AGENE GODWIN, Benin
Irked by the recent comments credited to the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on the Esama of Benin kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, hundreds of women from across the state under the aegis of the Concerned Edo Women, have stormed the streets of Benin City in a peaceful protest.
The semi-clad women took to the streets in the city to register their displeasure over what they described as ‘disrespectful utterances’ by the governor on the Benin chief and father of the erstwhile governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion.
They described the insults meted out to the notable Bini chief as ‘uncalled for,’ noting that the negative language used by the state Governor on the Igbinedion family is worrisome and offensive to the Benin nation, who are very ‘respectful people and adore the sterling lifestyle and qualities of their son and Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.’
Some of the women who said they decided to show solidarity with the family and patriarch of the Igbinedion family, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion went half nude, exposing discrete parts of their body as they brandished various placards with inscription such as; “Oshiomhole, you are always insulting your elders”, “Go and Beg for forgiveness”, and “Nemesis will catch up with You” at the city centre.
The protesting women in their hundreds took over the king’s square and other major streets in the state capital, Monday, as well as the Emotan Statue where they stopped briefly to express their grievances before the traditional chief priest, who while addressing the women spoke in bini dialect in solidarity with the women applauded their efforts for deeming it fit to resist evil and rebuke the governor for ‘his unguarded statement’ on the Benin chief and the Esama of Benin Kingdom.
“We are women and as mothers, sisters and aunts to Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, we say no to any form of disrespectful behaviour for the person of Chief Igbinedion. We as mothers cannot see evil in the land and support it. We are against the action of the governor particularly on Chief Igbinedion and his household. We want the Governor to apologize to the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Igbinedion. All we are asking the governor is to stop insulting elders from Benin Kingdom, so that we do not completely go naked and place curses on him.”, they said in bini dialect.
The sacred Emotan statute is a traditional worship ground for the binis, just as the women who stormed the spot of the Emotan statue over their displeasure following the recent outburst on the Chief Igbinedion on the Land use charge policy by Gov. Oshiomhole, were all dressed in Red attire, traditionally called ‘Ododo’, as well as symbolic of danger in the bini kingdom.
On his part, the priest of the Emotan Statue, while receiving the women said the protest was a welcome one as nobody, regardless of his position in state is encouraged to insults bini chiefs, elders and particularly by way of ridicule, malign and outright disregard for the respected Esama of Benin adding that, “whosoever insults the Binis and its high ranking chiefs is drawing the wrath of the gods and will not go unpunished,” he said.
