NEW Oba of Benin, Omo Noba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare the second, was yesterday presented with a staff of office and instrument of appointment by the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, at a historic event, which was a gathering of the high and mighty in the Nigerian society. Presenting the instrument, Governor Oshiomhole said the occasion presented the Benin people and the entire Edo nation a rare opportunity to showcase the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the people.
According to the governor, the new Oba, “has been very well groomed, tutored and mentored by his father in the finest of royal tradition. These qualities he has already displayed as the Edaiken N’ Uselu”, praying that God will grant him wisdom and good health to succeed in the most exalted position as Oba. No sooner had the Oba received his instrument of staff than he announced that his ascension to the throne ends the series of traditional activities which began several months ago when he began the journey to the throne. He said from these activities he has come to appreciate the reality that Royalty is an embodiment of culture, aspirations and history of a people, adding that under his reign justice, peace and unity
is what royalty will unwrap to the people of Edo under his dispensation.
The Oba who said that he is a direct descendant of the Oduduwa and the 49th Oba after Oranmiyan, added that for him, the Obaship as an embodiment of the culture and tradition remains the channel through which ancestors continue to guide and protect the interest of the people. He said, “we shall strive to ensure that conflicts are resolved between individuals, families and communities using the principles of social justice”, while promoting harmony with our neighbours with, “cultural diplomacy”. While promising that his reign will sustain the principle of neutrality and non-partisanship in politics, he said he will always join in praying for the best leader who will safeguard the welfare of the people and provide their basic needs to emerge at all times.
He asked parents to use and teach the Benin language to their children at all times, considering the fact that from a big empire in the past, Benin has ended up as a state, warning that , “to survive, it is imperative we need to maintain our culture”. The Oba then announced the establishment of a N10-million fund for the prosecution of an Oba Erediauwa Annual Lecture series which will feature orations on Benin history, Edo Language and Public Administration as he
unveiled his motto, “No reward without industry”. He also asked the state government to as a matter of urgency; introduce the teaching of Edo Language and Benin history in schools in the state while promising that his reign will forge links with traditional authorities from all over the world. The event attracted prominent traditional rulers from all nook and crannies who came to celebrate the new entrant into the fold of royal fathers in the country. The list included the Olu of Warri, Ogiamien Ikemwoli , the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnayelugo Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Sultan of Sokoto, HRM Saad Abubakar III, the Emir Of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Dein of Agbor, Dr. Benjamin Ikechuku Keagborekuzi I, and many representatives of prominent traditional rulers from across the country.
The politicians were not left out as the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, the governor-elect of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi. The vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was also on hand to grace the occasion, as he represented President Muhammadu Buhari, along
with some Southwest governors or their representatives from different parts of the country, who joined the host Governor Oshiomhole for the historic event that last took place 26-years ago, when the new Oba was twentyfive years old.
The entrance to the venue of the event was well secured by the combined team of police, men of the Department of State Services, Nigerian Civil Defence Corp, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and hefty looking private security men to prevent a breach of security. The new Oba formally ascended the throne on Tuesday when he went to a shrine at Use community in Egor local goverment Area of Edo State and after playing the ancient Ahkue traditional game, chose the name by which he was crowned on Wednesday and unveiled to the world as the new Oba of Benin yesterday. Prior to his ascension of the throne of his ancestors, Oba Ewuare the second was the Edaiken of Uselu, bearing the name Eheneden Erediauwa and served as the heir apparent to the Benin traditional stool in Uselu, where was his temporal place of abode for months before yesterday when he took up permanent residence at the Oba Palace located on Adesogbe Road, adjacent Benin airport road in Benin City, the state capital
