The traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, has died.
The monarch’s demise was officially announced by Adams Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State, on Friday.
“Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing to glory… of our highly revered Oba,” Oshiuomhole said.
The governor described him as a thoroughbred bureaucrat who was “brave, fearless and punchy. Edo people will miss our inchoate royal father of the great Benin Kingdom. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity. Adieu until we meet to part no more.”Oshiomhole said in a statement announcing the king’s death.
Oba Erediauwa, aged 92, was rumoured dead almost one year ago after an undisclosed illness and the rumour became widespread following the monarch’s absence when the campaign trail of then president, Goodluck Jonathan in Benin in February 2015 visited the palace with Oba Erediauwa conspicuously absent.
But the rumour was quickly dispelled by Frank Irabor, Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, who in a statement said that “They have been peddling that rumour for more than a year now, because the Oba has not been coming out” stating then that if there was anything like that, there is usually a statement from the palace or from the Benin Traditional Council.
“The fact that he has not been coming out, even when the President came last week, does not mean that there is anything like that.”
However, a few days later, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom, Eheneden Erediauwa; the Iyase (Prime Minister), Sam Igbe; and some traditional chiefs declared that the monarch had not endorsed any candidate for the election.
Previously called Prince Solomon Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua, the late Oba Erediauwa succeeded his father, Oba Akenzua 11, on March 23, 1979 at the age 56, having been born on June 22, 1923.
He attended Government College, Ibadan, in 1939, from where he gained admission into Yaba College six years later and was admitted into King’s College, Cambridge, to study Law and Administration.
In 1957, he returned to Nigeria to join the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service as a District Officer and retired from the civil service in 1973 and became the regional representative for Gulf Oil Company.
Two years later, he was appointed the Commissioner for Finance by the military administration of Major-General George Innih.
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