The Great Oba of Benin
Reportedly joins his
ancestors. His Royal
Majesty Omo n’Oba
n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo
Erediauwa, the monarch
of Benin Kingdom has
joined his ancestors. He
was 92 years
old.According to
authoritative sources
within and outside Edo
State, the well-
regarded king transited
to the great beyond
about two weeks ago.
His death is still being
kept secret because by
Benin tradition, the
death of an Oba could
only be officially
announced 30 days
after his transition.The
Oba was said to have
died in his palace.
Immediately he was
confirmed dead by his
personal physician, a
delegation of senior
Benin chiefs went to
the house of the heir
apparent the throne,
Prince Eheneden
Erediauwa to inform
him of the
development.
Investigations by
ionigeria news revealed
that the Oba died about
two days before the
campaign rally of the
Presidential candidate
of the All Progressive
Congress (APC), Major
General Mohammadu
Buhari in Benin City.
Buhari had his rally in
Benin City on Thursday,
January 29, 2015. That
is why the Monarch
could not receive Major
General Buhari.
Similarly, when
President Goodluck
Jonathan visited Benin
City for his campaign
rally, he was only
received at the palace
by a team of Benin
chiefs led by the Iyase,
Chief Sam Igbe. Oba
Erediauwa was born in
1923, son of Oba
Akenzua II.
Before being crowned
he was known as Prince
Solomon, Aiseokhuoba,
Igbinoghodua Akenzua.
He attended Edo
College, Benin City,
Government College,
Ibadan then Yaba
College, before going to
King’s College,
Cambridge to study
Law and Administration.
He joined the Eastern
Nigeria Civil Service in
1957 as a District
Officer, later moving to
the Federal Civil Service
where he retired as
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Health in
1973.
For a short period he
was the regional
representative of Gulf
Oil. In 1975 he was
appointed
Commissioner for
Finance in Bendel State
during the Military
Administration of
Major-General George
Agbazika
Innih.Ascending to the
throne as the 38th Oba
of Benin on 23 March
1979.
During this period, he
several times acted as
a peacemaker between
politicians. For example,
he intervened in a
dispute between Abia
State governor Orji Uzor
Kalu and Tony Anenih,
Chairman of the
People’s Democratic
Party Board of
Trustees, and resolved
another face-off
involving Anenih and
former Edo State
Governor Lucky
Igbinedion.
More recently, he tried
to broker peace
between the feuding
members of Edo State
House of Assembly.It
would be recalled that
his wife, Queen Esther
died about a year ago.
we made some calls to
one or two family
members, but they
neither refuted nor
confirm the story to be
true or false.
We therefore believe
this has a lot to do with
the tradition of keeping
quiet for 30 days. so we
advise you handle this
as speculation until the
palace releases its
official statement, so
we do not offend the
traditions of the great
Bini kingdom.May his
soul rest in perfect
peace.