- British govt congratulates crown prince, Buhari, Saraki, others to attend ceremony
The proud and
ancient Kingdom of Benin and the people of Edo State will be making
history today, with the crowning of the 39th Oba of the Kingdom and the
70th ruler in the Ogiso dynasty.
Little wonder the
mood across the state and among Binis in particular was one of great
excitement yesterday, as the city centre and its environs had been
burnished for the visitors from around the world who will be trooping
into the city for the coronation of Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa.
Erediauwa will be ascending the 836-year-old throne of his forefathers, the oldest and most revered in the country.
The death of his
father, the 38th Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku
Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, was announced by the Benin Traditional Council
on April 29, 2016.
Erediauwa I will be
buried in another flamboyant ceremony several months after his son’s
coronation, as during coronation rituals, all burials in Benin are
prohibited.
Traders and
commercial vehicle drivers who carry out their business activities
around Urhokpota Hall, where the coronation will take place, have also
been relocated to other areas of the city.
Expectedly, traffic
had built up yesterday on major streets within the city as a result of
the closure of some roads, especially those within the proximity of the
Oba’s Palace and Urhokpota.
A visit to the area
by THISDAY yesterday, showed a huge tent, the temporary abode of the
crown prince erected at Urhokpota Hall called Eko-Ohae (bachelor’s camp)
where Prince Eheneden is expected to stay for three days, but will
climax during the coronation.
The King’s Square
and other adjourning streets linking the square such as Sokponba Road,
Akpakpava Road, Mission Road, Oba Market Road, Isekhere and Ibiwe
Streets, as well as Adesogbe (Plymouth) Road were festooned with
decorations.
The decoration and
painting of houses within and around the area, THISDAY gathered, was
carried out in compliance with the directives issued by the Benin
Traditional Council to landlords who own houses within the area.
In addition,
security had been beefed up in the state capital for the coronation. By
yesterday, security presence on major streets and around strategic
locations was evident in the city.
Security vehicles were seen on patrol blaring their sirens to ward off would-be troublemakers.
Also, personnel of
the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as palace
security guards had been stationed at the entrance of the Urhokpota at
the King’s Square.
The Edo State Police
Commissioner, Haliru Abubakar Gwandu, said the police deployed no fewer
than 5,000 personnel in the state for the coronation.
He said the
deployment was to ensure a hitch-free coronation, adding that the police
personnel comprised the Special Protection Unit (SPU), Anti-Bomb Squad,
riot policemen and conventional policemen and women.
Gwandu further
disclosed that personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
and those of other sister agencies would also be available to maintain
law and order, before, during and after the coronation.
The deployment,
according to him, is to ensure maximum security for residents and
dignitaries that would be coming from within and outside the state.
“The coronation will
attract dignitaries from in and outside the country who are coming to
grace the coronation. And we have to ensure that we do everything
humanly possible to make the place safe and will checkmate misguided
elements,” he said.
Major dignitaries
expected to attend the coronation tomorrow include President Muhammadu
Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of
Representatives Yakubu Dogara, former heads of state and presidents,
governors, traditional rulers from all sections of the country, members
of the diplomatic community, members of federal and state legislatures,
and thousands of Nigerians from various walks of life.
Ahead of the
coronation, the British Government has felicitated with the incoming Oba
of Benin, and the government and people of Edo.
British High
Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, delivered the message when he
visited Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo in Benin yesterday.
Arkwright said he
was in the state with his wife Tricia to witness the coronation of
Prince Eheneden as the new Oba of Benin as well as convey the greetings
of the Queen of England to the crown prince.
He said he had been in the country for one year as the British High Commissioner but was in the state for the first time.
He expressed the
interest of the British Government to foster bilateral relations with
Edo, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said his country
was interested in what business British companies could venture into to
curtail unemployment in the state and commended the achievements of the
outgoing Oshiomhole’s administration in the last eight years.
Oshiomhole said the
coronation was extremely important to the people hence, the declaration
of today as public holiday in the state.
He also said the
coronation would be the first time in the history of the state that an
elected governor would be presenting a staff of office to an Oba.
He said Edo was one
of the few states in the country where the traditional stool has never
been in dispute, adding that every indigene has a positive disposition
to the event.
He further said that
the state was keen on strengthening relations with foreign governments
and the need to be less dependent on revenue from oil by creating an
enabling environment for investors.
Oshiomhole said it
would be the pleasure of the state government to see how more investors
could be attracted from the UK to the state.
Britain has had a chequered history with the ancient Benin Kingdom that its people have never forgotten.
In 1897, the British
launched a punitive or imperialist expedition, deposed and exiled the
then Oba Ovonramwen, taking control of the area in order to establish
the British colony of Nigeria.
The expedition was
mounted to avenge the defeat by the Binis of a British invasion force
that had violated Benin territory earlier in 1896. It consisted of both
indigenous soldiers and British officers, and is still remembered by the
Edos with fear and loathing today.
Under the pretext of covering for the cost of the expedition, the Benin royal art was stolen and auctioned off by the British.
Ovonramwen died in
1914, his throne never having been restored to him. His son, grandson,
great-grandson and now his great, great grandson, however, all preserved
their titles and statuses as traditional rulers in modern-day Nigeria.
Meanwhile, contrary
to the misplaced perception that the crown prince, who is very well
educated and travelled, may have shelved some of the rituals for his
ascension to the throne, THISDAY learnt that he fulfilled all the
rituals in the tradition of his forefathers.
Indeed, as he went
through the rituals, the ceremonies attracted thousands of Bini sons and
daughters from home and abroad, to witness the epoch-making events.
As the crown prince
moved from one place to the other, the uniqueness, pomp and ceremony of
the Benin Kingdom was in full display, as thousands of people, including
Benin chiefs, cultural groups, foreigners, youths, residents of the
kingdom followed him with unconcealed excitement.
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