By Okhide Em’ya David
Oba Ewuare II, the Great Benin King, has thrown his weight behind the Obaseki Administration on the recent amendment of the Law, banning Community Development Association (CDA) and illegal activities of all sort of splinter groups like Okaiegele or Leader of Youths in Council.
Oba Ewuare noted that contrary to speculation that the law was targeted at the Palace and particular segment of the Benin administrative system, it was to weed out People who have come up to forcefully take other people’s landed properties in their communities thereby detracting investors.
The Oba was reacting to a demonstration by okhaegheles who are in charge of land matters from the various communities that make up the Benin kingdom.
The Benin Monarch who was represented by the Esere of Benin, Chief Stanley Obamwonyi said the traditional roles of Okaigheles in Benin kingdom is sacrosanct, and explained that Government only prohibited the unwholesome and illegal activities they indulged recently.
The Palace of the Oba of Benin said Government did not ban the traditional and customary administration across villages but only the unwholesome activities of the land grabbers and speculators.
In the words of the Oba “any Okhaeghele who is involved in land grabbing contrary to the law of the land would be made to face the full consequences adding their role in accordance with the Benin tradition is to assist district/villages/ community heads in keeping the community clean, ensure security and not to grab people’s land”.
“Anyone who engages in illegal grabbing and multiple sale of same land to different persons would be dealt in accordance with the new public property protection laws.”
