BENIN CITY – Apparently irked by the impersonating disposition of one Arisco Osemwengie, the family of Ogiamien in Benin Kingdom has called on the people of the kingdom, especially the palace of the Oba of Benin and the Crown Prince and heir apparent to the Benin throne, HRH (Amb) Eheneden Erediauwa, to as a matter of urgent traditional importance disregard him, describing his action as callous, naïve and an aberration.
Speaking with journalists on behalf of the Ogiamien’s family, during an enlarge meeting of the descendant of Obazee N’orie Ogiamien which comprises of Edogiawerie, Okuonghae and Igbineweka’s children, held at Ogiamien’s palace, yesterday in Benin City, Mr. Samuel Ogiamien with the mandate of Pa Aibangbee Emokpae Ogiamien and Pa Fred Ogiamien, maintained, that Arisco Osemwengie was neither connected to their families nor the legitimate person to assume the title of Ogiamien.
He noted that the position of Ogiamien was hereditary, especially in view of its magnificent roles played during coronation of a new Oba in the kingdom, which started about 12 century ago.
According to him, the family frowned at Arisco’s impersonation which he said had not only brought the reputation of the family to public ridicule, but had further breached trust and confidence reposed by the revered palace of the Oba of Benin, where they had hitherto enjoyed peaceful co-existence.
He said that they viewed his actions, as not only a calculated attempt to smear the good image of the Ogiamien’s family before the people of the kingdom, especially the palace of the Oba of Benin, describing it as a grand design to cause disaffection between the family and the palace of Oba.
Declaring that the family first swung into action by writing a petition to the Crown Prince, calling for redress, Mr. Samuel Ogiamen said they had instituted a civil action against him (Arisco) in the court of competent Jurisdiction for impersonation, saying that the genuine Ogiamien remains Osarobo Ogiamien, whom, they opined would return home someday from exile.
The Ogiamien family, however, reaffirmed its unalloyed loyalty to the palace of the Oba of Benin, especially the Crown Prince, and had continually pledged to partake in the forthcoming coronation process to actualise the expected results.
