• Duke pledges loyalty to monarch
Traders in the popular Osa market, otherwise known as ‘Ekiosa market,’ in Benin City, yesterday, appealed to Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to prevail on Edo State government to halt planned demolition of the market.
This comes on the heels of a two-week ultimatum handed down to traders at Oba and Osa markets, both in Benin City, to take shelters in other markets for their trading activities.
The state government, through the leader of Edo State Market Women Association, issued the ultimatum, pending when the markets are rebuilt.
The Spokesperson of the traders, who staged a peaceful protest to Oba’s Palace in Benin City, Blessing Owie, said the planned demolition of Osa market would send traders into indebtedness and penury, having obtained loan facilities to reconstruct their shops when government intervention was not forthcoming after the fire disaster that engulfed the market on December 19, 2019.
MEANWHILE, the Enogie of Eyaen Dukedom, Dr. Osazuwa Iduriase, yesterday, reaffirmed his loyalty and avowed commitment to the Benin monarch, Ewuare II.
The Enogie of Eyaen, who stated this in a statement to deny the accusation against him by the Odionwere and some few disloyal members of the Dukedom, said the Oba of Benin, as the custodian of culture and tradition of the people of Edo land, remains supreme and unequal among other persons in Benin Kingdom.
Enogie Iduriase stressed that his position as Enogie takes its root from the palace of the Oba of Benin, and, as such, cannot engage in any act of insubordination or do anything that will undermine integrity and supremacy of the Benin monarch.
