Oba Of Benin: ENAW Pres, Omoruna Urges Citizens To Comply With Head Shaving

By Alltimepost.com

Male citizens of Benin Kingdom have been urged to comply with the age-long tradition of head shaving in honor of their departed King, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, as announced by the Iyase of Benin last week.

The National President of apex Edo organization in the Diaspora, the Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW), Elder Franklin Omoruna made the appeal in a brief telephone interview with Alltimepost on Sunday.

It would be recalled that the Iyase (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe announced last week that all male Benin citizens should shave their heads as part of the mourning process in honor of the King who recently joined his ancestors.

Elder Franklin Omoruna advised all Edo sons and daughters wherever they are to respect their customs and traditions.

He told Alltimepost.com that as a great leadership example he had shaved his own head, urging other male citizens who have not done so to follow suit.

“Our culture and tradition live on, I am a respecter. I am a proud Edo man; be one, shave your head as a mark of respect for the passing of our great Oba.”

He described Oba Erediuwa as a consummate traditional ruler, administrator, a king of exceptional character, benevolent personage, unifier, peacemaker and strong advocate for the people whose era ushered in great development and peace in the kingdom.

The Oba, he remarked left an enviable legacy which will continue to serve as a great source of inspiration to not only Edo people, but all Nigerians.

Elder Omoruna noted that Oba Erediauwa was a sincere, just and steadfast King who never failed to make his position known on critical issues of state and national importance.

He was sure that the Benin Monarch would be remembered for his numerous monumental achievements during his reign, including the strengthening of the traditional institution, his uncompromising stance on the return of all looted Benin artifacts during the invasion of the Kingdom by the British Imperialists in 1897; his leading role in agitation for and creation of a homogenous Edo State, working with other relevant traditional rulers, chiefs and many other sons and daughters of the then Bendel State.