A lawyer based in Benin, Jefferson Uwoghiren, has provided clarification on the type of Okaigheles that the Edo state government banned in Edo State.
The government issued a ban on Okaighele and warned that individuals claiming and operating under this name would face consequences. The ban was intended to address the increasing problem of cultism and was announced following a closed-door security council meeting in May.
Governor Obaseki stated that incidents of cultism remain high, with over 150 people killed in cult-related activities and homicides since the beginning of the year.
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He emphasised that the ban would be strictly enforced in accordance with the recently passed anti-cultism law. Additionally, an anti-cultism security council will be established and will begin operations on Monday night.
In reaction, Uwoghiren said, “Traditional Okaigheles cannot be banned because we are all Igheles.”
Furthermore, Uwoghiren noted, “The government’s reported ban is directed at all the political Okaigheles, who simply transmuted from CDA youth leaders to Okaigheles when the law setting up private property protection banned their activities.”
The Benin Lawyer claimed Okaigheles in Edo South have private armies of well-armed cretins and are significant causes of “land insecurity, brigand, assassinations, arsons, underdevelopment, lawlessness and unending litigation.”
Jefferson concluded that the Okaigheles work closely with “soulless lawyers, survoyers, security agents and judicial officers.”
In a separate reaction shared with The Standard Gazette, State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chris Azebamwan differentiated Okaghele and the youth Chairman.
He argued that Okaighele was not elected by suffrage and “has nothing to do with cultists.
” He encouraged the government to identify the few bad ones and “flush them out.”
“The so-called ban on the Okaighele position is like throwing out the baby with the bath water. It is going after a fly with a sledgehammer and thoroughly misguided,” Azebamwan said.
The APC spokesperson categorised the position. Okaighele comes after Odionwere—the oldest man, the four elders, the seven elders, and above Okairoghae—head of Irog hae, the young adult cadre. Okairoghae also supervises the Igbama or youth Cadre before Emwin R’Oba Evbo—the Adolescents and bo ttom of the rung.
There have been mixed reactions to the announcement of the proscription by the state government.
Some people praise the government for taking bold steps to control the increasing and almost uncontrolled cultism that has led to the death of hundreds of youths in Edo State, while others criticise the governor, calling him anti-tradition.
The Standard Gazette contacted the Commissioner of Information, Chris Nehikhare, for comment but has not received a reply.
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