The statutory funding for the Palace of Benin Kingdom was withheld for seven months by Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past Governor of Edo State.
The Oba of Benin, Ewure II who disclosed this at a media parley with journalists in the State, alleged that the past administration under the Leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki deliberately took the steps in order to undermine the palace.
According to Oba of Benin, funds for the palace were first slashed before a final stop was put to it for seven months.
The royal father stated further that the palace took responsibility for paying staff of the palace as well as clearing weeds around its surroundings.
He said God and his ancestors did not allow the efforts of those that planned to undermine the palace to prevail.
The traditional ruler recalled how a former military governor, whom the palace earlier helped, turned around to spite the palace by erecting a storey-building on a sacred ground opposite the palace.
While speaking on the need for constitutional review for traditional rulers to adequately perform their functions, the Benin monarch said such critical aspects should be looked into to define who is a traditional ruler.
“We shall reclaim all sacred ground forcefully taken over.
