Footsoldiers and cultural leaders of the Benin Kingdom have issued a strong statement reaffirming their commitment to defending the sanctity of the Great Benin Throne, describing any insult to it as unacceptable and intolerable.
In a press release dated 30 December 2025, the groups emphasized that disrespect toward the throne is not a matter of politics or opinion but a violation of Benin heritage, ancestry, and identity. They compared insulting the throne to insulting one’s parents—an act considered madness and wholly rejected in Benin culture.
The statement, jointly signed by Mr. Iyamu Osaro, Culture President of the Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide, and Mr. Uwadiae Iyoha, President of the Otedo Youth Union, warned that anyone who ridicules or disrespects the throne will face the full rejection and resistance of the Benin people.
“Benin people do not wait for permission—formal or informal—to condemn disrespect against what is holy to them. Disrespect to the great Benin Throne is a sacrilege and disrespect to the people, the ancestors, and the land itself,” the release read.
The cultural leaders urged the public to choose wisdom and respect, affirming that the Great Benin Throne remains untouchable and inviolable.
