The Benin Traditional Council and the open mediation at Ugha-Ozolua in the Oba Palace

By: Desmond Agbama, CPS to Oba of Benin

Before Oba Ewuare II ascended the throne as the 40th Oba of Benin
Kingdom on 20th October, 2016 every complaint brought before the
Palace were usually heard at ‘Ogue-Ematon” in the Oba Palace. And in
some cases committees made up of Palace Chiefs were constituted to
listen and resolve such complaints on behalf of the Omo N’Oba.

However, the Benin Custom and Tradition places restriction on women and forbid them from entering the “Ogue-Ematon”, which means that women with cases to be heard at “Ogue-Ematon” are represented. Reports
have it that some of the committees constituted to resolve issue distort fact and misrepresent issues to His Royal Majesty.

In a bid to bring sanity, fairness, equal right and justice to Palace
administration, the reigning Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku
Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II initiated the “Open Mediation” at Ugha-Ozolua
in the Oba Palace. The purpose among others was to provide opportunity for women who cannot make their representation at “Ogue-Ematon” to personally do so, and to eliminate the hitherto attendant distortion of facts when being represented by third party.

Since the commencement of the Open Mediation at Ugha-Ozolua, over 100
cases have been successfully resolved, while so many others are at
various stages of being resolved. For instance, those who have
obtained justice include Mrs. Ann Aghayere whose land was forcefully
taken from her by the Odionwere and the Ohen in Amagba; Mrs. Philo
Akhere who was prevented from developing her land in Idunmwungha by youths loyal to the Odionwere. Others are the Enogie of Egba, HRH
Palmer OmoregieUzama, who was suspended by the Chairman of the
outlawed CDA; the confirmation of Enogie of Uteh-Ekoko, HRH
OgieayevbonaIgbinenikao whose leadership of the Village was been
contested as the traditional ruler of the Village as well as the Ohen
of Azagba, High Priest NosahareOgieriakhi who was confirmed as the traditional head of Azagba Village. These landmark judgements by the Palace have no doubt restored hope to the seemingly despondent people
and it has brought peace as well as laid to rest the crisis or agitations that have persisted in those villages and communities in the past.

It would be recalled that Oba Ewuare II was coronated on 20th October,
2016 and on 20th October, 2017 the Omo N’Oba will be one year on the
throne. Consequently, activities and events to celebrate the first
anniversary of the coronation of Oba Ewuare II will commence in the
first week of October to be rounded off on Sunday 22nd October, 2017
with a Thanksgiving Service at Holy Aruosa Cathedral, Benin City.

Therefore, to enable everybody to prepare and be part of the upcoming
activities to celebrate the first anniversary of the coronation of His
Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, the Benin Traditional Council decided to
suspend forthwith the Open Mediation usually held every Thursday at Ugha-Ozolua in the Oba Palace. During this period everybody would be sensitized about the new Benin Customary Alternative Dispute
Resolution Committee (BCADRC), which will be inaugurated soon by His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin.

The Committee which will be made up of seasoned eminent jurists will
be in charge of resolving issues and disputes among the people and
villages. The Palace is confident that the Benin Customary Alternative
Dispute Resolution Committee will effectively continue with the
unprecedented landmark initiative of the Oba of Benin. However, the
Open Mediation at Ugha-Ozolua will still be there, but this time for
only those making appeal from cases already handled by the Benin
Customary Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.

At this point, one will like to highlight some of the beauty of the Open Mediation at Ugha-Ozolua. First, cases are not received or heard
in proxy. In other words, the complainant and the accuse must be present before any matter is heard. Secondly, the Omo N’Oba personally listen and resolve all issues brought before the Palace. This is a mark departure from the past when Chiefs were used to form Committees to resolve issues. Thirdly, there is no opportunity for anyone to distort fact or misrepresent issues. These brought so much credibility to the process and restored the peoples’ confidence in its resolutions which are based on fairness, equity, equal right and justice.

Therefore, Oba Ewuare II deserve commendation and praise. Little
wonder why the Oba Ewuare II has been regarded as a messiah who has come to save and liberate his people from the hands of some shylock individuals in the society. The banning of the illegal activities of Community Development Association (CDA) is a case in point. This has brought hope and succour to many people who hitherto could not purchase hand or develop same due to extortion and oppression meted on them by the disbanded CDA members.