Ogiamien vs Oba of Benin – What will the court decide

By Comrade Osaigbovo Osadolo

As 20th September 2016 draws near the Binis and the entire world are anxiously waiting to know what is going to happen on that day; will the Appeal Court sitting in Benin City rule in favor of the Oba palace thereby empowering them to go ahead install and perform the coronation of the new Oba of Benin Kingdom without recourse to the Great Ogiamien Royal Family, or uphold the historical submission of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family before it saying that without them there can never be an Oba of Benin.  If the Pendulum goes in favor of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family, it means that all the illegal efforts being made by the Oba Palace to install and perform the coronation of the Crown Prince HRH Eheneden Erediauwa as the 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom which is a clear violation of the Appeal Court ruling to maintain status quo till the 20th September 2016 will be an exercise in futility.  That will certainly ridicule and bring disgrace to the Oba Palace more especially as they have sent out invitations to many important dignitaries all over the world to come for the event on the 26th April, 2016 which has just been shifted to the 18th of October 2016 as against the Court ruling.

What is happening now in Benin Kingdom as regards the Oba of Benin Stool is strange and difficult for many to comprehend.  This is the first time in the history of Benin Kingdom that the death, burial of an Oba together with the installation and coronation of a new Oba is conducted with utmost secrecy, the processes many Binis believed are against the customs and tradition of the Bini people.

For example, the late Benin Kingdom Monarch Oba Erediauwa was said to have gone into coma in September 2014 and finally joined his ancestors in January 2015, the matter was kept secret until recently, the situation which is against the culture, customs and traditions of the Benin Kingdom.  The way and manner with which the burial was also conducted is nothing to write home about.  The proposed installation and coronation of the Crowned Prince as the 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom is also being conducted in a manner which many people are not too happy with.

At a point, the Governor of Edo State Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in attempt to use the instruments and machineries of the state to circumvent the memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty which MUST be traditionally administered by the Great Ogiamien Royal Family, as the traditional landlord cum owner of Bini and the Oba lessor messed up the coronation process and gave a letter appointing the Crowned Prince as the 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom and withdrew the same letter within 24 hours.  Even against the Appeal Court ruling, they went ahead and initially fixed the coronation on 26th September, 2016 and again on the 11th September, they have shifted it to 18th October, 2016.  This is really abnormal.  Never in the history of Benin, the installation and coronation of the Oba of Benin is handled with such levity and I don’t care attitude.  All these according to many people are becoming so funny and childish.

Another issue that is compounding the matter the more is the traditional war between the great Ogiamien Royal Family and the Oba Palace which has opened up many hidden secrets.  Since last year, both royal families have been on media war using both the local and national media to throw mud at each other. The messages coming out of this media war, has been so informative and educative. Binis have really learnt a lot. While writing this article, all efforts to get the Public Relations Officers of both Ogiamien Royal Family High Chief Esotericist Monday Wehere JP who is said to be shuttling Abuja, Port Harcourt and Benin City on one hand and that of Oba Palace and Mr. Frank Irabor on the another hand, to speak with them have proved abortive, but according to what I can glean from the numerous publications made so far by both royal families, the issue at stake is not as easy as many people think.  The decision of the Justices of Appeal Court in Benin on the 26th September, 2016 will determine the true position of the great Ogiamien Royal Family and the relationship between the great Ogiamien Royal Family and the Oba Palace.

From the publications I have read so far, the crisis between the Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the Oba Palace started with the arrest and detention of  the current Ogiamien of Utantan, Prince Arisco Osemwengie JP with his younger brother Chief Patrick Osabohien, The Oliha of Utantan through a petition written by the Oba Palace claiming that the Ogiamien Royal Family violated the customs, traditions of  Benin Kingdom by installing and performing the coronation of Ogiamien Arisco as the Ogiamien of Utantan without recourse to them stating further that Ogiamien is a Chief under the Oba of Benin.  The Oba Palace used the instruments of the state and machineries made it difficult for the Ogiamien Royal Family to bail their King and his brother from Oko Prison, but the family worked very hard and released their King from Oko Prison without begging the Governor of Edo State and the Benin Traditional Council.  This was the first and major victory of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family against the Oba Palace.

For the avoidance of doubt, EVIAN is the father of OGIAMIEN.  He ruled Igodomigodo for 40 years as Ogiso before handing over to his son OGIAMIEN.  Put in other words, OGIAMIEN is the same thing as EVIAN.

Before the arrest and detention of Ogiamien Arisco, as far back as June 2015, in their in-house publication titled Ogiamien Trumpet  in Volume 1 No 1 June 3-16th 2015, the great Ogiamien Royal Family sent out a strong signal to the Benin Traditional Council warning it to stop distorting Evian History and vowed to put the records straight; frowning at what they described as the deliberate attempts by the “Benin Traditional Council to continue to undermine, omit Evian reign in the history of Bini promising to stop the distortion and put the records straight for posterity.

Continuing: Ogiso Owodo was the last ruler of Benin Kingdom and Owodo and Evian are of the same father.  History has it that they were born by Ogiso Arigho and he was the last ruler of Benin Kingdom before Ogiso Owodo.

On Volume 1 No 2 July 13th 2015, they also gave reasons why any Evian: Uzama, Ogiamien and Oliha children cannot kneel down before the Oba of Benin describing it as a taboo, historical, sacrilege and sacrosanct. Now for the avoidance of doubt too, Uzama, Ogiamien and Oliha were the 3 children of OGISO EVIAN.

Also on Volume 1 No 3 August 3rd 2015, in the interview granted to one of their illustrious sons an international scholar based in the United States Professor Tony Ogiamien when asked whether Ogiso Owodo had a child, he said emphatically: “No! No!! No!!! I have seen and read of such history but that is not correct.  That history is completely wrong.  The last Ogiso was Ogiso Owodo.  He has no child at all… That is not correct at all.  Owodo had no child.  Please quote me.  When Owodo was banished to exile for killing the pregnant woman, Evian his younger brother a man of many talents, a mystic, craftsman, an herbalist, an astrologer, any areas you call him he was always available to and he will do it perfectly. All these actually endeared him to the Binis to make him rule them, when his elder brother same father and same mother that is the last Ogiso Owodo was banished.  So when he was old he decided to nominate his son to take over from him after ruling for 40 years.  To me based on the research I have personally done, the story of Ekaladerhan is mainly oral. There are discrepancies on this issue when you read various historical accounts

When he was further asked his stake on the notion that the Yoruba migrated from Benin, he screamed again: No! No! No!!! That one has been settled.  It cannot be.  That history is not correct at all.  See the Yoruba Empire has been in existence for so long after the Songhai Empire, before the Usman Danfodio war, there was an Oyo empire.  The Oyo Empire had long developed even before the Bini Empire became visible.  No doubt the Binis existed but we were neighboring country next to the Oyo Empire.  We do not even have the population of the Yoruba as at that time that was why they were able to overpower the reigning Ogiamien then and took over from him.  This is where we really have problem in Bini history.  The Yoruba, repeat, the Yoruba did not migrate from Bini Empire.  Whoever is saying so does not know the history properly, he noted.

The edition that broke the camel’s back was the very edition where Ogiamien Arisco and the Okagbe Nokhua of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family Prince Pa Sunday Emokpae were granted different exclusive interviews that appeared in Volume 1 No 4 August 21st 2015.  Ogiamien Arisco said: We are not interested in the title of Oba of Benin because Ogiamien Title is Higher noting further that We own the Bini land. Our focus is how to liberate the Ogiamiens and the Binis from the Political and Economic slavery foist on us by the Oba of Benin”.

Many Binis were shocked to read this in the Ogiamien Trumpet.

In that same publication Ogiamien Arisco revealed that the great Ogiamien Royal Family wrote to the Governor of Edo State and the Crown Prince in the month of July 2015 and made some specific demands.

Referring to the provision of the Memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty and the demands made to Edo State Governor, he said:  As at today Your Excellency, either traditionally, politically or otherwise no event has changed the terms of the treaty at Ekiokpagha and we believe strongly that this is the appropriate time for us to demand what is due to the Ogiamien Royal Family in line with history and tradition.

“Your Excellency, the present Benin Traditional Council consists of seven Local Government Areas of Edo State and is made up of these Local Government Areas to wit:

• Oredo Local Government Area
• Egor Local Government Area
• Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area
• Ovia South West Local Government Area
• Ovia North-East Local Government Area
• Uhunmwode Local Government Area
• Orhionmwon Local Government Area

By the treaty and as at today, the areas over which the Ogiamien has control included the present day Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode Local Government Areas and a part of present day Oredo Local Government Area.

Also and by the treaty, the Successors of Eweka, the present day Oba of Benin had control of Egor, Ovia North-East, Ovia South West Local Government Areas and a part of present day Oredo Local Government Area respectively.

This be the case; the Ogiamien Royal Family demands as follows:

• That total establishment by the Government of Edo State, a separate Traditional Council for the Ogiamien Royal Family Chieftaincy as contained in the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict No. 37 of 1968 and all other extant laws in this regard.
• The total refund of the amount of money due to the Ogiamien from the Local Government Councils under him from 1968 till date.
• Proper observance of the treaty of Ekiokpagha.
• Direct collection of his royalties from the Local Government Councils under the domain of the Ogiamien.
• Recognition of the Ogiamien as a King and not a Chief under the Oba of Benin as the Ogiamien is equal in rank of status with the Oba of Benin (in modern times) if not superior to, because the Ogiamien remains permanently the Oba’s Lessor.
• That you use your good offices in directing that the royalties due to the Ogiamien be deducted at source and paid to the Ogiamien forthwith. All such payment should be paid into First Bank Account No. 2027724543 in the name of the Great Ogiamien Palace, Utantan Bini Nation.

Your Excellency, it is no doubt that by your present calling that you are the father of this state and it is to you that we can resort to on matter of this magnitude.

Being as this task may seem, we believe that with zeal and the interest to do justice, you will use your good offices in arriving at a truce that will do justice to all sides particularly the Ogiamien who has been robbed of his place in history and put in absolute denial of his traditional rights.

May we not be persuaded by our ancestors to revoke the treaty of Ekiokpagha.

This was the summary of the request made to the governor of Edo State.

They also wrote to the Crown Prince and made some certain demands as follows:

It is worthy of note that it was not the entire Bini Nation that Ogiamien leased to Eweka or his Successors as it seems today.

Sir, we, have related the above to let you know first-hand who should be the proper person between the Ogiamien and the Successors of Eweka, the present Obaship in Benin who ought to be the paramount ruler of the Bini. Is it the landlord who was met on the land or the person to whom he leased a part of the land to which sale is renewable by purchase by any of his Successors?

Not only this, our rulership of Bini suddenly metamorphosed into a mere Chieftaincy title under the Oba of Benin. This we term an abomination as a king cannot reside in the abode of another king Oba gueoba dia.

As this matter bother on custom and practices, we believe it is never too late for this anomaly to be corrected hence after much agitation and by an Order cited as the Recognized Chieftaincies Order, 1968, the provisions of part II of the Chief Law (cap. 19) are applied to the Ogiamien of Benin Chieftaincy.

The order specified that the Benin City Council is hereby designated as the competent Local Government Council in respect of the Ogiamien Chieftaincy. As at today, by the treaty the Areas over which the Ogiamien had control included the present day Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Uhunmwode Local Government Area and a part of present day Oredo Local Government Area.

By the treaty to the Successors of Eweka the present day Oba of Benin had control of Egor Local Government Area, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Ovia South West Local Government Area and a part of Oredo Local Government Area respectively.

As at today, no event either traditionally, customarily or politically has changed the terms of the treaty of Ekiokpagha and this be the case, we believe strongly that this is the appropriate time to demand what is due to us based on the agreement reached at Ekiokpagha.

This been the case and wanting to maintain the peaceful co-existence which the treaty of Ekiokpagha signifies, we the descendants of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family hereby demand as follows:

(1) The establishment of a separate Traditional Council for the Ogiamien Kingdom as contained in the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict No. 37 (cap. 19) made at Benin the 7th day of November, 1968.

(2) The total refund of the amount of money due to the great Ogiamien Palace from the three and half Local Government Council Areas in Ogiamiens domain namely Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode and part of Oredo Local Government Areas collected by Benin Traditional Council from 1968- 2015).

(3) Proper observance of the terms of the treaty of Ekiokpagha. That is, the maintenance of the demarcation line which divided the Bini Nation into two equal parts. While the Ogiamien maintains his Kingdom, the Oba maintains his part of the Kingdom too without interference from both sides on how they preside over their parts from each other.

(4) A review of one of the land lease fees of Ugianmwen to the present day Naira which is N350,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) only, four persons including a woman, a large drum called the Okha, a flute-Orhu, a cow, and Ukhurhe Staff, Agba and Ere.

(5) Direct collection of his royalties from the Local Government Council Areas under his domain and

(6) Never to refer to the Ogiamien as a Chief under the Oba of Benin as the Ogiamien is equal in rank or status with the Oba of Benin (in modern times) if not superior to the Oba as the Ogiamien is the Oba’s Lessor.

May we not be persuaded by our ancestors to revoke the treaty of Ekiokpagha, Ogiamien Arisco submitted.

Thereafter this, they installed and performed the coronation of Ogiamien Arisco after meeting all the necessary traditional requirements according to the laws, traditions and customs of the great Ogiamien Royal Family.  The event was peacefully and immediately after this he was arrested and detained in Oko Prison for almost two months.

However, before the installation of Ogiamien Arisco, the Binis woke up one morning to read in the same Ogiamien Trumpet Volume 1 No 4, how the Okagbe Nokhua of the great Ogiamien Royal Family Prince Pa Sunday Emokpae insulted, lampooned, made caricature and several allegations against the late Oba of Benin the revered late Oba Erediauwa, the Monarch many Binis believed is next to God. This was strange as it has never happened in the history of Bini for any person to talk to Oba of Benin this way.

To the consternation of the Binis and the whole world, Prince Pa Sunday Emokpae said that his ancestors will not forgive Oba Erediauwa, dead or alive, until he corrects all the evil he did to the Ogiamien Royal Family and beg for forgiveness noting that he Oba Erediauwa used government machineries and instruments to impoverish, deny us our rights and relegate Ogiamien to the background. He Oba Erediauwa will not know peace. You can see the way God is dealing with him now.  Look at what is happening to him and his immediate family.  They are all in shambles.  This is the Law of Karma in action.  All this is because of the evil he did to us and the Binis by foisting political and economic slavery on us.  Our ancestors are not sleeping. Really many Binis up till now are still unable to gather themselves from the shock they received as a result of this.

Supporting the earlier position of Prof. Tony Ogiamien who claimed that the last Ogiso Owodo had no child, Prince Pa Sunday Emokpae retorted: Owodo had no child; it was Oba Erediauwa and his evil group that manufactured that fake story to deceive the gullible Binis.  Owodo had no child My ancestors know what I am telling you.  The Benin Traditional Council manufactured it to cover up the foreign invasion of Bini Empire by the present Oba of Benin lineage.  The Benin monarch is a foreigner in Bini soil.  It was Ogiamien who leased some part of Benin land to him.

When he was told of the attempt of the Oba Palace to circumvent the memorable Ekiopagha Treaty, Prince Pa Sunday Emokpae noted: Well, if that is true, then, The Oba of Benin should pack his load and go away because by that they have violated the original agreement had with the Ogiamien in the 12th century AD.  Ogiamien leased half part of the Bini land to the Oba Eweka and told him that the Oba son will continue to repurchase that section of the land leased to him.  He did not sell it to the Oba forever.  It was a lease agreement

Asked whether Ekaladerhan was the son of Ogiso Owodo, he screamed again:  No!  No!!  No!!! No!!!! No!!!!! That is a big lie.  Owodo is not the father of Ekaladerhan.  The Benin monarch manufactured that lies to secure his position in Benin Kingdom.  They are from Yoruba land.  The Benin monarch is a son of the Yoruba land.  He should stop fabricating lies to deceive himself.  Only a fool will believe the Benin monarch.  The Benin monarch is a foreigner in Bini soil. Any person who thinks that I am not saying the truth should take me to court.  I have enough facts and evidences to tell the whole world that the Oba of Benin is a tenant and a foreigner in Bini soil.  I am still alive now, they should take me to court.  In the actual sense Egor is the birth home of the Benin Monarch that is if you follow their own history.  See the Moat you are still seeing the remnant was spiritually dogged by God to protect the Ogiamien.  As at the time the moats were created, we do not have machinery talk-less of the human intelligence to dig such big moat around the Ogiamien to give him protection.  It was done by God.  I am not happy Erediauwa has really messed us up.  He just capitalized on the fact that our early fore fathers did not go to school. He threw us into the mess.  He used government machineries and instruments to manipulate and relegate us to the background. His father and the previous Oba before Erediauwa to some extent obeyed the provisions of the treaty.  Akenzua on his own tried but Erediauwa did not.  He did so many evil things against Ogiamien, the family that gave them sustenance.  Until Erediauwa corrects all the evil he did to Ogiamien family and apologize to us, he will not know peace. You can see the way God is dealing with him now.  Look at what is happening to him and his family.  They are all in shambles.  All this is because of the evil he did to us and the Binis.  Our ancestors are not sleeping”.

Supporting the position of late Ogiamien Obazee whom we are told said many times and that he even sang with it that Owodo had no child! Owodo had no child!! Owodo had no child!!! Prince Pa Sunday Emokpae submitted: Yes, that is true.  The issue of Ekaladarhan was created by the Benin Monarch to cover their foreign invasion of Bini Nation. My son, Owodo has no child.  I grew up to hear this history that Owodo has no child. Whoever tells you that Owodo had a child is a liar.  That story is sponsored and propagated by the Benin Monarch to save them from embarrassment of may be possible sack from Bini by the Ogiamiens.  But how long will they continue to hide under Ekaladarhan.

Again, when he was asked after leasing some part of Bini land to Oba Eweka, whether the Ogiamien lose the authority to have control over the landed properties in his domain that is Utantan, he said: No, that was one of the evil things the immediate late Benin Monarch did against us.  Before the coming of, I think Erediauwa, while the Oba was giving approval for land within his domain Ogiamien was also given the same authority and approval of land within his domain which is Utantan, but the Benin traditional council used government machinery to take that power from the Ogiamien and forcefully bringing Utantan into the Oba’s authority.  This is one of the major evils they did to us.  This led to the many problems we are having now.  This took away our political, economic and traditional powers and vested them in the Oba with the Ogiamien just floating having no single authority any more in Bini nation.

These publications made a serious impact on the Binis and the entire world that had hitherto believed the Oba of Benin was next to God.  It reduced the image and reputation of the Oba of Benin.  Since the publications came out many Binis, the international community and Nigerians are now seeing the Oba of Benin and the great Ogiamien Royal Family from a different perspective.

However, immediately after securing the release of their King from Oko Prison, Chief Osamede Adun, a member of Oba Palace called a press conference; in order to repair the damage the Ogiamien Royal Family had done to the reputation of Oba of Benin, he Osamede Adun lampooned the great Ogiamien Royal Family calling them names including slaves.

The Director of Information and External Affairs of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family, High Chief Esotericist Monday Wehere JP whose mother Princess Helen Ogiamien Wehere is a direct scion of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family, in a swift reaction replied Chief Osamede Adun both in the local and national media and this again further opened up many hidden things and damaged the reputation of the Oba of Benin the more.

In his reactions published on Volume 2 No 1 dated January 2016 High Chief Wehere said: there can never be an Oba of Benin without The Great Ogiamien Royal Family noting that The Great Ogiamien Royal Family has a unique and distinct royal position in Bini and in the world map.

According to High Chief Wehere they only installed their own Prince Rich Arisco Osemwengie JP as the substantive Ogiamien of Utantan-Bini to fill the over 17years old vacant stool stating that the new Ogiamien Osemwengie has an important role to play in the coronation of a new Oba of Benin.

Continuing: Our own Prince Rich Arisco Osemwengie JP was installed to reposition and restore the lost glories of the silenced, neglected and forgotten The Great Ogiamien Royal Family.  The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) should cooperate with us.  They should be humble enough to tell the members of BTC and the Binis of the true sacred and uncompromising relationship between The Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the Oba of Benin especially the existence of the Ekiokpagha Treaty which clearly defined the relationship between The Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the Oba of Benin and finally grant us our legitimate demands to stop the further agitation

Explaining the history of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family: Historically what is today known as Bini started as Igodomigodo at about 9th Century AD.  The Empire had existed for about 300 years before Oyo Empire through Oramiyan came to attack Ogiso Evian, the father of Ogiamien Erebo the then reigning Kings and forcefully took occupation of a certain portion of Bini land via the Ekiokpagha Treaty.

It was during the reign of Ogiso Erebo that the Ile-Ife came to attack Igodomigodo.  Before the attack, Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo were now the custodians (fathers) of the descendants of all the 32 Ogisos that had ruled Igodomigodo.  The truth of the matter is that Owodo has no child and the theory of Ekaladerhan was concocted to cover up the invasion, establish their stay permanently in Bini. This is becoming too glaring now.

The Ekaladerhan theory is an intellectual fraud on the Binis designed by the Benin Traditional Council.  It is a long story.  But to answer your question directly, Bini is tied to Niger Delta, that is, the greater part of the people of Niger Delta migrated from Bini and this started from 10th century upward.  The popular Mass Exodus of Binis to establish other ethnic nationalities especially in the Niger Delta is divided into Five stages namely Pre-Exodus 10th Century; The Main Exodus itself 11th-12th Century, Post-Exodus 13th Century upward, The 14TH Century Era of Imposition of Leadership. And the 19th Century AD Era of Persecution and Witch-hunting.

PRE- EXODUS 10TH CENTURY:  This exodus started when information was leaked to some of the strong children and relations of Ogiamien that the Oyo Empire was planning to invade Bini.  Ogiso Erebo was holding the Ogiso Ark as at this time, because his father Ogiso Evian was already too old so Ogiso Erebo was the custodian and father of all the descendants of the 32 previous Ogisos.  These selected strong children were the main target.  The Invading Forces had planned to first assassinate some of the strong children and relations of Ogiso Erebo also known as Ogiamien Erebo in order to have an easy entry into Bini.  But before then, as part of their secret strategies, they had secretly sneaked into Igodomigodo and started having sexual affairs with our daughters.

In fact, H. Ling Roth, the author of the Great Benin: Its Customs Art and Horrors (1903 p7) actually revealed how the rich Igodomigodo Empire was invaded. Referring to Oramiyan, hear him:

he came with a few men, he came to Benin City; he went softly (slowly) into all the country; if the people were weak he fought with them and caught them; if strong, he talked cunningly with them; and he and his men sat down there and took their daughters to wives

This is to tell you that the invasion was well planned.  So when the news got to some of these targeted strong children and relations of Ogiamien Erebo, through our daughters they were having clandestine sexual relationship with, these targeted children secretly traveled through the bush path with the help of their sisters lovers to spy on the Invading Forces and when they saw the level of preparations already made to invade Bini, some of them already targeted for elimination, for safety did not return; they disguised themselves and set up settlement camps thus established other communities  Ijaws, over there in the coastal areas along Ondo Rivers, Creeks up to Eko, Etinosa in Lagos State and some neighboring West African Countries, but they equally sent messages to their fathers Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo to get ready  that Invading Forces were coming to invade Bini.  This group of exodus was not really much, but these were the first group.

THE MAIN MASS EXODUS 11TH  12TH CENTURY:  By 11th century, Oramiyan now finally came to attack Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo which lasted for some years, but he failed and left.  On his way back home with frustration, he intentionally got Princess Erhinwinde pregnant as part of their strategy, who gave him a son that is Oba Eweka I. Oramiyan too had other children from his legitimate wives at Ile-Ife and because Oramiyan had no relationship; with Ekaladerhan, those children never returned to Bini.  Princess Erhinwinde was the daughter of Enogie Egor who was one of the Enogies under Ogiso Erebo as at the time Oramiyan came to attack Bini.  This is another important royal family in Bini warming up for liberation too. Also, they have been silenced, neglected and forgotten.  While others of the troops remained behind and continued having clandestine sexual affairs with our daughters to produce more children in preparation for the proper invasion.    When Oba Eweka and all those born the same way he was born were grown up many in numbers, they invited them home secretly and there they revealed to them the reasons for their existence.  After educating them, they made them take an Oath of allegiance never to betray Oba Eweka and gave them additional armies to continue with the invasion.

Also, Ling Roth, the author of the Great Benin: Its Customs Arts and Horrors (1903 p7) confirms this: “then when they had children, they called their wives and children and returned to this town.”

Just the way they used clandestine sex to cunningly enter into Benin through the children they got from our daughters, they had to deliberately manufacture some fake stories/theories with the help of hireling historians and scholars to do the hatchet job purposely to cover up their invasion.

Now, let us come back to the invasion which leads to the death of many Binis and the troops of the Invading forces.  To stop the carnage, by which time many of the Invading Forces had already advanced into the heart of Benin and settled comfortably at a place now called Yoruba quarters, that is the popular Lagos Street, through some of the children they had through illicit sex with our daughters, it was difficult to send them packing so a truce was agreed upon and Benin was divided into two via the Ekiokpagha Treaty: Ogiamien Erebo leased one part to Oba Eweka The First, that portion which is now known as Benin Kingdom while Ogiamien Erebo took the remaining part now known as Utantan, Bini. After Oba Eweka dynasty succeeded in gaining entrance into Benin, via the Ekiokpagha Treaty, many descendants including Princes, and Princess of the previous 32 Ogisos under the custodian of Ogiamien Erebo who was then holding the Ogiso Ark became uncomfortable, felt humiliated and started fleeing.  Besides too, some of Ogiamien children, relations, armies trapped on the part leased to Oba Eweka, he Oba Eweka, started killing them secretly and systematically.  The children and relations of Ogiamien trapped on the part leased to Oba Eweka and some also on the part belonging to Ogiamien Erebo seeing how Oba Eweka was secretly killing their brethren trapped on the portion leased to Oba Eweka, for fear of reprisal attack on them later, they also joined their brethren fleeing for safety.  This is the main popular mass exodus.  When I was led in the realm of spirit to see the subtle video clips of their movements, they were just like a refugee.  It was really pathetic and I wept.    Some ran to Benin North to establish what is today known as Afemai, Owan, Etsako, Akoko-Edo, Ekperi, Ishan, and Igala and other ethnic groups along that axis to Kogi, Kwara, and Benue State; Benin West: Ondo, Akotogbo, Owo, Eko, Etinosa in Lagos State and other neighboring West African Countries, including the Ijaws in the West; Benin East:  Igbanke, Umunede, Ogwashikwu, Iselukwu, in fact the whole of Ika Ibos up to half of Onitsha in Anambra State; Benin South: Urhobos, Isokos, Itshekiris, Engennis, Ogbas, Ekpeyes, Ikwerres, Nembes, the Ijaws in the South-South, Izon, Ogbia, Epie/Atissa, including the Urhobos, Isokos in Bayelsa State etc., Abua, Degema, Ndoki, Andoni, Kalabari, and so many other ethnic groups not mentioned here even up to Ukwa East in Abia State, Obolo and Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State which are now part of  Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC) and Ijaw National Congress (INC).  They used Ovia River, Ikpoba River and Ologbo River for their escape routes.  Ovia River has links with streams, brooks, and Rivers along the Western part of Edo Bini; Ikpoba River too has links with some brooks, streams, along the Eastern and Northern part of Bini; while Ologbo River which is 10 minutes’ drive from Benin has links with Sapele, Warri, through the Creeks to Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.  These were their main escape routes because you cannot survive in any environment without water.  During the mass exodus, they left with their close and distant relations both males and females and started procreating.  This is why in Niger Delta and outside Bini, sexual relationship with people somehow close and distant relations is not a taboo but is still a taboo up to date in Bini.  This was how many communities in Niger Delta were started.  Majority of these people are our children.  We must reunite with them and they should contact me for the reunion.

POST EXODUS 13TH CENTURY UPWARD:  After all the strong Princes, children and relations of Ogiamien Erebo have left, other succeeding Ogiamiens became weak and Oba Eweka dynasty cashed in on this to decimate, silence and unleash intellectual war on The Great Ogiamien Royal Family up to this day; by twisting the history of the Binis especially that of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family upside down in their favor, adopting the policy of expansion, with the help of organized government machineries and instruments, which came into being after the 1914 amalgamation, annexed Utantan, that is Ogiamien territory.  As at this time, the remaining few Princes, relations of Ogiamien felt humiliated and started fleeing also.

Oba Eweka should have answered Ogiso Eweka, but he chooses to answer his father’s name Oba Eweka.  The renowned author of A Short History of Benin, Jacob Egharevba on p9 recalled: “At his death, Eweka I left a strong order that his remains must be taken to Ife to be buried with his father and this order was carried out accordingly.  Since then the remains of the Oba of Benin were taken to Ife.”

This directive which speaks volumes in African Culture, confirms that Oba Eweka dynasty has no relationship with the Ogiso dynasty.  In a nutshell, this confirmed that Oba Eweka is not a Bini man.  If he had truly come to ascend his ancestral throne as some hireling historians made us to believe why take his corpse to Ile-Ife for burial. Please ponder on this.   This again confirmed that Owodo had no child and that the theory of Ekaladerhan is actually a hoax to cover up their invasion and establish their stay in Benin.

THE 14TH CENTURY ERA OF IMPOSITION OF LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES:

By this era, the children, relations of Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo that fled to establish the ethnic nationalities I have just mentioned, for fear that they might regroup to continue with the war, to reclaim the Ogiso Ark, they cunningly and forcefully took from their father Ogiamien Erebo, Oba Eweka dynasty started using government machineries and instruments to impose leadership structures on them, used hireling historians, scholars to start twisting Bini history upside down in favor of Oba Eweka dynasty..  This was possible because the descendants of Ogiamien Erebo at this period, who fled Bini during the invasion, do no longer know their true history so it was easy for Oba Eweka dynasty to distort their histories.  This started at about late 14th Century AD.  If not for the cordial relationship between Oba Akenzua and Ohen Evian on one part and Ogiamien Obazee on the other part, they would have fully taken over Iyekeogba clan because of her proximity and her strategic economic relevance in the heart of Benin by sending Enogies to Iyekeogba. Somehow, there is still cold war even though the Ogiamien dynasty (Ohen Evian) still appears to be in charge of the sixteen communities: Ugbor, Nkae, Ogha, Ihinmwinein, Aruogba, Etete, Orhionmwon nIkpe, Evboro, Avbiama, Igo, Ugbor, Ikhuen, Ivbiotor, Ugbekun, Igbobi and Ughoton, they are still usurping the powers of Ohen Evian.

19TH CENTURY TO DATE: THE ERA OF WITCH-HUNTING AND PERSECUTION: By early 19th Century AD, they became shocked to discover that some descendants of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family had found themselves in strategic positions through hard work in the state and in the country, and then they started witch-hunting and persecuting them.  Many of them bearing Ogiamien had no other option than to drop the name Ogiamien and started bearing their real fathers name and stopped identifying with anything Ogiamien.  Even up till now, some of our direct children are still afraid to bear Ogiamien name.  They are even afraid to associate with us openly but they do secretly because of their positions in the society.  It has been hellish and terrible for our people and the Binis do not know what we have been passing through in the hands of Oba Eweka dynasty.  This liberation coming will be celebrated with lots of thanksgiving. That was why Prince Pa Sunday Emokpae now the spiritual head of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family lampooned and placed an irreversible curse on the Oba of Benin the late Oba Erediauwa.

Continuing: What we are pushing for now is the full implementation of the memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty. That is what we are pushing for.  It has been there from time immemorial.  We are not doing anything strange.  We are only reviving this institution.  There is time for everything.  A time to be weak, a time to be strong, a time to be born and a time to die, a time to be out of circulation and a time to come back to circulation, a time to be forgotten and a time to be remembered, a time to be quiet and a time to talk.  That we have been quiet all this while because of the cordial relationship between The Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the Oba of Benin does not mean we were not there.  We are back to action and no amount of intimidation will stop us from answering our fathers name, thus the return of the silenced, neglected and forgotten aborigines is now fully on course.   A renowned media practitioner and Veteran Journalist, Chief Gbolabo Ogunsanwo former Editor of the Sunday Times in 1967 in an exclusive interview conducted by him published in the October 1967 edition of the Spear Magazine titled The Ogiamien of Benin p12-15 speaking on the Ekiokpagha Treaty also confirmed the division of Bini into two:

A treaty was agreed to between the Ogiamien and the Eweka.  Among the terms of the treaty were:

That Benin land, with Eki-Okpagha as the demarcation line was divided into two equal parts when the Ogiamien reportedly said: I sell half of this land to you, putting soil into the locked palms of the Eweka and himself; I do not sell the land to you finally.  It shall be yours throughout your reign, but your children shall in future buy this land again from me in the same way you have done.

Dr. Williams Ogunlesi, another great African Historian in his article titled The position of Ogiamien in the Benin Kingdom African Culture Magazine, February 1996 p18 also confirmed the division of Bini into two by the Ekiokpagha Treaty:

The Ogiamien would tell the Oba that Ekiokpagha shall be the boundary between his domain and the Oba and that Ebeni leaves should be used to roof the houses of Ogiamiens territory known as Utantan, a part of Benin while the rest land which is the domain of the Oba will use Ekhuere leaves to roof their houses.

This treaty of Ekiokpagha which created the division of Bini into two between the Ogiamien and the Oba is also supported by a renowned European Historian R. E. Bradbury:

“after the battle, there would be a ritual dividing the Benin land into two between the Ogiamien and the Oba.”

Another great historian Professor P. A. Igbafe, still supporting the Ekiokpagha Treaty which divided Bini into two in his book, Benin Under Colonial Administration said what I normally call the historian supreme court verdict.  Hear him:

“The belief that land belongs to the Oba is a mistaken conception of the theory of Benin land tenure.  In reality It is difficult to see how they could make such claims vis-à-vis the customary presents which each Oba sent to the Ogiame (sic) on occasion in acknowledgement of the permission granted to the founder of the present dynasty to settle on a foreign soil.”

Please ponder on the word foreign soil.

Then in the March 2016 edition of Ogiamien Trumpet Volume 2 No 2, High Chief Monday Wehere further disclosed how the late Oba Erediauwa distorted, corrupted and destroyed Bini History:

High Chief Wehere thanked “Messrs Odia Ofeimun and his co-history contractors at the Edo Focus Parliament hired by Oba Erediauwa to destroy Bini history for confirming how Oba Erediauwa distorted, corrupted and destroyed Bini history and his attempt also to distort Yoruba history which failed”:

Oba Erediauwa simply avers that the earliest rulers or Kings in what is today Edo or Benin were known as Ogiso.  The first was known as Ogiso Igodo and the last (of the thirty-one or so of them) was Ogiso Owodo, the father of Ekaladerhan who became known as Oduduwa in Ife.  In essence Oduduwa came after the Ogisos

…Odia Ofeimun, Vanguard Wednesday March 2nd 2016 pp14-15.

“Before this time, I have been worried and have been asking even finding out who came up with this Ekaladerhan fiction but today, I am happy that Odia Ofeimun in the Vanguard of March 2nd 2016 pp14-15 has finally confirmed that Oba Erediauwa is not ONLY the originator but he Oba Erediauwa concocted and manufactured this intellectual fraud on the Binis.

“Before the coming of Oba Erediauwa, there was cordial relationship between the Benin Kingdom and Ife people on one hand.  On the other hand, there was cordial relationship to some extent between the Ogiso/Ogiamien Royal dynasty and the Oba Eweka dynasty until the coming of Oba Erediauwa who created the confusions we are witnessing now.

“Oba Erediauwa so far in the history of Benin Kingdom is the most educated, exposed, experienced and intelligent Monarch.  In the esoteric tradition which we all belonged to Oba Erediauwa is described as a child prodigy and an autodidact, thus he is highly intelligent and a genius.

“Now instead of using these rare personality traits to build on the existing cordial relationship between the Benin Kingdom and Ife people on one hand and the Ogiso/Ogiamien dynasty and the Oba Eweka dynasty on the other hand and also transform Bini to an enviable political and economic height but he decided to create confusions as follows:

Being a child prodigy and as an autodidact, as a teenager, he was able to foresee the dangers inherent in keeping with:

EXISTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BENIN KINGDOM AND THE IFE PEOPLE

(1)          SENDING THE REMAINS OF THE OBA OF BENIN ON DEMISE TO ILE IFE:  To Oba Erediauwa this speaks volumes.

(2)          OBTAINING PERMISSION FROM ILE-IFE BEFORE INSTALLATING A NEW OBA OF BENIN:  To Oba Erediauwa too this could expose many things.

(3)          USING OF YORUBA DAILECT AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN THE OBA OF BENIN PALACE: To Oba Erediauwa, this might reveal to the aborigine Binis that they have no relationship whatsoever with us and this could even make the intelligent ones to start seeing and believing the hidden truth that Ogiso Owodo truly had no child or heir and that truly the story of Ekaladerhan concocted by him might be discovered to be a hoax.

EXISTING CORDIAL TRADITIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OGISO/OGIAMIEN DYNASTY:

ACKNOWLEDGING THE REIGN OF OGISO EVIAN:  This could portend great danger to the Oba Eweka dynasty as such acknowledgment would give credence to whoever is the reigning Ogiamien as maintaining the Blood grail of the Ogiso dynasty.

RE-ENACTING THE EKIOKPAGHA TREATY:  The provision of Ekiokpagha Treaty which makes the Ogiamien as the permanent Oba’s lessors and the Oba Eweka dynasty a permanent tenant in Benin Kingdom could spell doom for them in future, so the Ekiokpagha Treaty MUST be circumvented and destroyed.

VISITING THE REIGNING OGIAMIEN IN HIS PALACE:  A situation where the Oba of Benin MUST use the special door called Urho-Erivbin which compel the Oba of Benin to bow before the Ogiamien when entering through the 4ft door.

Against this background, he decided to evolve evil and satanic strategies to destroy all the foregoing existing traditional relationship between the Benin Kingdom and the Ile-Ife people on one hand and the cordial relationship between the Ogiso/Ogiamien dynasty and the Oba Eweka dynasty on the other hand to dispel the unique and distinct royal position of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the aborigine Binis with the aim of saving them from possible ejection in future by their rival the Great Ogiamien Royal family who is the current custodian of all the descendants of the 32 previous Ogisos that had ruled Bini.

THE EVIL AND SATANIC STRATEGIES OF OBA EREDIAUWA:

(1)          DESTROY THE EXISTING CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ILE-IFE PEOPLE BY REFUSING TO SEND THE REMAINS OF THE OBA OF BENIN ON DEMISE TO ILE-IFE; AND ALSO REFUSING TO OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM ILE-IFE BEFORE THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW OBA OF BENIN:

According to High Chief Wehere the late Oba Erediauwa was born in 1923 and by 1933 when Oba Eweka II joined his ancestors, Oba Erediauwa, as a child prodigy with enough wisdom which is their characteristic finally discouraged his father Oba Akenzua II not to send the remains of his grandfather Oba Eweka II to Ile-Ife for burial citing the case of Oba Ovoranmwen who died and was buried in exile and secondly he also appealed to his own father Oba Akenzua II not to also obtain permission from Ile-Ife before installing himself.  His father a nice man, who has respect for tradition initially refused but Oba Erediauwa with wisdom being an autodidact then as a young man was able to convince and explain to his father the many dangers inherent in some of those laid down traditional practices and his father agreed with him and actually he did not send the remains of Oba Eweka II and also refused deliberately to obtain permission from Ile-Ife before his installation.  That was how the Benin Traditional Council stopped sending the remains of the Oba of Benin on demise to Ile-Ife for burial and also stopped obtaining permission from Ile-Ife before installing a new Oba of Benin.  And of course, since he was the originator, he too did not send the remains of his father Oba Akenzua II and also he too did not obtain permission from Ile-Ife before his installation.  Today, they owe Ile-Ife people the remains of three Obas that is Eweka II and Akenzua II and Oba Erediauwa.

(2) DISCONTINUE THE USE OF YORUBA DAILECT AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN THE OBA OF BENIN PALACE:

Oba Erediauwa discreetly discontinued the use of Yoruba dialect as official language in the Oba of Benin palace in the early 20th century.  That is why when you come across any person from Oba Eweka dynasty when he/she speaks Bini dialect, you may be forced to laugh at him/her.  The difference is always clear. This was how Oba Erediauwa discreetly destroyed the existing cordial relationship between the Benin Traditional Council and the Ile-Ife people.

DESTROY THE EXISTING CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BENIN TRADITIONAL COUNCIL AND THE GREAT OGAIMIEN ROYAL FAMILY:

After he succeeded in carrying this evil plans against his people from Ile-Ife, the next thing was to descend on the aborigine Binis and his first target was the Great Ogiamien Royal Family.

(1) NON-RECOGNITION OF EVIAN AS AN OGISO:

Oba Erediauwa ensured that Evian should not be recognized as the blood brother of Ogiso Owodo, as such recognition would mean a big threat to their existence.  The eventful period Evian ruled should be described as an interregnum, even though there was nothing like that.  Nothing good should be seen in Evian.  Evian MUST be hacked down if they must establish their stay permanently in Benin Kingdom.  Upon all the good things Ogiso Evian did for the Binis, Oba Erediauwa criminally turned everything against Evian.  He distorted Evian records.  In some instance, he painted Evian as an ordinary citizen of Igodomigodo, he never acknowledged Evian to be a blood relation of Ogiso Owodo. If not for some patriotic aborigine Binis who has been describing Evian as the only surviving blood brother of Ogiso Owodo.  This forced him to reluctantly acknowledge Evian as a mere administrator, but he warned the Benin Traditional Council never repeat never to acknowledge Evian as an Ogiso or Administrator in any of their historical presentation.  That is why up till today, in BTC you hardly see Evian name being mentioned in any historical documents in the BTC archives.  Oba Erediauwa gave this directive.

Oba Erediauwa in his devilish attempt to support the fake Ekaladerhan theory manufactured by himself, he deliberately omitted Ogiso Evian reign, the 32nd Ogiso of Igodomigodo and stopped at the 31st Ogiso which is Ogiso Owodo.  Hear the Evil Genius:

“The first was known as Ogiso Igodo and the last (of the thirty-one or so of them) was Ogiso Owodo, the father of Ekaladerhan who became known as Oduduwa in Ife.” (Oba Erediauwa Vanguard Wednesday March 2nd 2016 p15.)

He also manufactured many fake stories, theories, concepts to distort and dispel the unique and distinct royal position of Evian and the aborigine Binis.  How Evian a citizen of Igodomigodo not as a prince was used as a caretaker because of his feat against the Esogan Monster and that he Evian was never crowned as an Ogiso, so when he Evian wanted to hand over to his son Ogiso Erebo, the Binis frowned and revolted against him and went to bring a King from Ile-Ife because he Evian was not a member of the Ogiso dynasty.  All these were criminally concocted by Oba Erediauwa.  There was never a time the Binis sent for a King from Ile-Ife.  This is the worst insult Oba Erediauwa impinged on the consciousness of the aborigine Binis.  There was no need for this. It is an insult, the Binis should please jettison this fiction from their consciousness.  Reasons Before the advent of Ogiso Owodo administration, Igodomigodo had practiced two different systems of traditional government successfully: primogeniture son succeeding father and gerontocracy the oldest person.  The records are there with the BTC.

From Ogiso Ere (925-960AD), Ogiso Orire (960-1000AD) Ogiso Odia (1000-1001AD) and Ogiso Ighido (1001-1002AD), the system of primogeniture son succeeding his father was practiced.  From the fourth Ogiso to the twenty second Ogisos: Ogiso Ighido, Ogiso Evbobo, Ogiso Ogbeide, Ogiso Emehen, Ogiso Akhuankhuan, Ogiso Ekpigho, Ogiso Efeseke, Ogiso Irudia, Ogiso Odion, Ogiso Etebowe, Ogiso Imarhan, Ogiso Orria, Ogiso Emose, Ogiso Orhorro, Ogiso Irrebo, Ogiso Ogbomo, Ogiso Agbonzeke and Ogiso Ediae, the system of gerontocracy  the oldest person was practiced and the system of primogeniture was restored with Ogiso Oriagba and from the Era of Ogiso Oriagba to Ogiso Odoligie, Ogiso Uwa, Ogiso Eheneden, Ogiso Ohuede, Ogiso Oduwa, Ogiso Obioye, Ogiso Arigho and Ogiso Owodo, the system of primogeniture was maintained successfully. In the olden days, the system of government was derivable from the peoples’ language, religion, traditions and culture.  Culture, traditions, religion and dialect of the people are very sacred, unique and diverse.  That was why the Colonial Masters needed the service of an interpreter (District Officers DO) to be able to relate with the natives.  Therefore, in the olden days, it is certainly going to be very difficult to use an Ibo man to administer the affairs of a Yoruba community or use an Ishan man to administer the affairs of Itshekiris, or even use a Yoruba man to administer the affairs of the Binis vice versa.  Amongst these Ogisos were many Princesses meaning at any given time, there were enough qualified Princes and Princesses to run the affairs of Igodomigodo, so how suddenly the people of Igodomigodo that had existed for over 300 years with abundant human resources then decided to go to Ile-Ife to beg for a King who does not know their language, traditions and culture to come and administer the affairs of Igodomigodo, is nothing but a hoax.  But then any Bini man still believing in this insulting, and laughable theory invented by Oba Erediauwa to cover up their invasion of Igodomigodo should jettison that false theory which is a fiction from their minds.  This is where the distortion of Binis history started to deliberately dispel the unique, distinct royal position of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the aborigine Binis.  So, when Ogiso Owodo died without a child and an heir, instead of reverting to the system of gerontocracy the oldest person, they quietly gave the Ogiso Ark to the next surviving Prince that is Ogiso Evian, the father of Ogiso Erebo just to maintain the blood grail. Ogiso Evian performed creditably well during his reign.  The records are still there up till date and at his old age to continue maintaining the blood grail, he also handed over to his son Ogiso Erebo.  Many historians both old and new all confirmed that it was the need to maintain the blood grail that the Binis allowed Evian being the direct scion of the Ogiso dynasty to succeed his blood brother Ogiso Owodo.

Referring to Evian as a Prince of the Ogiso Royal Family, Dr. Williams Ogunlesi in his article titled The position of the Ogiamien in Benin Kingdom on p18 of the African Culture Magazine 1995 said while speaking on the Monster that killed many Binis in 1170AD:

“It was only a Prince from Ogiso Royal Family called Evian who was able to get rid of the monster called Osogan.”

Naiwu Osahon, the renowned Bini historian in his book the correct history of Edo people on the internet while speaking on the dreaded monster also which swallowed many Binis during the reign of Ogiso Owodo noted:

“Every effort to tackle the monster, including spiritual means failed until Evian a member of the Ogiso Royal Family, succeeded in throwing a hot iron into the mouth of the monster.”

Ekhaguosa Aisien in his small book: A History of Benin also speaking on the same matter, described Evian as CITIZEN EVIAN.

“Ogiso Owodo and his Chiefs were perplexed and helpless regarding the depredations of the Osogan until Citizen Evian came into the picture bringing the tools of his trade to bear on the problem.”

All these are aimed at confirming that Evian was allowed to succeed Ogiso Owodo who died without a child for Evian to continue maintaining the blood grail.

So, as at this time, the Binis had enough qualified human resources to run the affairs of Igodomigodo.  Even when the Binis were faced with the most terrible situation in life when the Osogan Monster appeared and swallowed many Binis, the Binis did not send for a King from Ile-Ife to come and rescue them.  Thus the Binis never sent for a King from Ile-Ife.  This is a hoax.  Oba Erediauwa criminally concocted this and some of the following other fake stories to justify and establish their stay in Benin Kingdom permanently.

What actually happened was that the Oyo Empire during the reign of the 6th Ooni of Ife Oba Oromiyan came and invaded Bini and forcefully took occupation of Benin Kingdom via Ekiokpagha Treaty.  Any other story different from this is a hoax and they were criminally concocted by Oba Erediauwa.  The terms and conditions of the dreaded and memorable Ekiokpagha treaty suffice further details.  The following were some of the fake concepts, stories, theories he Oba Erediauwa criminally manufactured to dispel the unique and distinct royal position of the Ogiamien Royal Family and the aborigine Binis and also in his attempt to distort the history of the Yoruba but failed:

EKALADERHAN: That the supposedly banished Prince Ekaladerhan who was said to have set up a settlement camp he called ‘Ilefe,’ (meaning, successful escape) and later changed his name to ‘Izoduwa,’ (meaning I have chosen the path of prosperity). Izoduwa’s new home, ‘Ilefe’ which was said to be in the heart of Yoruba land and because of his immense magic powers soon endeared himself to his Yoruba community which included some Uzebu (corrupted in Yoruba to Ijebu) who had followed him into exile from Igodomigodo, and were treating him as a god. The Yoruba corrupted his name Izoduwa to ‘Oduduwa’ and his camp, ‘Ilefe’ to ‘Ile-Ife.’  Oduduwa became the spiritual leader of the Ifa divinity.  The Yoruba (who call The Creator, Olodumare), saw Oduduwa as a direct descendant, which he claimed as a result of his God-son lineage, although his banishment link with the God-sons (Ogisos) was kept a secret from the Yoruba.  In fact, the Yoruba believed he was a deity from the sky as he claimed and accorded him great reverence as their leading ancestor.   This is nothing but a hoax.

Another distorted version posted on the internet via Permalink by Otedo News Update sponsored by the Evil Genius Oba Erediauwa says that Ogiso Owodo had two sons, Ekaladerhan Izoduwa (Imadoduwa or Ode-Oduwa) and Eweka. According to this history contractor hired by Oba Erediauwa to do his biddings:

According to Benin archaeological history and traditions, thirty Ogiso (Kings and Rulers) ruled in Benin Kingdom before Ogiso Owodo.  Ogiso Owodo had two sons, Ekaladerhan (Imadoduwa or Ode-Oduwa) and Eweka.  Ogiso Owodo had two wives, Imade and Arhukho.  Imade the senior wife gave birth to Eweka contrary to the earlier version that the mother of Eweka I was Erhinmwinde from Ego a daughter of the Enogie at the time.  Arhukho was the mother of Ekaladerhan Izoduwa.  Eweka being the legitimate son of Ogiso Owodo ascended the throne after the death of his father.  Eweka was the senior brother to Ekaladerhan Izoduwa (Imadoduwa or Ode-Oduwa).  Some argue that Ekaladerhan was born almost same time with Eweka, and that created a clash between him and the senior brother on whom should ascend the throne after the death of Ogiso Owodo.  Others say, Ekaladerhan was born 2 hours before Eweka on the same day at different location but, the birth of Eweka was reported first to the palace and it was recorded thus without taking due cognizance of reasons given by Ekaladerhan mother on why the news bearer came late.  That itself cannot be a justified reason why a formally reported birth will be cancelled because someone came later to say I was first but could not get to the palace on time or same day. This angered Ekaladerhan who could not bear to remain in a Kingdom where his younger brother has been made a king and he left.  He was a great mystic.  The two sons Eweka and Ekaladerhan were at longer heads.  Ekaladerhan left Benin Kingdom with some followers to far south west to establish his Kingdom which he named Ilefe

Now, this is completely false, it is a fiction.  This theory was manufactured lately when Oba Erediauwa discovered the implication of the illegitimacy surrounding the birth of Oba Eweka I in which Oromiyan allegedly got Princess Erhinmwinde pregnant without fulfilling the marriage customs and traditions of the Binis, so this was manufactured to make it look as if Oba Eweka I was a legitimate child of Ogiso Owodo.  This is nothing but a hoax.  As it is now, the Bini has no correct history.  Bini history was distorted and corrupted by Oba Erediauwa in their favor to the detriment of the aborigines.  The decision to manufacture this fake theory became necessary because of the perceived disrespectful attitude of some closed Bini aborigines to the Oba Eweka dynasty who are not happy and comfortable with the illegitimacy of Oba Eweka dynasty which makes them feel more superior being an aborigine Binis, than the Oba Eweka dynasty that was born through illicit sex and illegitimate marriage more especially as Oramiyan had other children through legitimate marriage. To forestall any revolution against them in future by the aborigine Binis the need to manufacture this false theory became necessary; the focus is also aimed at dispelling the unique and distinct royal position of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family thus established their stay permanently in Bini.  Besides, if you meet any elderly person between the ages of 70 and 80 in Bini, you will be shocked to hear that Ekaladerhan story was not included in the early history of Igodomigodo they were taught in the primary and secondary schools but that the theory of Ekaladerhan was introduced into Bini history in the early nineteenth century, the source they don’t know but we are happy with Odia Ofeimun and his co-history contractors on the payroll of Oba of Benin for this wonderful revelation.  As at that time Ogiso Erebo was shouting amien oba vbe edo ogie amien vbe edo, because it was really strange then to the aborigine Binis and none of the aborigine Bini corrected Ogiso Erebo then why is it that almost a thousand year thereafter, hungry hireling historians and history contractors on the pay roll of Oba Erediauwa started saying different story alleging that the theory Oba which was strange and still remain strange to the aborigine Binis up till today was part of the Bini dialect from time immemorial?  This is completely false and a hoax.

OBAGODO THEORY: This was another fake theory concocted by Oba Erediauwa.  According to Uwagboe Ogieva, one of the history contractors employed by Oba Erediauwa to destroy Bini History, in his attempt to change Red color to Green color on a day light, in his Book: Great Benin People and Civilization posted on the Internet by Otedo News Update said:

That the word or title OBA has always been in use as a title for the king or ruler in Benin Kingdom. The 1st Ogiso was Igodo and was titled Oba Igodo or Obagodo, meaning the leader of Igodomigodo.

This is very funny, childish and interesting; imagine Uwagboe Ogieva trying to force a blind man to believe that there is no ‘salt’ in a very ‘salty’ soup.

Defending this funny theory, as if he was talking to children, hear him:

“Literally, Oba is derived from ‘ba’ or ‘Noba ‘in Edo language.  Baa or ba means ‘to shine’, brighten, or sparkling.  O’ baa means ‘it’s shining’ or ‘he/she is shining’.  Noba means the color ‘red’ or in a phrasal verb N’Oba meaning ‘the one that shines’. Omo n’Oba n’Edo means A son who have come to shine in Edo,” he falsely propounded.

All this abracadabra is aimed at dispelling the unique and distinct royal position of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the aborigine Binis thus giving credence to the invasion and yet Ogiso Erebo was shouting and warning the Bini aborigines that ‘amien Oba vbe Edo; Ogie amien vbe Edo meaning we don’t have an Oba in Bini but it is Ogie amien we know in Bini and because this was really, repeat really, really strange then and also news worthy as at that time it took over the Ogiso title to the extent that up till today Ogiamien has completely taken over the Ogiso title.

OBA BEING NEXT TO GOD: This was another fake theory manufactured by Oba Erediauwa.  The next project was how to make the Oba of Benin look as if he was next to God in the eyes and mind of humanity so that nobody in the whole world can challenge the Oba of Benin, he should be portrayed as a divine authority himself and that anybody who challenges him is an enemy and should not go free.  The reason for this was to scare and frighten the aborigine Binis from agitations and liberation in future should they are able to discover the deception foisted on them.

OBA OWNS THE LAND FROM BENIN TO OVERSEAS:  This also was another fake concept in the series manufactured by Oba Erediauwa.  This one always makes me laugh.  I have always asked the Binis spreading this unbelievable concept the wars he Oba of Benin fought to own all the landed properties from Benin to Overseas, and nobody has been able to give me satisfactory answer up to date.

HOW ORAMIYAN INVADED BINI:

It was during the reign of Ogiso Erebo that the Ile-Ife came to attack Igodomigodo.

Having said this let me now explain how Igodomigodo – Bini was actually invaded by the Ile-Ife then known as Oyo Empire.

In the olden days, the more wives and children, the more landed properties which were the richest assets even up to now you acquire.  Similarly, the larger your empire then too, the more security and economic prosperity your empire will enjoy.  To secure more political, economic and security having just gotten freedom from the invasion by Nupe Empire, which had earlier annexed Oyo Empire, they needed to also annex their neighboring empires to gain more political, economic and military might to forestall further invasions.  This was what led to the invasion of Bini.

According to the history of the Rise and Collapse of the Ancient Oyo Empire in Nigeria, Pre-Colonial Period in the Wikipeda the Free Encyclopedia although with conflicting dating, Oyo empire also suffered what Igodomigodo suffered:

Oyo empire had grown into a formidable inland power … For over a century, the Yoruba state had expanded at the expense of its neighbors. Then, during the reign of Onigbogi, Oyo suffered military defeats at the hands of the Nupe led by Tsoede, the Nupe occupied Oyo and forced its ruling dynasty to take refuge in the kingdom of Borgu. The Nupe went on to sack the capital, destroying Oyo as a regional power Oyo went through an interrugnum of 80 years as an exiled dynasty after its defeat by the Nupe. Oyo then reemerged, more centralized and expansive than ever. It would not be satisfied with simply retaking Oyo but with the establishment of its power over a vast empire. The key to Yoruba reconquest of Oyo would be a stronger military and a more centralized government. Taking a cue from their Nupe enemies (whom they called “Tapa”), the Yoruba rearmed not only with armor but cavalry. Oba Ofinran, Alaafin of Oyo, succeeded in regaining Oyo’s original territory from the Nupe. A new capital, Oyo-Igboho, was constructed, and the original became known as Old Oyo. The next Oba, Egunoju, conquered nearly all of Yoruba land. After this, Oba Orompoto led attacks to obliterate the Nupe to ensure Oyo was never threatened by them again. During the reign of Oba Ajiboyede was the first Bere festival, an event that would retain much significance among the Yoruba long after the fall of Oyo. And it was under his successor, Abipa, that the Yoruba were finally compelled to repopulate Oyo-Ile and rebuild the original capital. Oyo continued to expand. The Yoruba allowed autonomy to the southeast of metropolitan Oyo where the non-Yoruba areas could act as a buffer between Oyo and Imperial Benin.

The reinvigorated Oyo Empire began raiding southward by the end of its military expansion, Oyo’s borders would reach to the coast some 200 miles southwest of its capital, the author recalled.

This was how the rich Igodomigodo Empire was invaded by the Oyo Empire using Oramiyan and Oba Eweka between 10th and 12th AD. Any other stories different from this apart from being a hoax; they were criminally concocted by Oba Erediauwa to dispel the unique and distinct royal position of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the aborigine Binis and at the same time in his attempt to distort Yoruba history in the interest of Oba Eweka dynasty in Benin Kingdom which however has failed due to the consistent efforts of the immediate past Ooni of Ife, Late Oba Sijuade Okunade.

PERSECUTION OF ABORIGINE BINIS AND THE GREAT OGIAMIEN ROYAL FAMILY:

OMITTING EVIAN OGISO & OGIAMIEN EREBO REIGNS FROM HISTORICAL RECORDS:  Although, I have spoken on this extensively earlier, this one too is very glaring.  In all the historical documents in the archives of BTC, they deliberately omitted the reigns of Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo because they too know that there will be a day of reckoning and setting the records straight, the era we have now fortunately found ourselves.  Some hireling historians and scholars don’t even mention Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo while some do and those who have the courage to mention Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo in their historical presentations out of fear merely referred to Ogiso Evian and Ogiamien Erebo as either mere Care Takers or Administrators all these aimed at dispelling the unique and distinct royal position of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family to establish their stay in Bini.

FOISTED ECONOMIC & POLITICAL SLAVERY ON THE BINI ABORIGINES: While other LGAs in the state has separate Traditional Council, with enormous political, economic benefits and development, the seven LGAs belonging to the Binis are compressed into one traditional council, the BTC (with the slogan don’t divide Bini) with serious adverse political and economic effects on the people affected. Go to Ego, Usen, Ogheghe, Esi and so many villages; you will see the effect of this economic and political slavery on the aborigine Binis.  These villages are older than Uromi, Ubiaja, Agbor, Sapele but because of the greed of Oba Erediauwa, these villages are still living in the 11th century.

PERMANENT CHAIRMAN EDO STATE TRADITIONAL RULERS COUNCIL:

To keep all the evil activities against the Aborigine Binis, and the Great Ogiamien Royal Family secret, he Oba Erediauwa secretly went further used government machineries and instruments at his disposal to make himself the permanent chairman of Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers.  If it were possible, he would have made himself a permanent citizen on earth but here God pass man if not.

DECIMATED, REDUCED AND SILENCED OGIAMIEN ROYAL FAMILY: Shortly after the 1979 coronation unknown to The Great Ogiamien Royal Family, firstly, the BTC secretly removed the Ogiamien stool from the exalted unique position as a distinct royal dynasty to the class of Uzama Nihon, secondly, reduced it to Uzama Nibie (Third Class King) and thirdly, finally brought the Ogiamien Stool under the Oba of Benin which is against the Ekiokpagha Treaty.

DESTROYING AND DENIAL OF THE EXISTENCE OF EKIOKPAGHA TREATY: Prince Edun Akenzua recent childish display in the interview published in the Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday November 17th 2015 p8 denying the existence of the dreaded Ekiokpagha Treaty suffices further details.  The focus is just to dispel the unique and distinct royal position of The Great Ogiamien Royal Family thus establishes the stay permanently in Bini.

DENIAL OF MONTHLY STIPEND: Deliberate efforts have been sustained by the BTC to deny The Great Ogiamien Royal Family our monthly stipend and tactically withdraw federal government presence from maintaining The Great Ogiamien Royal Palace so that the building will naturally fall away and desolate while they will come later secretly through agents to buy the place to completely put us both The Great Ogiamien Royal Family and the Ogiamien Royal Palace out of extinction as they secretly did to the Ohen Evian quarters bought up nearly all the area.

REFUSAL TO VISIT OGIAMIEN OSAROBO OKUONGHAE IN HIS PALACE:

First in order not to visit Ogiamien Osarobo Okuonghae as required by the terms and conditions of the dreaded Ekiokpagha Treaty, he allegedly took away our HRH Osarobo Okuonghae to hidden place since 1998.  Secondly, in the event that when he will join his ancestors while still hiding HRH Osarobo Okuonghae, they will now sponsor crisis in Ogiamien Royal family, while some of us are busy killing ourselves, they will circumvent the dreaded Ekiokpagha Treaty and install a new Oba of Benin thus created a new order but the spirit of our ancestors and the blood of our HRH Osarobo Okuonghae whom ONLY they know where he is hiding is now avenging hence the cold war between the Benin Traditional Council and the Great Ogiamien Royal Family High Chief Wehere submitted.

Now what is more worrisome and I think that has made many Binis including myself to take the Ogiamien Royal Family serious is the fact that since all these publications, some of them published almost a year ago, the Benin Traditional Council has not come out to refute them, what we hear and see from their body language is that the Crown Prince can metamorphose to become the 39th Oba of Benin without the Ogiamien and this is the cause of the crisis; the Ogiamien royal family which is currently being led by a more focused, determined, and fearless King has vowed to use due process to implement the memorable Ekiokpagha treaty and that is what he Ogiamien Arisco is religiously pursuing since assumption of office as the new Ogiamien of Utantan.

The Ogiamien Royal Family is not dragging the stool of the Oba of Benin, and they have said this repeatedly both in the local and national news media, then the question many Binis are now asking why is the Crown Prince bent on circumventing the memorable Ekiokpgha Treaty to be administered by the current Ogiamien Arisco on him before he is pronounced an Oba of Benin, his continuous refusal many believed is now ridiculing the image and reputation of the Benin Monarch.

All the 38th Oba of Benin Kingdom all complied with the Memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty even the immediate past Oba of Benin who is the father of the Crown Prince Late Oba Erediauwa complied with the memorable Ekiokpagha treaty then the question is why is the Crown Prince proving stubborn and refusing Ogiamien Arisco to administer the Ekiokpagha Treaty on him. After serious investigation I discovered the main reasons why the Crown Prince is proving stubborn in the process disgracing and ridiculing himself.

First, if he succumbs, and allows Ogiamien Arisco to administer the Ekiokpagha Treaty on him which is the normal and right thing to do then that means re-writing the history of the Binis; it will certainly affect their position in Bini and also at Ife because of their wrongful claims that the Yoruba migrated from Bini.  This is one of the major headaches they are having now.

Second, the Crown Prince is personally scared to meet face to face with Ogiamien Arisco at Ekiokpagha; the reason according to reliable source was his fear of what Prince Arisco then in 1979 did to his late father Oba Erediauwa during the re-enactment of the memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty with Ogiamien Osarobo when Prince Arisco used his right fist to hit Oba Erediauwa on his shoulder for asking Ogiamien Osarobo then 13 years old to kneel down before him which is a taboo to the great Ogiamien Royal Family.  Prince Arisco we are told almost tore the late Oba Erediauwa to pieces if not for the timely intervention of security at the venue in 1979.  Prince Arisco now Ogiamien Arisco being a direct scion of Ogiso/Ogiamien dynasty led the squad of Ogiamien troops to Ekiokpagha in 1979.

However, there are speculations that in addition to the Memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty Ogiamien Royal Family may have set up some difficult conditions which the Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa may not be able to meet hence he is behaving the way he is doing trying at all cost to circumvent the memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty which MUST be administered on the Crown Prince by Ogiamien Arisco.

According to competent sources, the Ogiamien Royal Family believing that the history and the culture of the Binis have been distorted, corrupted and desecrated, they are of the opinion now that there is the need to correct these areas to set the records straight before re-enacting the Memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty with the Crown Prince, because they are maintaining that they are the aborigines and custodian of the culture and customs of the Binis.

From what we are hearing and their body language, the Great Ogiamien Royal Family will use the available opportunity now to correct many of the wrong doings of the Benin Traditional Council before re-enacting the memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty with the Crowned Prince.

Re-enacting the memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty is not an everyday affair. It is only done when a new Oba is ascending the throne, and between 1979 and now, a lot has happened.  Now, let us look at the distorted history first from the point of view of the great Ogiamien Royal Family:

DISTORTED HISTORY:

(1)          Ekaladerhan Theory

(2)          Obagodo Theory

(3)          Oba of Benin Next to God Theory

(4)          Oba of Benin Owns the Land from Benin to Overseas

(5)          Sending The Remains of the Oba of Benin On Demise

(6)          Obtaining Permission from Ile-Ife Before Installation of the Incoming Oba of Benin.  I have already explained the position of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family in respect of Items 1-6 considering what I have read from their publications so far.

(7)         On The Desecrated Culture.  From the grape vine, now let me also explain the position of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family on item No 7 Desecrating of Bini Culture.

 

SHAVING OF HEADS ON THE DEATH OF THE OBA OF BENIN KINGDOM:

As far as they are concerned, this is completely wrong.  The Oba of Benin as far as they are concerned is a customary tenant to the Ogiamien and how can the Binis be made to shave their hairs whenever an Oba (customary tenant) joins his ancestors.  This is wrong.  Whenever the landlord Ogiamien joins his ancestors nobody shaves their hairs so why will the Binis be made to shave their hairs when a customary tenant joins his ancestors.  This practice must stop forthwith because it is not in Bini culture.  From reliable sources, they are contemplating to put a stop to this.

CLOSING OF MARKET FOR BUSINESS:

From the various publications they have made so far, to them this is the worse economic enslavement.  How can you close the market for business just because an Oba of Benin Kingdom a customary tenant joins his ancestors?  When the Ogiamien joins his ancestors, the King of the aborigine Binis, no market is shut down, all this must stop.  It is an economic enslavement.  They can no longer condone this anymore.  This is what their body language is saying.

INCESTOUS ACTS OF LATE OBA EREDIAUWA AND THE CURRENT CROWNED PRINCE:

Looking at the body language of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family, though it is not confirmed yet, this is the area that is really upsetting the great Ogiamien Royal Family.  The Late Oba Erediauwa allegedly slept with his own blood sister by name Princess Comfort Ikuoyewen Eweka the daughter of Oba Eweka II and had the Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa and Aghatise Erediauwa.  This is an abomination because the daughter of an Oba cannot produce an Oba of Benin.  It has never happened in the history of Bini.  This is a taboo, sacrilege and an abomination in Bini.  Besides, there are speculations that as at the time the Late Oba Erediauwa was having an affair with his own blood sister Princess Comfort Ikuoyewen Eweka, another Igbo man was also sleeping with her and that as of now it is really difficult to determine who actually owns the two children produced by his own sister for him.  This is breeding cold war in the palace of the Oba of Benin Kingdom and the Binis cannot say, they are not aware of this ugly incident.  The Crown Prince himself according to reliable information also worsens the situation; he too slept with many of his own blood relations, a good example is the daughter of Festus Eweka, who had two children for him. As for the second wife she is the daughter of Eweka too.  Now he has three wives, if Festus Eweka daughter had not gone they would have been four altogether.  The wife, he now recognizes as his senior wife is the daughter of Obadiawu from a different family.  This is okay.  This is the woman that had the son that the Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa is now claiming to be his first son but he had other children including male children from other women he abandoned.  There are twins he abandoned them with their mother, these are supposed to be the first children of the Crown Prince, he abandoned and rejected them but his parents magnanimously trained those children.  In fact, he has so many children scattered all over that he abandoned and refused to marry their mothers.  These make him irresponsible and not fit to be the Oba of Benin.

Besides, by the provision of the Law of Consanguinity and Affinity, it is forbidden for people of the same blood to produce children and when that happens such children are described as children of inequity.  Put in order words, the daughter of an Oba cannot produce an Oba.   It will therefore be a taboo for the Crown Prince to become an Oba.

The great Ogiamien Royal Family might be forced from what we are seeing now to ask the BTC to send to them another clean person without blemish to re-enact the Ekiokpagha Treaty as performing it with the Crown Prince with all these dents might give the impression that they too are supporting them to desecrate the Bini culture which they are saying they are the custodian.

In addition, many Binis also believed that the Crown Prince having been appointed as the 39th Oba of Benin by the Governor of Edo State and removed within 24 hours recently, he the Crown Prince cannot be installed as the 40th Oba of Benin again because it is not part of Bini culture for an Oba to be appointed or installed twice.  If the great Ogiamien Royal Family is thinking in this direction too then they will not accept, they will demand for another clean person without any blemish.

From the grape vine, re-enacting the Memorable Ekiokpagha Treaty, the Great Ogiamien Royal Family does not even see HRH Eheneden near the stool talk less of becoming the next Oba with all the noise he is making because of the foregoing revelations.  They are not even looking at the direction of the second son Aghatise because he too like Eheneden was produced by Comfort Eweka, the daughter of an Oba too, from the body language of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family; they are looking at the direction of the third son by name Prince Ada whose mother is not related to the Oba Family.  The outcome of this however, will be determined by the ruling of the Appeal Court on the 20th September 2016 which is just by the corner.  After the 20th of September 2016.  I am confident that I will be able to meet with both Public Relations Officers of the great Ogiamien Royal Family High Chief Esotericist Monday Wehere JP and Mr. Frank Irabor on the foregoing issues.   The reason is that the Justices of the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin had ordered the duo to maintain status quo till the 20th September, 2016 so they will not be willing to speak to me until after the deadline.

However, while we are all waiting to see the outcome of the Court ruling on that day, please take note that whatever you read in this article as my personal opinion and would appreciate if the Publisher of Surveillance Newspaper could help publish this story### (Comrade Osaigbovo Osadolo is from Ovia Local Government Area in Edo State).