On Sunday, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare ll, condemned the coalition of Benin socio-cultural organizations’ proposed solidarity demonstrations in response to the arrest, indictment, and detention of the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, and six others by the Edo State Police Command.
The Benin Socio-cultural Organizations Coalition had scheduled a protest for Monday, September 5, in support of Frank Irabor, the secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, and six other people who were detained and charged last Thursday in a Benin High Court.
The Ulegun Community had protested the alleged illegal demolition of more than 80 homes in Ulegun, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, carried out on Irabor’s orders. As a result, Irabor and six other people had to be arrested and put on trial.
The BTC stated that the palace was addressing the cause of the planned demonstration in a statement made accessible to journalists in Benin City on Sunday and signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro.
The statement read, “The attention of the Benin Traditional Council has been drawn to a planned solidarity gathering by the Coalition of Social cultural Organisations over the arrest and detention of the Secretary, Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor and some chiefs in the Benin Kingdom.
“While the Palace appreciates their concern, let it be known that the Palace of the Oba of Benin does not want such gathering at this time and consequently directs that the organisers of the gathering to halt the exercise immediately.
“The issue in question that led to their arrest is being resolved. In this regard, nobody or a group of persons should gather in the Oba of Benin Palace or anywhere in the Benin Kingdom on Monday, September 5, 2022.
“This announcement is important for all those concerned to comply please,” the statement concluded.
