By Editor
The Benin Royal Family, has warned its members against having anything to do with Prof. Gregory Idurobo Akenzua for chosen to challenge the Benin Traditional Institution through acts that are utterly at variance with the customs and tradition of the Benin people and the core values of the Benin Royal Family.
This was contained in a statement signed by Okao Augustine Eweka and 9 others and made available to journalists in Benin City.
The statement said that Prof. Akenzua has betrayed the core values of respect for the Benin customs and tradition; devotion and submission to the customary hierarchy of the Benin Kingdom and respect for customary arbitration process.
The Royal statement added that for the avoidance of doubt, the Royal Family wish to emphasize that His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin occupies a unique position as the father of every member of the Benin Royal Family irrespective of age.
The statement said that hence the Royal Family doesn’t have an Okaegbe, like other families in Benin Kingdom but Odion Egbe who is required by tradition to defer to His Royal Majesty.
The statement maintained that the Royal Family also noted that in utter violation of the hierarchy of succession to the Odion-Egbe position of the Benin Royal Family, Prof Gregory Idurobo Akenzua has been parading himself as the Odion-Egbe of the Royal Family and has held meetings to assert himself as such when he knows that he is not rightfully entitled to the position being far lower in the hierarchy of seniority in the Benin Royal Family.
They said that the Benin Royal Family has given an ample opportunities to Prof. Akenzua to retrace his steps and return to the path of honour and dignity, yet he has snubbed and rejected the opportunities provided by the Benin Royal Family for him to retrace his wrongful steps.
They said consequently upon that, the Benin Royal Family therefore suspended him for his acts of rebellion against the Benin Traditional Institution.
They also added that Prof. Akenzua is no longer to participate in any activity connected with the Benin Royal Family.
They furthermore warned that all members of the Benin Royal Family are strongly directed not to relate, associate, or engage with Prof. Akenzua for as long as he remains suspended from the Benin Royal Family.
