“Now, what does the new dispensation hold for us? The Oba remains the channel through which the powers of the ancestors continue to guide and protect the kingdom and its people. To that extent, we shall faithfully discharge this sacred responsibility, we shall pay due attention to all manners of all customs and traditions, focusing on real issues of security of our communities and welfare of our people. We shall carry out our reforms in palace administration in order to be adequately responsive to our people’s sincere and deep longing for justice, equity and stability” – Oba Ewuare II, on his coronation day October 20, 2016.
Edo nation is unarguably feeling a genuine sense of pride, peace and security again today. Many thanks to His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare Ogidigan II.
Oba Ewuare set the tone from day one of his glorious ascension to the throne of one of the most enviable, powerful, time-tested and enduring kingdoms in the world, when he did what no king before him had done in the entire history of Edo nation, by officially recognizing Oromiyan as the first Oba (king) of Benin after the end of the Ogiso dynasty.
By implication, that recognition placed his father, late Oba Erediauwa as the 39th Oba of Benin and himself, (Oba Ewuare II) as the 40th, counting from Oromiyan.
“I therefore stand before you today as the 40th Oba of Benin. A direct descendant of Oromiyan, the son of Oduduwa who the Benin people of that era knew as Ekharaderan, their self exiled Prince who later became ruler in IIe Ife, the Benin people recognized Oduduwa and his origin but it is not in our place to force this recognition on others outside our boundaries.
“The history of the world is a shared one and they will certainly be unexpected connections in future. This is a time for unity and not divisiveness’. A time for mutual respect, recognizing that our wholeness as equals is so much more than some of our past,” Oba Ewuare intoned during his coronation speech on October 20, 2016.
He has made it abundantly clear in words and deeds since he successfully ascended the throne that he is on a divine mission to restore the systematically lost dignity, glory and pride of the ancient kingdom of Benin.
But before we will x-ray how far the no-nonsense Oba has distinguished himself, it is imperative to briefly look at one of his iconic forefathers, Oba Ewuare the great (1440-1473).
The new sense of belonging, satisfaction, dynamism, visionary leadership and valor in Benin Kingdom is reminiscent of the era of Oba Ewuare the 1st, the greatest and most adored personality that ever presided over the affairs of the Great Benin Empire.
Oba Ewuare the 1st was reputed to have brought the Binis out of the cocoon of social cultural, economic and political mediocrity way back in the 15th century into the glorious epochal pedestal of global greatness and relevance.
Because of him, the Binis became not only respected, feared and honored but famous throughout the length and breadth of pre-independent Nigeria, and Europe.
Oba Ewuare the 1st stoically defied glaring opposition on his earliest journey to the Benin monarchy to become the greatest hero that has occupied the enchanting stool of his forefathers so far.
Before he became Oba, the land experienced an insane orgy of hatred and violence. It was a repressive crusade against Prince Ogun (as he was earlier called) by his arch enemies.
As a magnificent warrior, extraordinary political, cultural cum spiritual leader, Oba Ewuare the 1st paid his dues immensely. It was during his time that the policy of primogeniture (first son’s right of succession) to the throne was established, thereby stripping the Uzamas (kingmakers) the authority of appointing kings which was the case prior.
In line with his primogeniture policy, he created a line of succession with the establishment of the Edaiken title, first occupied by his oldest son, Kuoboyuwa.
Oba Ewuare the 1st’s magnetism and glamour enabled and ushered in the wearing of elegant flamboyant traditional attires associated with the Royal Houses in Benin today.
He instituted the now famous Igue Festival; he incredibly appreciated those that played significant roles during his travailing period for power.
For instance, the legendary slave and loyalist, called Edo was immortalized when the land was officially renamed Edo; Emotan became the conscience of the Edo race; Iken the legendary warrior and loyalist of Oba Ewuare was immortalized with the title: Edaiken N’ Uselu. Edo race indeed reached the zenith of local and international adoration.
Even, when the British punitive expedition forces of 1897 ruthlessly invaded the Benin Empire, looted the kingdom, deposed and ended the reign of Oba Ovonramen (making him the last independent Oba of Benin Empire), the mammoth myth established jealously by Oba Ewuare the 1st could not be broken.
The point being made here is that whatever colonial humiliation that was rudely inflicted on the sacred and enchanting Bini traditional stool during imperialistic terrorism and economic/political subjugation of the people of Nigeria by the British imperial powers, Great Benin’s legendary historical reputation could never be rubbished.
It is appropriate to note that His Royal Majesty Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory (father and predecessor of Oba Ewuare ll) who ascended the throne in 1979 (after the demise of his own father, Oba Akenzua) greatly acted as a wonderful stabilizing pillar to the then emerging social political and economic order.
Oba Erediauwa, known for his legendary penchant for peace, magnanimity, unity and sustainable development was confronted by the dynamic societal challenges like cultism, human trafficking, kidnappings etc., that became proliferated due largely to the glaring blatant failure of successive democratic administrations in Edo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
The tragic fallout of the epileptic democratic governance, traceable to official corruption – large scale looting, lawlessness and impunity of an unimaginable proportion in the country has been the pauperization of the populace, followed by survival of the fittest among the people, and Edo state, like many other states in Nigeria became terrible victim of barbaric anti-social activities.
That was the suffocating scenario that greeted His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor Oba Ewuare ll in October 2016 when he ascended the Great Benin Throne.
More than one year in the saddle of his supreme traditional and spiritual authority the handwriting is very clear that Oba Ewuare II has a special mission that befits his great ‘chosen’ name, and something unequivocally reminiscent of Oba Ewuare the Great of global fame.
The first thorny issue that Oba Ewuare ll handled pro-actively was the Community Development Association (CDAs). When they ruled unchallenged, members of the above named group inflicted untold hardship on innocent law abiding citizens of Edo land, mostly in the south; it was a blatant reign of terror and horror.
Today, there is gigantic respite in the land, as the Edo State Government in conjunction with Edo State House of Assembly has complimented the passionate efforts of Oba Ewuare ll with an existing law banning the CDAs.
As soon as Oba Ewuare ll ascended the throne, he quickly established the Benin Customary Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (BCADRC) in order to ensure smooth and unhindered resolution of disputes traditionally.
The Oba sits in council, aided by designated palace functionaries to hear traditional-related disputes every Tuesdays and Thursdays within the palace. This, he is carrying out diligently to ensure adequate dispensation of justice and sustainable peace and accelerated development throughout Edo land.
The Benin Monarch made an earth-shattering history on Friday March 9, 2018 when he summoned all traditional, cultural and spiritual stakeholders including renowned native and witch doctors to his palace where he laid a blanket curse on professional human traffickers and their enablers, cultists, kidnappers and perpetrators of other criminal activities in Edo land.
That singular epochal ritual performed by the Oba has singled him out as a personality that is out not only to equal the giant strides of Oba Ewuare the 1st, but to place the Benin kingdom on the pedestal of civility, order, peace and progress irrespective of whose ox is gored under his spiritual and traditional leadership.
Just recently, the Oba announced a three-month N20, 000 stipends for each of the 78 Libya returnees and victims of human trafficking who visited him in his Palace as part of concerted efforts to help them in their rehabilitation.
Oba Ewuare ll has repeatedly mentioned his desire for the upgrading of the famous Benin sea port at Gelegele to international standard.
This positive development has caught the fancy of the democratically elected Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki who is currently pursuing this agenda with uncommon zeal.
A former Nigerian Ambassador plenipotentiary to several European countries, with huge intellectual capacity, vastly exposed and fundamentally determined to reposition Benin Kingdom on the coast of peace, civility, sustainable development, we at Alltimepost.com wish him well along his line of sacred mission.
