- Obasanjo commiserates with Crown Prince, Edo govt
FUNERALS will be suspended in Benin, Edo State the moment Benin Traditional Council announces the burial rites of Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Erediauwa.
Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe said this in Benin yesterday.
Iyase said the Oba’s burial rites would soon be announced.
He told newsmen that from the moment late Oba Erediauwa’s burial rites are announced, all funeral rites are prohibited in Benin.
He urged all those who have funeral ceremonies to perform to do so before the Oba’s burial rites are announced.
“All chiefs, enigie, priests, and palace functionaries who are entitled to wear beads as part of their normal wear, will henceforth seize to wear beads from the date of the announcement. In- stead, they will wear Omonorhue or white thread (Ikhian) until further notice.”
The Iyase, who urged all and sundry to respect the custom and tradition of Benin Kingdom, and be law abiding, said all male citizens of Be- nin Kingdom will, as a rule, be expected to clean shave the hair on their heads with effect from April 29, in obedience to Benin tradition.
Chief Igbe added that “all our friends and well- wishers, including all those who live with us and work for their livelihood within our king- dom, may wish to join us in this action,” even as he noted that markets that were shut for three days were now open and busy.
Asked if there was any sanction against those who fail to shave their hair, the Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, said for true Benins, the sanction is between them and their ancestors.
Meanwhile, former president Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed sorrow at the death of the Oba Erediauwa II.
In letters of condolence to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Obasanjo described the Oba as a seasoned technocrat and erudite administrator whose reign afforded the people of the state notable social and political developments, growth, progress, peace and stability.
Obasanjo said he received the news of Oba Erediauwa’s passing with “deep sense of sorrow,” saying his administration benefitted immensely from the wise counsel of the royal father.
The former president said not just the palace but also the people of Edo State would suffer Oba Erediauwa’s death.
Obasanjo prayed God to give the Crown Prince the wisdom and courage required to sustain the laudable achievements of his late father. “The late Oba will, no doubt, be greatly missed by family, as well as by his numerous friends and admirers. While urging that you take solace in the worthy life that the late monarch lived, may I take this op- portunity to extend my sincere condolence to the royal family and the entire state, and pray that the Almighty God grant you all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. And for you, the Crown Prince, in particular, I pray God to give you the wisdom and courage you would require to build on the laudable and monumental legacies of your late father.”
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