— 30th April 2016
COMMUNICATION in idioms and parables are
part and parcel of African societies and traditional institutional
systems. It is perhaps, in line with this that the Benin Traditional
Council, Oba Palace, Benin on March 16, 2015 issued a statement that
Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa, Oba of Benin was
indisposed.
“It is hereby announced for the information of the general public
that in the Palace parlance,
“Uhunmwum ve Ekpen vb’ Ato”, meaning “the
Leopard is ill in the Savannah bush”.
The statement, signed by Secretary to the Benin Traditional
Council, Frank Irabor, read “Public engagements including courtesy
visits, hearing of complaints from individuals, families and
communities, and in particular, complaints over inheritance and land
disputes, are therefore, suspended until further notice. All palace
chiefs and functionaries are to note that their routine traditional
duties continue as usual.”
Obviously, the above statement was issued following persistent media
speculation that the revered Benin monarch may have joined his
ancestors.
Now, with the coronation of his first son and heir apparent (Edaiken
N’Uselu), Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the new Oba of Benin, the
speculation about the Oba’s health or otherwise, has been put to rest.
Born in 1923 as the first son of Oba Akenzua II, then Prince Solomon
Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua attended Government School, Benin from
where he proceeded to Government College, Ibadan in 1939, where he
obtained with flying colours, his London Matriculations which qualified
him to gain admission into Yaba College, Lagos in 1945.
At the end of his course at Yaba, he gained admission into King’s College, Cambridge to study Law and Administration.
He returned to Nigeria to join the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service as a
District Officer (D.O) in 1957. He later transferred his service to the
Federal Civil Service and rose to the position of Permanent Secretary.
Prince Solomon Akenzua retired from the service as Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Health in 1973 and became the regional
representative of Gulf Oil Company, now known as Chevron.
He was appointed Commissioner for Finance in the defunct Bendel State
during the Military Administration of Major-General Agbazika Innih in
1975.
His early retirement from public service was to prepare him to handle
the intricacies of the administrative challenges that would confront
him in the performance of his duties as Oba of Benin, as his father, Oba
Akenzua II under-studied his father, Eweka II whom he served as Private
Secretary before his enthronement as Oba of Benin.
On Saturday, 23rd March, 1979, Prince Solomon AKenzua was crowned the
38th Oba of Benin with the title Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo,
Erediauwa, CFR, Oba of Benin.
On the eve of his coronation, the sun and the moon reportedly
appeared and created a partial eclipse, an occurrence that was
interpreted to mean the Cosmic consent and endorsement of the coronation
of the Oba to rule and reign over his people.
As a young prince and heir apparent, Oba Erediauwa was named
Solomon-wise as King Solomon; Igbinoghodua- the Lord will be your
strength and Aiseokhuoba-nobody should dare cause or invite your wrath
by his grandfather, Oba Eweka II. These names and his title Erediauwa
which means “one who has come to put the house and society in order”,
have proved to be significant and instructive during his reign as the
Oba of Benin.
Highly cerebral, one of the most revered traditional rulers in the
country and always current with events, Oba Erediauwa’s reign witnessed
peace and tranquillity and brought monumental transformation to Benin,
the Edo State capital. famous for its old mud houses with rustic zinc
from ancient times to a modern city.
He demonstrated his love for development of the State and in
particular, Benin City, when the dualization of the Airport Road,
Benin, was to commence.
At the time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had just lost
power to then Action Congress (AC), was opposed to the project, claiming
it was unnecessary and a waste of resources. A campaign was then
mounted that the planned dualization would require the demolition of
part of the Oba’s Palace. The essence of the campaign was to make
Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his administration unpopular.
The Oba, obvioulsy interested in the development of Benin, reasoned
differently and encouraged the project by personally adjusting the
Palace fence to pave way for the road dualization project, even when
the State Government decided to shift the road to avoid impacting on the
palace.
The road project, apart from being a reality today, has changed the face of Benin.
Oba as custodian of culture
During his reign, the rich tradition and culture of the people
witnessed remarkable renaissance. In particular, the annual Igue
Festival celebrated every December, assumed international dimension,
with visitors coming from abroad to participate in the festival.
Several individuals and corporate organisations identified with the
festival with generous support to showcase the cultural heritage of the
Benins.
During his 30th anniversary coronation on 23rd March, 2009, the
splendour of a living Kingdom was displayed with cultural extravangaza
which featured dances, chorals and music by theatre artists, schools,
communities and the Isekhure Music Foundation. The event was to pay
homage to the Omo N’ Oba and demonstrate the resilience of the Edo
culture.
Erediauwa and politics
Unlike many traditional rulers who dabbled into the murky waters of
partisan politics, the Omo N’ Oba maintained a dignified neutral
position by staying off politics and refraining from partisan
statements. Like a father to all, he prayed for all political actors
who visited him in his palace, irrespective of their platforms.
Attempt to taint him with partisanship by the National Republican
Convention (NRC) and its Edo State Governorship candidate, Chief Lucky
Igbinedion, in 1992, almost led to a revolt by the Oba’s subjects who
considered the Oba’s summon to testify at the Governorship Election
Petitions Tribunal as sacrilege.
The NRC and its candidate had summoned the Oba over an allegation
that he made a broadcast on the eve of the election canvassing votes
for the rival Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Chief
John Odigie Oyegun who won the election. The tribunal verdict however
vindicated the revered monarch.
That incident, notwithstanding, Omo N’ Oba had played the role of
peacemaker from time in the Nigerian polity, resolving disputes between
politicians.
For example, he intervened in a dispute between former Abia State
Governor, Orji Kalu and Tony Anenih, former Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Board of Trustees, and resolved another face-off between
Anenih and former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
Besides, the Oba also intervened in the dispute between lawmakers of
the PDP and those of the APC in the Edo State House of Assembly. The
legislators however refused to shift their grounds before the last
general elections swept most of them away.
Oba Erediauwa and the media
Prior to his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, the Oba
Palace was held with awe and trepidation by members of the general
public and journalists. But Omo N’ Oba changed that perception when he
threw the gates of the palace open and instituted a quarterly press
parley between the palace and journalists in Edo State, thus creating
unfettered access to the palace for media practitioners.
At such interactions, journalists would ask questions on any issue
in Benin Kingdom and the Oba would either provide the answers or direct
any of his chiefs to do so.
Where a particular issue was being brought to his notice, he would
call those in charge of the area to provide relevant information or
direct an investigation where the issue was not clarified.
The model of quarterly press interaction portrayed the Oba as a King
who ran an open administration in his dealings with his subjects. He
also emerged, perhaps, as the most media-friendly Oba in the history of
Benin Kingdom and Nigeria at large. He will be sorely missed by
journalists who enjoyed his rib-cracking jokes, gestures and mental
alertness.
Drop a Comment or Like our Page.......
47
year old Tompolo is wanted in a case of Conspiracy, Illegal Diversion
of the sum of N34,000,000,000 (Thirty-Four Billion Naira) and
N11,900,000,000 (Eleven Billion, Nine Hundred Million Naira) belonging
to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA
Date of Birth: 11 April 1955
