No serving or former Nigerian president, head of state or state governor is known to have received a traditional chieftaincy title from the Oba of Benin, according to a historical account shared by Ethnic African Stories.
The report noted that despite the longstanding relationships many Nigerian leaders have maintained with the Benin Palace over the years, there is no authoritative record of any of them being installed as a Benin chief.
Among the leaders listed are Nigeria’s first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe, former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
According to Ethnic African Stories, the absence of such honours reflects the Benin Kingdom’s long-standing tradition of treating its chieftaincy titles as functional offices within the kingdom’s governance structure rather than honorary distinctions for political office holders.
The report contrasted the Benin Kingdom’s practice with that of several other traditional institutions across Nigeria, where presidents, heads of state and governors have frequently been conferred honorary chieftaincy titles.
While several Nigerian leaders have visited the palace of the Oba of Benin over the years and received royal courtesies, blessings and ceremonial honours befitting visiting dignitaries, none is publicly known to have been installed with a Benin chieftaincy title, the report stated.
The claims were attributed to Ethnic African Stories and have not been independently verified in the publication.
Credit: Ethnic African Stories
