OBA of Benin Strikes, Suspends Unethical Chief Utete.

Chief Omo-Osagie Utetenegiabi, the Obadolo-evboyi-niwegua of Benin Kingdom, has been placed on indefinite suspension by the Palace of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, over alleged gross violation of norms and act inimical to the doctrines of the Palace.

The Suspension of Chief Utete, was however, a follow up of his role in a recent curse, placed against suspected attacks by unknown gunmen without seeking the approval or authorization of the Oba who is the custodian of the diety.

The unauthorized actions, were said, to have infuriated the Oba who frowned and ordered a swift response, denying that, his actions were not ascented by him.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin City, to clerify the Position of the Oba,
Chief Osaro Idah who spoke on behalf of the Oba, said, Chief Utete acted on his own volition and not in the interests of the palace.

He said, His Royal Majesty,Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, and the palace has no hand in it, adding that, the Osokpikan Society, is the property of the palace.

He maintained that, the group should have taken permission from the palace before embarking on laying a curse on another man’s premises.

His Words; “On Saturday last week, a certain group known as Osokpikan, own by the palace, was led by a Chief to a certain premises in Benin, to place a curse on an event, which he has no right to do.

Continuing, Chief Idah said, “That the group, Osokpikan, belongs to this palace and the only authority to such action is His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin,

He expressed his displeasure, while pointing that, they neither sought the permission of the Oba nor seek permission from the palace before going to perform such act that undermined the Royal authority.

He stated; “Subsequently, His Majesty, the Oba of Benin, has hereby disassociated himself and the palace from that event and the chief who led them; Chief Utete Omo-Osagie, the Obadolo-evboyi
-niwegua of Benin has been suspended from palace activities till further notice.”

Chief Utete Gross misconduct covers a long list of offences that have been committed by him and some other prominent Benin Chiefs, who uses the name unknowingly, of the revered Benin Monarch, to commit atrocities and unending communal land disputes that have become synonimous with youths restiveness in the state

His Conduct is perceived by over one million residents in Edo State as one of such many severely destroying the relationship between indeginous communities, which have persistently brought about recent restiveness amongst inhabitants.

Although his suspension is not formal disciplinary action in itself, it does often lead to disciplinary proceedings based on further inquest on his other yet to be seen gross misconducts of the past.