo land last September, when they allegedly carved another monarchy called Utantan from the Benin Kingdom and pronounced himself as the Ogiamen of Utantan.
Besides making himself the imperial leader of Utantan Kingdom, Prince Osemwengie reportedly declared that as Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom, he does not bow to the authority of the Oba of Benin, a declaration that pitched him against Benin monarchy and all that it represents.
Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the state, Barrister Henry Idahagbon, dragged the trio of Messrs Rich Arisco-Osemwingie, Patrick Osabuohien and another, who is at large to the Magistrate Court in Benin, which remanded in prison. Government accused them of carrying out an alleged traditional coup, which it said was capable of causing unrest in Benin Kingdom and the palace of the Oba of Benin in particular.
The court granted Osemwengie bail, but as it seems, Benin chiefs led by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, (Prime Minister) Chief Sam Igbe, are still enraged. Last Friday, they unleashed curses on Osemwengie and others. They made sacrifices at different shrines, slaughtering a puppy and exposing the hearts and intestines in the sun.
Other groups that joined in cursing the group were the Ewaise, Ihogbe and powerful palace native doctors. They wore red attires known as ‘Ododo’ and visited several shrines within Benin City to invoke the wrath of the gods. Chief Igbe who addressed journalists, said they gathered to send a message to all perceived enemies of the Oba, that nobody dares the Oba of Benin no matter his status in the society.
He described the action of Osemnwengie and others as a taboo, saying, “No one argues with the Oba. It has not happened in this land before and it will not happen in our time. We do not have two Obas here. We are caretakers of the land. We hold forth for the Oba, we have always had one ruler and not two.”
“We will not allow anybody divide Benin Kingdom. We are here to tell God that no one drags the land with the Oba. We do not fight to become an Oba in Benin and anyone who tries to fight the gods of our land will meet its consequences. This Kingdom is unique and no miscreant will be allowed to desecrate it, irrespective of where the person comes from,” he said.