Crisis In Benin Royal Family, Queen Says BTC Lied About Peller's Visit

OsazuwaAkonedo

Crisis In Benin Royal Family, Queen Says BTC Lied About Peller's Visit https://osazuwaakonedo.news/crisis-in-benin-royal-family-queen-says-btc-lied-about-pellers-visit/ #Adelaja #Aiseokhuoba #Aisosa #Akenzua #Akpolokpolo #Artefacts #Benin #BTC #Edaiken #Edo #Eheneden #Erediauwa #Ezelekhae #Hamzat #Igbinoghodua #Iroghama #Nowamagbe #Peller #Umogun #Uselu #Ewuare #Habeeb #MOWAA #oba #Obaseki #Palace Queen Nowamagbe Ewuare II is the fourth wife of Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II and the queen is also the biological sister of the Oba's fifth wife, Queen Aisosa Ewuare II, on Thursday early morning night, Queen Nowamagbe apparently used a proxy TikTok account named Queen Ewuare Backup and accused the Benin Traditional Council, BTC of dishonest behaviour, categorically stating, the BTC lied that Nigeria prominent social media streamer, Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja a.k.a Peller was not authorised access into the Palace of the Benin Monarch where she accidentally met Peller and gave him a motherly welcome as the Queen of the Oba, an action, the BTC has alleged she breached the Palace protocol, hence, she risked being removed or sent packing from the Palace, according to Queen Nowamagbe in the apparent TikTok social media proxy account, Peller's visit to the Palace is a mere cover up, that a lots has been happening behind close door, she supported her claim with a document that suggest the Benin Traditional Council was aware of Peller coming to the Palace, and the document dated February 23, 2026 indicated that the BTC received and acknowledged the letter of Peller planned visit, but, if the BTC actually wrote back to Peller to notify him about the acceptance or rejection of his request was not stated, this, the President of Aiguobasinmwin Movement World Wide, Osaro Culture Iyamu countered the document and said; #OsazuwaAkonedo

Transcript

00:00Queen Noamagbe Awuare II is the fourth wife of Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Awuare II and the Queen

00:07is also the biological sister of the Oba's fifth wife, Queen Isosa Awuare II, on Thursday early morning night.

00:15Queen Noamagbe apparently used a proxy TikTok account named Queen Awuare back up and accused the Benin Traditional Council, BTC

00:25of dishonest behavior, categorically stating, the BTC lied that Nigeria prominent social media streamer, Habib Hamzat Adelaja aka Pella was

00:35not authorized access into the palace of the Benin Monarch where she accidentally met Pella and gave him a motherly

00:42welcome as the Queen of the Oba.

00:44An action, the BTC has alleged she breached the palace protocol, hence, she risked being removed or sent packing from

00:51the palace, according to Queen Noamagbe in the apparent TikTok social media proxy account, Pella's visit to the palace is

00:59a mere cover-up, that a lot has been happening behind closed door.

01:02She supported her claim with a document that suggests the Benin Traditional Council was aware of Pella coming to the

01:09palace, and the document dated February 23rd, 2026 indicated that the BTC received and acknowledged the letter of Pella planned

01:17visit.

01:18But, if, if, if, if the BTC actually wrote back to Pella to notify him about the acceptance or rejection

01:24of his request was not stated, this, the President of Iguabesami Movement Worldwide, Asaro Culture Iyamu, counted the document and

01:33said,

01:33The receipt of letter at any institution registry doesn't amount to approval, however, the moment the letter is, received at

01:41our revered palace registry, it's, forwarded to the private office of Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo Nobunedo Uku

01:49Akpilokpolo, Oba Ewuare II.

01:52Oba of Benin will then instruct the Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, BTC to either write formally or call those

02:00seeking for approval of their letters especially as it's relate to royal visitations, those who lured and deceived Pella without

02:07the approval of Benin Traditional Council, BTC are the real problem.

02:11For the avoidance of doubts, Queen Noamagbe may not be first Oba wife to be sent packing from the palace

02:18Oba breached of access into the Monarch Palace.

02:21The Oba eldest wife, Queen Irogama Ewuare II had been sent packing from the palace simply because one of the

02:28biological children of the Oba entered the palace allegedly in a manner the Oba did not like.

02:34This was made known in a reactionary public letter issued on December 30th, 2025 by Prince Ezelakai Ewuare II, the

02:44Oba's eldest son who is believed to be the next Oba of Benin, according to Prince Ezelakai.

02:49I want to make it very clear.

02:51My mother did nothing wrong, six months ago, my youngest brother allegedly barged into the palace wanting to see his

02:59father.

02:59Our father wasn't happy with his approach, as a result, my mother was told to leave the palace.

03:06I would like to use this medium to plead on behalf of your senior children you wouldn't see, your second

03:12son, your third son and your second daughter, please, whatever our father said they did wrong, please forgive and forget,

03:20time is precious, we want togetherness, not division.

03:23On the issue he had with the Oba over the establishment of the Museum of West African Art, Mowar, Prince

03:31Ezelakai said some of the Oba's children only reach him through middlemen and as such he does not have the

03:36phone number of his biological father, Oba Ewuare II, saying,

03:41What really caused the issue between my father and I was that while I was in Germany, I overheard my

03:47father say unpleasant things about me to a public figure on the phone, I got upset and raised my voice

03:53to my father, something I've never done in my entire life.

03:57As for me, my own father intentionally chose to compose a speech and talk about his eldest son for a

04:04whole five minutes, to wash me publicly over material things, objects, artifacts, a museum, Obaseki, you said Obaseki co-opted

04:15your eldest son, before Prince Ezelakai issued the public statements about his father?

04:20The Oba had on November 7, 2025 during his official and ceremonial visit to the Edo State Government House in

04:28Benin City, called out his eldest son, Prince Ezelakai in a manner that seems to suggest as if the reigning

04:35Oba of Benin Kingdom has the power to choose his successor or the power to decide of whom become the

04:42Crown Prince, Edeikon and thus, Oba Ewuare II created this impression when he said during his speech at the Government

04:49House that

04:50being the first male child of being the first male child of the Oba does not automatically make you the

04:54Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom and the Edeikon of Oselu, saying, it is only when the reigning Oba send a

05:00person to be the Edeikon of Oselu, that is when the person is qualified to be seen and called the

05:06Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom and the Edeikon of Oselu, apparently angered by these words.

05:11Prince Ezelakai on November 11, 2025 issued a statement of apology apparently in an aggressive manner, demanding that the Oba

05:20can take away the titles of Crown Prince, Edeikon of Oselu, Okonukua, Ewuare and Prince from him.

05:27But, his biological name, Ezelakai, meaning, river does not flow and carry away sand or wash away sand, should not

05:37be tempered with, saying, the name Ezelakai was given to him by his grandfather.

05:42And we believed, the name, Ezelakai, probably has a more deeper meaning in line with the traditions and laws of

05:49the people of Benin Kingdom, which significantly also means, leadership, government, Oba or, river, may flow and change.

05:58But the people, their culture, and their traditions, the, sand, remain firmly in place, in line with the foregoing, we

06:07are not aware of any aspect of the Benin traditions that gives an Oba or any human on earth the

06:12power to choose or decide who becomes the Crown Prince, Edeikon or the next Oba of Benin, but, in line

06:19with Benin traditions and history, we may not be wrong to say.

06:23It is only God Almighty that has the power to choose and decide for the people of Benin Kingdom the

06:28person who is qualified to be seen and called the Crown Prince, Edeikon and finally, the Oba of Benin Kingdom,

06:35historically, only God Almighty choose who becomes the Crown Prince, Edeikon and Oba by birth and preservation of the life

06:43of such a person till when times permit him to be the Crown Prince, subsequently become the Edeikon and finally

06:50the Oba of Benin Kingdom,

06:51And for the purpose of clarity, we may not be wrong to say the Benin traditions demand the eldest male

06:57child of the reigning Oba to be seen and called the Crown Prince until a time, the reigning Oba is

07:03aware or expecting to join his ancestors, the reigning Oba will now notify or call the Crown Prince and send

07:10him to Oselu as the Edeikon of Oselu, an institutional responsibility demanded of the reigning Oba probably by the traditions

07:17to protect the throne of Benin Kingdom,

07:20Edeikon is a title of a person who acts as a proxy of the Oba of Benin while the reigning

07:25Oba is still alive, he leaves the Oselu Palace and moves to the main palace of the Benin monarch to

07:32become the new Oba when the reigning Oba has finally joined his ancestors, the word proxy, according to Cambridge Online

07:39Dictionary, is, someone or something that takes the place of another person or thing, or has the same meaning, purpose,

07:47etc. as the Morit,

07:48For the avoidance of doubts, Crown Prince Ahenedan Eredi Awa now Oba Ewuare II was sent as Edeikon of Oselu

07:56and began his move to the Oselu Palace on Saturday March 12, 2016 while the reigning Oba, Oba Eredi Awa

08:04was still alive, and for the record, Oba Eredi Awa thereafter was announced to have joined his ancestors on Friday

08:11April 29, 2016,

08:14Also, Crown Prince Solomon ICO Kuoba Igbe Nogo Dua Akenzua II, who later becomes Oba Eredi Awa was sent as

08:23the Edeikon of Oselu in 1978 and on June 11, 1978, the then reigning Oba of Benin Kingdom, Oba Akenzua

08:32II was announced to have joined his ancestors,

08:34The above illustration may have clarified that the act of a reigning Oba sending someone to Oselu as the Edeikon

08:41of Oselu is apparently not a, power, to choose or decide who to send, rather, it is a job function

08:47the reigning Oba is expected to perform by thus sending the one already chosen by God Almighty right from birth

08:54as the Crown Prince, Edeikon, to become the Edeikon of Oselu

08:58and thereafter, the person will move to become the new Oba of Benin when the reigning king becomes of blessed

09:03memory.

09:05Pella, the 20-year-old reality or real-life interactive content creator had visited the palace on March 6, 2026

09:13as part of his nationwide tour and was reportedly welcomed by the Queen, who also presented him with a gift.

09:19However, the Benin traditional council described the visit as a desecration, leading to disciplinary actions including the suspension of a

09:28chief and the detention of palace staff, while Pella was also summoned.

09:33According to the apparent proxy TikTok account of Queen Noamagbe, the Queen obviously stated in proxy thus,

09:39Hello everyone, the issues at hand isn't just because Pella came to the palace or me gifting him, a lot

09:46has been happening behind close doors.

09:48The Benin traditional council lied that Pella coming to the palace was unauthorized and I brought him to the palace.

09:54But I hope I will be able to convince you all that Pella coming to the palace was authorized.

09:59Look at the stamp on this letter, shows that it was approved by Benin traditional council, but they're all lying

10:06on my head, but what I want you to know is that this isn't the main problem because there are

10:10other issues way bigger than what you all thinks.

10:14Thanks to those people who, have, reached out just to check, on, me and to make sure I'm fine.

10:19On March 16, 2026 in a press release signed and made available by Frank Herobor-Irubor, the secretary of the

10:28Benin traditional council, the BTC said,

10:31The Benin traditional council, BTC, wishes to address the public regarding a serious breach of protocol and desecration of the

10:39sacred precincts of the palace, which occurred on Friday, the 6th of March, 2026.

10:44The council confirms that an individual, Habib Hamzat Adelajah, a social media influencer popularly known as, Pella, gained unauthorized access

10:55to the palace premises on the said date.

10:58Mr. Adelajah and his entourage entered the palace without the requisite permission from the council, and their subsequent conduct caused

11:05significant embarrassment and a breach of the peace within the palace grounds.

11:09The Benin traditional council views this incident with the utmost gravity.

11:14The palace is not a public thoroughfare or a location for frivolous content creation.

11:19It is the ancient and spiritual seat of the Oba of Benin, governed by centuries of tradition, custom, and sacred

11:26protocols.

11:28The council has conducted a preliminary investigation into the circumstances that allowed this unauthorized access.

11:35Consequently, stringent disciplinary measures have been taken against palace staff and chiefs who aided this mischievous act.

11:43Specifically, a chief who was implicated in the incident has been suspended indefinitely from the palace.

11:49A staff member of the Benin traditional council, identified as Mr. Oumuemu, has been detained by the Nigeria police force.

11:57He has been charged to court for causing a breach of the peace and abetting the unauthorized entry.

12:04Furthermore, it is with deep regret that the council confirms that a queen of the palace who was unfortunately featured

12:10in the incident is now facing serious disciplinary proceedings in accordance with Benin traditions and customs.

12:17These proceedings may inadvertently result in her removal from the palace.

12:21Following the incident, the council, utilizing the same channels within the palace that facilitated the initial entry, extended an invitation

12:30to Mr. Habib Hamzat Adelajah, Pella.

12:33He was requested to appear before a committee of chiefs tasked with investigating the matter to provide his own side

12:40of the story.

12:41Regrettably, Mr. Adelajah has failed to honor this invitation.

12:45The council is therefore using this public medium to demand that Mr. Adelajah present himself immediately to the relevant authorities

12:53within the council.

12:55His unapproved visit has caused untold distress to so many people, and as such, he must tender an

13:01unreserved written apology to the palace for his unauthorized access and the embarrassment caused.

13:07Failure to comply with this directive will leave the council with no option but to pursue legal action.

13:14The appropriate law enforcement agencies have been duly informed of this matter and are standing by to take necessary action

13:21against him.

13:22The Benin Traditional Council assures the public and the entire Benin nation that it remains the unwavering custodian of our

13:30age-old customs and traditions.

13:31While unscrupulous elements may occasionally attempt to undermine our sacred institutions, banking on the fatherly and forgiving disposition of His

13:41Royal Majesty,

13:42Omo Nobunedo, Uku Akpilokpolo, Oberewareil, CFR, they do so at their peril.

13:49The council wishes to state unequivocally that it possesses the institutional tools to immediately correct such infractions and prevent any

13:57reoccurrence.

13:58We thank the public for their concern and support in preserving the sanctity and dignity of the Benin throne.

14:05On November 11, 2025, the believed Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom and the Ed Icon waiting for his time to

14:12be sent to Uselu,

14:14Princess Elekia Ure II issued a public statement via his verified Instagram account, and said thus,

14:21Domo Yumogen, hope you're well.

14:24El hoped it would never get like this, especially my father addressing in-house publicly.

14:29I have apologized several times before but it seems El need to do it again.

14:34I am sorry for how El spoke to you, I'm your son and I'm only human.

14:39You are our father, we all look up to you and love you dearly, so of course, as our king,

14:45you can take Crown Prince, Okonukua, Prince, Ed Icon of Uselu and Emuare,

14:52but please, Lahou, leave, Azelakai, for me because my grandfather gave me that name.

14:58You raised me with morals, values and integrity, as your son imperatively, one thing you can always count on is

15:06that I will tell you what others wouldn't tell you and speak my opinion on issues that others might be

15:11too worried to touch on.

15:13El use this medium to plead, please handle the current situation on ground with sagacity.

15:19Our father is the most fastidious, painstaking and meticulous individual known, so I have almost faith in you.

15:26I pray for you always, pray for good health and long life.

15:31May God and our ancestors continue to give you wisdom, guide and protect you always.

15:36The prince on December 30th, 2025, released another statement via his verified Instagram account and stated that,

15:45over the last few weeks I've received an alarming amount of messages about the welfare of my mother.

15:50I really appreciate your concern but rest assured she is being cared for.

15:55Before the year ends, I choose to address this simply because I wouldn't allow false narratives about why my mother

16:02isn't in the palace.

16:04I want to make it very clear, my mother did nothing wrong.

16:08Six months ago my youngest brother allegedly barged into the palace wanting to see his father.

16:14Our father wasn't happy with his approach.

16:17As a result, my mother was told to leave the palace.

16:20Our dear father, Domo, I would like to use this medium to plead on behalf of your senior children you

16:27wouldn't see,

16:28your second son, your third son and your second daughter.

16:32Please, whatever our father said they did wrong, please forgive and forget.

16:37Time is precious, we want togetherness, not division.

16:41As for me, my own father intentionally chose to compose a speech and talk about his eldest son for a

16:48whole five minutes,

16:49to wash me publicly over material things, objects, artifacts, a museum, Obaseki.

16:56You said Obaseki co-opted your eldest son.

16:59Domo, our father omitted to mention the part where you were aware and gave your blessing for me to be

17:05on the Legacy Restoration Trust.

17:07It was after I got to Germany that my father then told me on the phone that he had changed

17:12his mind about me being on the board.

17:15I remember being so befuddled and shocked.

17:18There is no way on this earth I would ever be a part of something of this magnitude without getting

17:23green light from you, on God and our ancestors.

17:26I tried informing you a few times before I left to Germany, but as our father recalls, you chose to

17:33put middlemen in between our direct communication,

17:36which meant you never got my message on time.

17:39You didn't give anyone your direct number, so I couldn't pick up the phone to inform you personally beforehand.

17:45What really caused the issue between my father and I was that while I was in Germany,

17:51I overheard my father say unpleasant things about me to a public figure on the phone.

17:56I got upset and raised my voice to my father, something I've never done in my entire life.

18:03Hence why I aforementioned, I'm only human.

18:07Afterwards, I realized the mistake I made.

18:09I pleaded and apologized for four years straight, wrote countless remorseful letters,

18:15but yet you chose not to forgive and rather keep malice for this long.

18:19I didn't know you had this kind of mind towards your own son, your first son if I may add.

18:25Why not just call and berate, castigate me privately.

18:29After all, I said I was sorry several times.

18:33After all, no one knew about this but you and I.

18:36It was a father and son issue, that was it, something private, sensitive but infinitesimal.

18:43You've always taught us not to air our dirty laundry in public,

18:47but the teaching went out the window that day in government house.

18:51You chose to bring our private business to the public domain,

18:55which was so sad and heartbreaking to watch.

18:57My senior sister being on stage with you made me question her intentions towards me,

19:03and that's a horrible feeling.

19:04If our father feels there was nothing wrong with what was said that day,

19:09then who am I to say or think otherwise?

19:12Domo, I'll deal with however you decide to treat me,

19:16but please don't mistreat our mother.

19:18I worry about her sometimes.

19:20She's not as young as she used to be.

19:23My mother has done nothing wrong.

19:25She has stood by you for years, raised your children with you for years.

19:30She's mother to all, just as you are father and king to all.

19:34Please, she doesn't deserve this treatment.

19:37The year is coming to an end.

19:39I'm on my knees.

19:41Let our mother back into her home.

19:43To our leaders, as we enter 2026,

19:46I pray for unity, togetherness, progress, development and peace.

19:52Positive projection of Edo should be priority.

19:54Our long-awaited visit also coincides with time

20:00that the long controversial museum called Mowa

20:05announced plans for its opening.

20:16When I first heard his name,

20:21it was Emo, Emo, Emo,

20:28Emo, Emo,

20:35Emo, Emo,

20:38Emo,

20:39Emo,

20:40Emo,

20:45Your Excellency,

20:47distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

20:49we are therefore constrained to throw light

20:52on the lingering controversy

20:54surrounding the museum called

20:56Museum of West African Art.

21:00Mowa was originally conceived

21:04as Bini Royal Museum.

21:07Did you all know that?

21:12Originally,

21:15before my coronation in 2016,

21:19my grandfather,

21:22Oba Akinzwa II,

21:25my father,

21:27Oba Airediawa,

21:29and I, by the grace of God now,

21:32Oba Airedia II,

21:34have been known to be conversing

21:36for the return of our looted artifacts.

21:39By the British in 1897.

21:45Some were returned

21:46by the British government

21:48during my grandfather's reign,

21:49and my grandfather sang a song

21:52and danced to it

21:53in appreciation and happiness.

21:57To a wish in honor of my grandpa,

21:59I also now do the same song

22:02and dance

22:03whenever an artifact is returned.

22:31As if it is a kind of mysterious way

22:34to summon

22:37the return of other artifacts

22:40out there

22:41to come home.

22:43That song.

22:45Yes.

22:46Home

22:47to be housed

22:48in the proposed

22:50Bini Royal Museum.

22:52Not anywhere else.

22:54Some were returned

22:55during my father's reign.

22:58This was well celebrated

23:01during the former governor's comrade,

23:04Mishu Moli's administration,

23:05who joined the palace

23:07to receive the artifacts.

23:10As a diplomat,

23:12I carried on the struggle

23:13of my fathers

23:15for the return

23:16of the artifacts

23:18to the palace

23:20to the far corners

23:21of the globe

23:23because I was fortunate

23:24to serve my country

23:25in several countries.

23:28I presented

23:30my letters of credence

23:32to the king of Sweden,

23:35king of Norway,

23:38and queen

23:39of Denmark,

23:41and president

23:43of Finland,

23:47president of Angola,

23:51president of Rome,

23:53and Albanian,

23:55the Republic of Albania.

23:57I invited

23:58Governor Baseki

23:59shortly after

24:00he was sworn in

24:01in 2017.

24:05I intimated him

24:06of how much

24:07my father and I

24:08have been fighting

24:10for the return

24:12of the stolen artifacts.

24:14I solicited

24:15for his collaboration

24:16being the new governor

24:18of the state

24:19and I the new oba

24:20on the throne.

24:22He promptly agreed

24:24to support this effort.

24:26On my second

24:27coronation anniversary,

24:29he was called

24:30to make some remarks

24:31and surprised everyone

24:32when he informed us

24:34that he had been

24:35meeting with

24:35the Bini Dialogue group,

24:37some museums,

24:38and international donors

24:39who were already

24:41cooperating with him

24:42for the setting up

24:44of the Bini Royal Museum

24:48and that he has

24:49invited them to Bini

24:50for the next meeting.

24:54He then said

24:55he couldn't see

24:56any better

24:57coronation

24:57anniversary gift.

25:01He could give

25:02to me than that.

25:07Everyone applauded him

25:09but somehow

25:10I was not so excited.

25:13I had a bad feeling

25:14about it.

25:16He said I wanted

25:17to be jumping

25:18for joy.

25:19I had a bad feeling

25:21about it.

25:22As if something

25:23was wrong

25:24or going to go wrong.

25:26I'm sure

25:27my ancestors

25:28were prompting me

25:32not to believe

25:32the story.

25:38then there was

25:41silence

25:43after that.

25:47Silence

25:47from Governor

25:49Baseke.

25:52COVID-19

25:54came in

25:54and complicated

25:55issues.

25:56During the period

25:57of COVID-19

25:58I believe

26:00the evil

26:02plan,

26:04the bad plan,

26:05evil plan

26:06was also

26:06being perfected.

26:08as that was

26:09the period

26:10they now found

26:11out that a lot

26:11of money

26:12is coming

26:12with the artifacts

26:13to the palace

26:14and then they

26:16decided to divert

26:19it to their

26:21own pockets.

26:25Suddenly

26:26I saw

26:27that they

26:27co-opted

26:28my eldest son

26:32into their

26:33conspiracy

26:34because

26:34they felt

26:36they would

26:37see him

26:38as the

26:39Grand Prince

26:40of Benin

26:42that would

26:43prove

26:43that they

26:44are collaborating

26:45with the

26:46palace.

26:51And if

26:52they dragged

26:52him along

26:52with them

26:54they would

26:55have succeeded

26:57in convincing

26:57international

26:58donors

26:58particularly

26:59Germany

27:01that they

27:02are collaborating

27:02with the

27:03palace.

27:07my dear son

27:08said

27:09that they

27:11constituted

27:12the legacy

27:14restoration

27:15trust

27:15and they

27:17have given

27:18him a board

27:18seat.

27:20I didn't

27:21send him

27:22there.

27:24He looked

27:25excited

27:25of course

27:27poor child

27:29he didn't

27:30understand

27:31the implications

27:31of what he

27:32was getting

27:32himself into

27:33because he

27:34didn't remember

27:35or didn't care

27:36to remember

27:37what I've been

27:38teaching him

27:40about people

27:46for avoidance

27:47of doubt

27:48the Germans

27:50the German

27:51government

27:51et al

27:54and others

27:55who did not

27:57even understand

27:57our traditions

27:59and did not

28:00care to come

28:01to the source

28:01to find out

28:03for reasons

28:04best known

28:04to them

28:05perhaps because

28:06they were also

28:06having interests

28:07of their own

28:08in the artifacts

28:13they would have

28:14found out

28:15that the

28:15other son

28:16of the

28:16Oba Benin

28:16is not

28:17automatically

28:17the crown prince

28:18of Benin

28:19even though

28:20our system

28:21of secession

28:22is based

28:22on the principle

28:23of primogeniture

28:24until

28:28his father

28:29the reigning

28:30Oba

28:30pronounce him

28:32so

28:32and direct him

28:34to Uselu

28:34to preside

28:36over

28:36Uselu

28:38as the

28:38darken of Uselu

28:39or until then

28:41he is regarded

28:42as just

28:43the first prince

28:44or senior prince

28:45in Benin

28:46they will say

28:46oku no hua

28:48so were we all

28:50and my father

28:50I was

28:56I was also

28:56involved in

28:57a ceremony

28:58in the palace

28:58that formally

29:01sent me to Uselu

29:02with the

29:03comrade

29:04Usu Moli

29:04was there

29:05at the time

29:05he was the governor

29:07and a lot of

29:08crowd

29:09walked

29:10trekked

29:11as we have to do

29:12in line with

29:13tradition

29:14trekked all the way

29:16to Uselu

29:18took residence

29:19before

29:21technically

29:22officially

29:22I became

29:24crown prince

29:25became

29:26the

29:26darken of Uselu

29:28anything short

29:29of that

29:30is window dressing

29:30and cosmetic

29:32they decided

29:33to drag

29:34this my eldest

29:34son that I

29:35loved

29:35into a conspiracy

29:37against his

29:38own heritage

29:40and he was

29:41thanking them

29:41for it

29:42he also

29:43let himself

29:44be dragged

29:44into the

29:45conspiracy

29:45for obvious

29:46reasons

29:46because he

29:47refused to

29:47listen to

29:48the counsel

29:48of his

29:48father

29:48the king

29:49that thought

29:50that thought

29:52has been

29:53nurturing him

29:54since birth

30:00his

30:02he

30:02had

30:04no

30:12your excellency mr governor two days ago

30:18my people protested against the purported opening of the so-called moa

30:27it will be recalled that during the time of our of your predecessor in office

30:31i suggested to him that the edu state government should support the above in the pursuit of the

30:38return of the artifacts and the building of the benign royal museum this was duly agreed to by

30:46s1 s2l governor godwin ambassador in conjunction with the national commission for museums and

30:55monuments i gave several referral letters to the then dg director general abbas tijali for whom for

31:06him to be able to negotiate with different museums in europe and america surprisingly i was no longer

31:13putting a picture of the pursuit of these artifacts and the support for the beauty for the for the

31:20building of the benign royal museum several agreements were signed by the then director

31:28general of the ncmm on behalf of the upper opening which i never saw up till now

31:36tijani abbas and godwin obaseki conspired against the palace of the upper of benin and started building

31:44what they called a dome museum of west africa as a moa i was i was never put in the

31:53picture anymore

31:58it was very sad to me it was later it was later made known that the finance the finance

32:07for the moa which they were building was actually got gotten from foreign donors who were made to

32:17believe that the beginning of artifacts that would be returned would be housed in the benign royal museum

32:27the structure that is standing there was actually supported by foreign donors and the goodwill of the

32:35obama benin to build a royal museum the benign royal museum the so-called moa is not the state government

32:45is not the state government project it is a project that is meant to house benign bronzes in the in

32:52the

32:52museum known as the benign royal museum i have to keep on re-emphasizing this i am therefore in support

33:01of my

33:02people who came out who came out a few days ago to protest against moa opening of any sort

33:13i therefore suggest i therefore urge the state government to ensure that the moa structure

33:21which is under probe by the adjusted house of assembly is fully investigated and the source of finance and

33:28ownership made known your excellency for the information of the general public the foreign donors are

33:36actually seeing this moa structure as benign royal museum and i urge you i urge your excellency to let it

33:46be so your excellency distinguished governor of the state please

34:02this was my this was like my appeal to president buhari in his uh private party that he had i

34:11appeal to him

34:12with the president with the president now present the former the former uh minister of uh life muhammad

34:23means of arts and culture also present and all the key movers and shakers of the country were present

34:32and uh i appeal to him mr president you have done so much to support us in the do state

34:39particularly the

34:40royal family the royal court of benin as much as you have done there are some people still scheming to

34:48relute our artifacts please mr president don't let them relute our artifacts

34:56i'm appealing to his excellency too please stop the opening of the moa

35:04because because because it is fraught with greed deceit and mischief and lack of transparency

35:16i cannot end this i cannot end this address without addressing deep appreciation without expressing deep

35:25appreciation to the former president muhammad bohari gcfr who is late now very good friend of the family of

35:35those states who understood completely the need to recognize and support the ownership of the bronzes of

35:43the beneath bronzes and also thank his successor president bonner amertinubu gcfr who incidentally is my in-law

35:53i don't know if you are aware of that mr governor he's my in-law and as he openly said

36:00because he has openly said so that's what i'm openly saying so now

36:05as he openly said when when he came to the palace that he's not a stranger to this palace

36:11for supporting and pledging to build the beneath royal museum

36:15and of course who god and our ancestors brought to rescue otherwise rather toxic situation in the state

36:26in general and in benin in particular most of all as i said at the beginning god is the alpha

36:35and omega

36:36the beginning the beginning and the end all glory be to god long live the state government long live

36:45federal republic of nigeria and god bless you all i therefore stand before you today as the 40th oba of

36:57benin

37:06a direct descendant of oromia the son of odudua whom the benin people of that era knew as a kaladira

37:17exiled prince who later became ruler in ileife the benin people recognized odudua and his origin

37:27but it is not our place to force

37:33to force this recognition on others outside our boundaries the history of the world

37:41is a shared one and there will certainly be unexpected connections in future

37:49this is thus a time for unity and not divisiveness

37:55a time for mutual respect

37:57this is

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