Alltimepost.com Exclusive, By Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, Special Correspondent
There cannot be another ‘coronation’ on Benin soil, because the Omo N’Oba Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II is the only and rightful King of Benin Kingdom, the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Mr. Frank Irabor declared on Thursday.
Irabor made the declaration in an exclusive interview with Alltimepost.com at the Oba’s Palace, following the tension that arose from the purported plan by a section of the Islamic community to perform the ‘coronation’ of one Idris Addano as ‘Sultan of Shuwa Arab of Edo State in Benin City.
The ceremony was scheduled to take place between August 21 and 22, 2021 at the RIALTO HOTEL on Benin-Auchi Expressway in the ancient Kingdom of Benin, Edo State of Nigeria.
Protests and condemnation by various Benin/Edo interest groups and organizations both in Nigeria and around the world, had trailed the purported ‘coronation’ plan since the news broke.
It all started when Benin City residents recently came upon a curious invitation on social media purportedly to ‘coronate’ a Sultan of Edo. Curious because of the said title, and because it appeared a brazen and direct challenge to the revered Benin King, Oba Ewuare II and Edo people worldwide.
On the invitation, the ‘coronation’ of the said Sultan was billed to hold on Saturday, August 21, 2021 (same day as the coronation of Tsola Emiko, Olu designate of Warri kingdom).
After the said invitation made the rounds, it set off a chain reaction across the broad spectrum of the Benin City metropolis and around the world where ever Edo people are domiciled.
Edo Government Reacts
A statement issued and signed by Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to the Edo State government, condemned the act, describing it as Sacrilegious, a threat to peace and security in the state.
First, it said that the invitation itself to ‘coronate’ a ‘Sultan’ of Edo ‘constitutes a direct assault on the traditions, customs and the culture of the people of Edo State’. The statement went further to say that the invitation constitutes a “potential threat to the peace and security of Edo State, with the capacity to cause a breakdown of law and order.”
The statement further said that “under the Edo state Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, it is an offence for anyone to proclaim himself, or allow himself to be proclaimed as the holder of any traditional title not recognized under the said law…”
The Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Mr. Irabor told Alltimepost.com during the interview:
“Edo state has many ethnic groups in Benin. They have their individual and group leaders. Like the Fulani, they have an individual referred to as the ‘Seriki,’ the Arewa and the Hausa also have a ‘Seriki.’
“The Igalas have their Seriki. That designation ordinarily indicates that, that individual is the leader of that ethnic community in Benin.”
Irabor confirmed that Idris Adanno introduced himself as a Shuwa Arab from Borno State, who “apparently migrated from the Chadian territory into present day Nigeria.”
“If he has found himself in Benin with his other tribal kinsmen, he may be appointed their leader, or any other person among them can become their leader,” noting that he understood that the leadership position within that community is under some kind of dispute.
Irabor said the Palace found said ‘coronation’ invitation, very, very embarrassing “to us all. “
“I drew the individual’s attention, and his group to this embarrassment. First, we made it clear that there is nothing like ‘Sultan,’ here in Benin.
“We told him that if he is the leader of the Shuwa Arab in Edo state, then he must properly designate himself as ‘Seriki,’ just like other ethnic groups from that axis do. We also made it abundantly clear to that individual that there is nothing like ‘coronation.’ “
According to him, if the Shehu of Borno or the Emirate council appoints him to be the leader of the Shuwa Arabs in Edo state, what happens is that they ‘turban’ him as their leader.
“In Benin, you have only one coronation and that is the coronation of the Oba of Benin. When you say coronation in Benin, you’re talking of the Benin Coronation as a matter of fact, and not any other person. I have made it very clear to that individual. “
“Apparently he saw reason with me. He promised to quickly withdraw all the cards he had shared and print a new one. I asked him to properly identify where he comes from on his new card, so we know so as well. We have guided him on the proper way he should go about identifying himself as leader of his people resident in Edo state.”
Irabor said that the Palace was certain, that the event will not hold this coming Saturday.
One reason again, why it will not hold, he noted, is that there have been a lot of agitations , threats and a lot of opposition to his emergence as ‘Seriki’ among his own people.
“That there are serious threats and opposition to his emergence as ‘Seriki’ among his people will be another reason why that event will not hold,” he said
The Palace, he stated, maintains that for peace and security of lives and property in Edo State, an individual should not go and forcefully install himself.
“Doing that would breach the peace, and provoke an unpalatable security problem in Edo State. We do not want that,” he warned.
While this clear response from the Palace seems to have doused the anxiety generated by the ‘coronation of Sultan of Edo,’ it is on record that Oba Ewuare II had worked hard to put in place strong mechanism to build community among all ethnic nationalities in Edo State.
From 29th to 31st of May, 2021, Oba Ewuare II played host to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero the Emir Of Kano. In a speech he presented to the Kano Emir. The Omo N’Oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II said that he has a soft spot for Kano.
“My thank you visit to Kano was also to honour the memory of my maternal grandmother, Princess Ebose Eweka who relocated from Benin to Kano and thereafter established a business and lived there all her life.
“I recall how after her demise, her estate was placed under the care of your highly revered father while I was still undertaking undergraduate studies abroad. My dear Mother who is now, by our tradition, the Queen mother albeit posthumously also lived in Kano with my grandmother before she married my father.
“Since then, the Benin Royal Family and the Kano Royal Family had had close ties and your historic visit to Benin City today will go a long way to further strengthen that family bond and friendship that already exists between us,” Oba Ewuare II recalled.
