ABSTRACT
The Oba of Benin, is the traditional
ruler of the Edo people and all Edo people and head of the historic
Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire – a West African empire centered on
Benin City, in Modern-day Nigeria, the ancient Benin homeland (not to be
confused with the modern-day and Unrelated Republic of Benin, which was
then known as Dahomey) has been and continues to be mostly populated by
the Edo (also known as the Bini or Benin ethnic group) the title of Oba
was used after the Ogiso title and was created by Oba Oranmiyan, Benin
Empire’s first ‘Oba’.
There has been change in the role of
traditional rulers in Edo State as its applies to community development,
since the introduction of local government reforms of 1976 in the said
reforms, leadership roles were clearly expressed, which states that it
is not the intention of government to destroy the organic unity of the
traditional institutions. The traditional emirate and chiefdom will
remain, although their functions will be changed to accord with the
present day circumstances.
Although the paramount of chiefs was
undone by colonial rule, traditional rulers have served as important
adjuncts in the administration of post-colonial government in both
Nigeria and Africa.