It was a solemn moment for the ancient Benin kingdom and the capital city of Edo State and its residents yesterday as top hierarchy of palace chiefs announced the transition of Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa.
The passage of Oba Erediauwa was broken by the chiefs led by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom Chief Sam Igbe and Chief David Edebiri (The Esogban of Benin Kingdom) to the heir apparent His Royal highness Eheneden Erediauwa and Edaiken N’Uselu, children and other members of the royal family as well as the Enigies and large crowd of sympathizers who thronged the ancient palace. There were traditional rites that heralded the solemn moment held amid wailings and reflections on the death of the sage and monarch of the kingdom.
The chiefs in a procession like manner accompanied by a man carrying the traditional Akpoki (a round sacred stool-like box with cover at both ends and said to be containing some traditional items of high spiritual powers), trooped to the centre of the main entrance gate where the Iyase of Benin made some traditional incantations and broke a big white chalk and announced to the hearing of all that the monarch had reunited with his ancestors.
An official statement by Chief Sam Igbe which was made available to newsmen stated that the HRM Oba Erediauwa has joined his ancestors after the traditional while chalk was broken at the main entrance gate and within the ancient palace after some rites laced with spiritual invocations and rites were also performed by the Iyase of the Kingdom who was accompanied by an army of top chiefs to carry out the all-important ceremony.
The Iyase of Benin Kingdom who described the late Oba of Benin as the Prince of Peace also prayed God to grant his soul external peace. According to the statement, “As announced by the Iyase of Benin kingdom, Osorhue Bunrun, Oba Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom, the Prince of Peace, Ebo, Ayenmwirhe (CMINI, MINI, MNI) has reunited with his ancestors. May he find perfect peace w i t h G o d , Amen.”
The core chiefs of the inner chamber of the palace had before the public announcement of the death of the monarch held hours of closed door meeting with the HRH Eheneden Erediauwa, the Enigies and other elders of the royal family before they came out to break the news of the exit of the nation’s revered traditional ruler and a former Federal Permanent Secretary.
The Oba’s children, relations, Enigies, in-laws and others were made to stand in a circular form with the top palace chiefs while the breaking of the sad news about the death of their father and other ceremonies lasted. At the palace were large crowd of sympathizers including popular businessman Captain Hosa Okunbor and others most of who gathered in groups to discuss hushed tunes about the sad development.
It would be recalled that the heir apparent HRH Eheneden Erdiauwa had recently completed the mandatory traditional rites of traditional spiritual fortification and also moved to Uselu traditional palace ground preparatory to the formal ceremony that will usher in his reign as the next Oba of the kingdom rich in culture and tradition.
A 28 day traditional burial rites is expected to be carried out with the latest breaking of news about the death of Oba Erediauwa who mounted the revered seat in 1979 and his reign has witnessed tremendous development and peaceful coexistence amongst all segments of people of the state, the country Nigerian and beyond.
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