Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, yesterday took possession of the shrines (Ukhure) at the home of suspended Isekhure of Bini Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure.
Sources last night said the chief might be ostracised for allegedly offending the monarch and upsetting the kingdom’s tradition.
Isekhure of Bini is the custodian of the ancestral spirit staff of the royal family; he is the priest responsible only for Erinmwin-Idu, which is the household deity.
The Nation learnt that the Oba, on behalf of the royal family, owns the shrine of the royal ancestry while the Ukhure (ancestral spirits staff), which symbolises ancestry, is kept in the care of the Isekhure.
The land on which the shrines are located also serves as the home of Chief Isekhure.
Families of Chief Isekhure were thrown into confusion as top palace chiefs, led by Chief Eduwu Ekhator, the Obasogie, who was accompanied by a combined team of policemen, stormed the home on Sakponba Road in Benin, Edo State capital.
Isekhure came out of his house after about two hours but refused to garnt them access to the shrines.
He was quoted to have queried why they stormed his home with policemen in a traditional matter.
After an argument, Chief Isekhure went back into his house and locked himself in.
A statue of Chief Isekhure holding the Ukhure in front of his home was pulled down. All the beautification, including bronze artworks, were destroyed.
His children and relations were seen cursing and lamenting the chiefs’ action.
They said a bulldozer should be used to pull down the building since the services of Chief Isekhure were no longer needed.
Reporters were barred from taking photographs of the incident, which attracted a large crowd.
Chief Isekhure was in the building last night.
One of the palace chiefs, who spoke in confidence, said since the Oba owns the place, he could take possession of his property.
The chief said there were alleged plans by Chief Isekhure to tamper with the shrines, which he said prompted the Oba to take what he called necessary steps.
He said: “For now, he (Isekhure) is completely ostracised. What you can see is part of the process of ostracising him. The real powerhouse, items that belong to the Oba, is here. Information reaching us is that some of those things were being tampered with.
“The Oba is the owner of that place. He magnanimously put him (Isekhure) there to take custody of the place. He is like the sceptre bearer to the Oba. The monarch has asked us to secure the artefacts and possibly make the area formidable so that it cannot be broken.
“The Oba has already asked him to take possession of the extension he (Isekhurhe) built in there. But the original foundation of the palace guild should remain where it is. It is a monumental structure and we have to fortify it because of what it contains.
“I think processes required have been concluded. Nobody ever raises an arm against the Oba, even when he (Isekhurhe) was going out of his own way and raising an instrument pursuing some of the chiefs.
“He has locked the door, saying we cannot go in. But we will get in there in a minute. That is the Oba’s property.”