Oba of Benin Accuses Ex-Governor Obaseki of Withholding Palace Funds for Seven Months

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Ewuare II, has accused the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, of deliberately withholding statutory funds allocated to the Benin Palace for a period of seven months.

Speaking during a media parley with journalists in Benin City, Oba Ewuare II revealed that the previous administration initially slashed the funding before ultimately suspending it altogether.

He said the palace had to take on the responsibility of paying staff salaries and maintaining the palace grounds during that time.

According to the monarch, the decision to cut off the funds was a calculated attempt to weaken the authority of the traditional institution.

“God and our ancestors did not allow their plans to succeed,” he declared.

Recalling similar instances in the past, the Oba narrated how a former military governor, whom the palace had supported, later encroached on a sacred site by constructing a storey building directly opposite the palace.

He emphasized the need for constitutional reforms to clearly define the roles and recognition of traditional rulers in Nigeria, saying such measures would help prevent abuses and protect cultural heritage.

“We shall reclaim all sacred grounds forcefully taken over,” Oba Ewuare II vowed.

He further stressed that properly defining who qualifies as a traditional ruler would go a long way in preserving the dignity of the institution and promoting accountability.