Benin traditional ruler bans works minister from palace

Jethro Ibileke

Oba Erediauwa I, Benin traditional ruler, ordered Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi, out of his palace today, saying he could not come in until the infamous Benin-Ore road was fixed. Not even the presence of the leaders of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), could save the minister from the anger of the traditional ruler.

Mr. Ogiemwonyi had paid a visit to the palace immediately after his appointment as minister and had promised to take urgent steps to fix the gully-ridden road. The minister went with several candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming general elections to the palace to seek the oba's royal blessing for their aspirations.

Oba Erediauwa said that the road was strategic to the economic development of the country and had remained dilapidated even when one of his subjects was now a minister in the Works Ministry. According to a palace source, as soon as the minister was introduced to the king, he was ordered out of the palace for feeding the palace and citizens of the state with lies over the state of the road.

The king was angered by the minister who he said had come into Benin by air, but subjected motorists to pain on the Benin-Ore road. According to the source, the traditional ruler said to Mr. Ogiemwonyi: Don't step your feet into this palace until your promise to Nigerians and Edo state people in particular is fulfilled.

Mr. Ogiemwonyi was saved from further embarrassment when one of the palace chiefs in the rank of Uzama, (kingmaker), asked that the minister be allowed to stay with other guests at the ceremony.

The minister, on his part, assured the monarch that steps would be taken to ensure that the Benin-Ore-Lagos road was fully rehabilitated, adding that the Benin axis of the road was now better than it used to be.

During a phone interview, Mr. Ogiemwonyi said that Oba Erediauwa was just joking. A palace chief who did not want his name in print, however, viewed the matter differently. He described the traditional ruler as a man of few words, who would not say something if he did not really mean it.


Exactly what real traditional leaders, tiitled men and women, chiefs, Ozos, Eze etc should be doing.



It is very insulting for Engr Ogiewonyi to say the Oba was joking.I would be too scared to say my Enogie is joking.for a Bini son to refer to his king in such manner what a shame.and God knows why he was allowed to sit with other guests at the end of the day.Hope he listens to his king or he becomes an enemy of our King.



He has a very good reason to either go back to Goodluck to push for that road to be constructed or resign his position as a Minister of state citing neglect of his people by the Goodluck government.
That should not be a difficult thing to do.

Of what benefit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.
Of what benefit is the position of the Minster to the dude if it only brings him ridicule and the wrath of his King and his people.

Hopefully, commonsense will prevail over long throat.


We need more assertiveness in governance in Nigeria! The Oba has just set the pace. It is about time somebody damns the consequence!


The Minister's response to the Oba's admonishment is very curious. His decision to make light of the matter is indicative of a rebuff, and gives an insight to his character.

His friends should, however, caution him on the danger of his apparent failure to get the drift of the Oba's reprehension. He should be made to realize that the Oba actually spoke for the generality of the people, which is a key duty of a true monarch. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.



So Dr Ogiemwonyi should use his personal money to fix the Benin-Ore simply because he comes from Edo state? He is the minister of state for the entire country for God's sake, if there was no appropriation for that road in this year's budget, I'm afraid there is nothing more he could do.

Abeg, make una go sit down ja re. No wonder the place in Benin is pre-historic, backwardness will pervade the entire place if this kind of mindset is allowed to prevail. Now I understand why eminent and well to do Edo citizens have nothing to do with that God-forsaken place where envy and jealousy has become their stock-in-trade. Is the Oba's son not the Chairman of Oredo local government? What has he done to rid the city of garbage piling in every nook and crannies? Is he going to chase his son away when he comes visiting to the palace?

Whoever advised the Oba into this ridiculous prank of a joke should bear the full consequence of it.

You made an excellent point. Just as his Highness chastised and shunned the Minister of State on the dilapidation of Benin - Ore express road, he should also bite the bullet and chastise the Chairman of Oredo Local govt on garbage pile-up and the sanitary mess in Benin City. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander in the name of fairness. Cheers and peace.