The day has finally come! All is set for the crowning of the 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom and the 70th ruler in the Ogiso dynasty today, Thursday, October 20.
There is a feeling of great expectation and excitement in the city of Benin today as the city centre and its environs had been prepared for the visitors from around the world who will be trooping into the city for the coronation of the crown prince Eheneden Erediauwa.
Erediauwa is ascending the 836-year-old throne of his ancestors which is the oldest and one of the most revered in Nigeria.
About 5,000 security officials are in Edo state to provide protection for everybody and also to make the coronation a smooth sailing affair.
According to reports reaching us, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to grace the grand occasion in the south-south state today.
Edo state was the centre of all attraction just about a month ago when it held its governorship elections. Today, the eyes of the world is on Edo state again but Benin city is where the whole attention is concentrated as the new monarch emerges.
5.00pm’ The new Oba of Benin Ewuare II heads to the palace to enter it for the first time as king. As a crown prince awaiting coronation, he could not go into the palace until he had been crowned and officially unveiled. Now, that is done, he steps into his palace.
4.55pm’ Oba of Benin officially announces his name. The name he will be called as Oba is Ewuare II after the great Ewuare, a former king who fought and expanded the ancient kingdom of Benin.
The new king drops his original name Eheneden Erediauwa.
The new name was announced by Chief oliha of the Uzama.
4.52pm’ Vice President Osinbajo speaks. He said Buhari asked him to felicitate with the new Oba.
“Mr President said to me that your great father was one of the most forthright person he ever met,” he said.
Osinbajo also congratulated Oshiomhole for being the first civilian governor and native of Edo state to give staff of office to the Oba of Benin.
“We are gratified that your meritorious service as ambassador and your sterling works in the oil sector proves you are capable,” Osinbajo said.
4.45pm’ The coronation coincides with the birthday of the Oba and everybody stands to sing him a birthday song. The Oba then unveiled his special crest.
4.40pm’ Oba Ewuare II: “We shall uphold the principle of non-partisanship of politics but support those who would have regards for the customs and tradition of the state.”
He said reign would be used to encourage bronze casting and attract tourism to the state to create employment.
He also established the Oba Erediauwa lecture series to be marked every 20th October of every year in memory of his father. The foundation is to get a N10m endowment fund.
4.20pm’ Oba Ewuare II recalled the link between Ile-Ife and Benin and said if the listing of the Oba-ship started from Oranmiyan, then he (Ewuare II) would be the 40th Oba and not 39th. He insisted that Oduduwa was a self-exiled person who became king in Ife.
He promised to pay due attention to issues of security and also carry out reforms in palace administration. “We shall strive to ensure that conflicts are resolved along the principle of social justice. I strongly advise my Bini people to strive to maintain our culture especially our language.”
He said this is necessary because Benin, which used to cut across parts of Lagos down to Asaba in Delta state and even Dahomey has now shrunk to a state.
4.18pm’ Oba Ewuare II of Benin kingdom speaks. He praises Edo state governor Adams Oshiomhole for doing well for the state and urges governor-elect Godwin Obaseki to fit well into the shoes of Oshiomhole.
As the event of today marks the end of the rites to his ascension of the throne, he said he accepts by faith to be the custodian of customs and traditions in the state. He said the Binis are proud of their heritage.
He also commended his father for opening the palace to everyone who needed advice and solutions to problems.
“With all due modesty, I must confess that I benefited from the treatment of my father more than anyone else.”
Our responsibility is daunting but because of the support of my family, friends and the international community, we will excel. Praised his mother who died in 1976 while his father was still the crown prince.
He urged the guests to join him observe a minute silence for his father and mother.
4.08pm’ Oba of Benin Ewuare II has been officially handed the the staff of office by Governor Oshiomhole and takes over the throne of his ancestors.
4.05pm’ Oshiomhole continued: “We have no doubt in our mind that you have what it takes to step into the big royal shoes of your great father. Your majesty is well exposed and an ambassador to many European countries.”
He said the new Oba once protected him as an ambassador when nothing suggested that he would be king. “You have publicly accepted me as a son of the royal family. That I will always celebrate. We are really the heartbeat ad the Vice President can confirm that.
“We join millions to congratulate you and ask God and our ancestors to give you the good health that you need to take care of this kingdom.
“And I think I speak ypur mind of the governor elect. I want to reassure you that for the remaining few days I have as your steward, I shall give my all.”
He said he is sure Godwin Obaseki would build on what he had done and do even better.
3.54pm’ Oshiomhole says Oba of Benin occupies a unique position in Edo and that the ceremony is an opportunity to showcase the culture and tradition of the Edo people.
“I recall that the privileged relationship I had with oba erediauwa when he was on the throne as that of a father and son.”
He also said Erediauwa brought issues to his attention without which he would not have achieved much as governor of Edo state.
“I remain eternally grateful to erediauwa. His contribution remains indelible to our hearts. We are also extremely fortunate to have a new oba tutored by his father.”
3.46pm’ Edo state governor Adams Oshiomhole addresses the people of the state and calls Benin kingdom the greatest to have ever existed on planet earth. He also hailed vice president Yemi Osinbajo; who is representing President Muhammadu Buhari, monarchs, governors and deputy governors present at the coronation.
3.27pm’ Crown prince Eheneden Erediauwa has arrived at the Urokpota Hall ahead of his coronation as the 39th Oba of Benin kingdom. He had to come to Benin from about 13km, walking most of the way in a procession and crossing a historically significant wooden bridge at around 2.15pm.
2.48pm‘ Oshiomhole pays obeisance to some chiefs amid cheers from the crowd. He has been nicknamed the Odolevbo of Benin, a honour meaning “the one who fixes the town“. Unfortunately, Oshiomhole cannot be a Bini chief because he is not from Benin. He can only be honoured with the beads.
2.35pm’ Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor of Edo state Adams Oshiomhole have arrived at Urokpota Hall and are waiting for the Crown prince Eheneden Erediauwa, who is now very close by. He has been in the white house pictured earlier for the last seven days to pick a name.
2.05pm’ The new Oba of Benin is approaching Benin from Usama. He is expected to cross over a bride into the City as he leads his procession to Urokpota Hall where several dignitaries are waiting for His Royal Majesty. The crossing of the bridge is very important in Benin history because it signifies the power of the monarch over Benin.
1.14pm’ The Crown prince Eheneden Erediauwa has emerged from where has been camped for several weeks now. He is now leading a procession to Urokpota Hall where several dignitaries and monarchs are waiting for him. Women on the road are being told to loosen their hair because it is a taboo to meet the Oba with knotted locks.
The procession could take about an hour to get to Urokpota from Usama.
12.55pm’ Dignitaries are gathered at the Urokpota Hall awaiting the arrival of the new Oba of Benin.
Some of the dignitaries already seated are Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Olugbo of Ugboland in Ondo Akinrutan Obateru, Esama of Benin Kingdom Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi and Emir of Zazzau Alhaji Dr. Shehu Idris. Also present is minister of state for petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
12.30pm’ The Crown prince Eheneden Erediauwa is yet to come out for the coronation to begin. A mammoth crowd is gathered at the Usama ground awaiting his emergence from a white house in which he has been camped for about a month now.
The white house in which the Crown prince is camped and is set to emerge from soon. Photo: Eromosele Ebhomele
8.46am’ Loyalists are waiting at Usama ground for the Oba of Benin to come out before the coronation starts while some others trek to where Crown prince Erediauwa has been camped for about a month now ahead of his ascension to the throne.
With the recent out-burst of numerous bloggers, only a few stand out, of course our review separates Nora's blog from the plethora of slapdash Blogs. News,Music,Wellness,Supplements, Entertainment,Beauty,and yes... Gossip! FOR ENQ +2348106692263 +2348117103991
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon