Suspended Isekhure of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, has denied allegations levelled against him by the Benin Traditional Council that he boasted the Enwinekhua (funeral rites of Oba Erediauwa) and the coronation of Oba Ewuare II would not hold without him.
Nosakhare was suspended last week from performing the duties of the Isekhure for alleged desecration of the Bini tradition.
The duties of the Isekhure were reverted to Chief Ihama, head of the Ihogbe Palace Society.
Nosakhare gave 14 days to the BTC to prove that he used his home to review cases decided by the palace of the Oba of Benin.
The chief said he would have performed his traditional roles during the Emwinekhua and the coronation, if he was invited to do so.
Nosakhare spoke through the Ihogbe N’ Ore family in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Osagbakhoe Ogbemudia.
In the statement, the family said it would allow Chief Isekhure to take appropriate legal action to redeem his image at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.
The statement said: “Chief Isekhure is a lover of Benin tradition and custom. How on earth will somebody, after getting judgment in the palace where such a person did not pay a dime, would turn to Chief Isekhure for another round of justices, where such a person would be forced to pay gratification?
“This is a case of giving bad name to a dog so that one can have reason to hang the dog. To this end, we demand to see and verify the people that Chief Isekhure demanded money from so that the public will be convinced.”
On the allegation that Chief Isekhure allegedly collected kolanuts, money and drinks from new chiefs celebrating their investitures, the statement said new chiefs were expected to perform some rites as part of their investitures at designated homes and shrines.
It added that the rites started in 1255 AD during the reign of Oba Ewedo.
The statement also said such visits were accompanied with eight kolanuts, a bottle of alcoholic drink and 13 Shillings and 6 Pence (about N2,000).
Other shrine/places visited by new chiefs, according to the statement, are: Ogbelaka Shrine, Ekpenede I and II, Uhuoba Shrine, Iyase N’ Ohenmwen Shrine, among others.
Tag: Oba’s coronation
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‘I never said Oba’s coronation wouldn’t hold without me’
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Oba’s coronation historic, says Oshiomhole
Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said today’s coronation of the Oba of Benin is historic.
The governor said it will be the first time an elected governor and an indigene of the state will perform the formal presentation of the staff of office to the frontline monarch.
He recalled that only military administrators and foreigners had done son in the past.
Oshiomhole spoke yesterday in Benin, the state capital, when he hosted the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright at the Government House.
He said: “Before this Oba, the other obas but one, I believe Oba Akenzua, was the one who had to be presented the staff of office, according to him, by the Queen of England, in 1933. Since then, I think the next Oba was crowned in 1979. Then, Nigeria was already an independent country and the state was under military rule. The staff of office was presented by a military governor.
“Thursday (today) will be the first time an elected governor will have the pleasure, and somebody from Edo State, to formally present the staff of office to His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin.”
Oshiomhole added: “I’m sure you probably already know that this is one of the very few states, particularly in Southern Nigeria, where the issue of the paramount traditional ruler is not in dispute; where the chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs is permanent. He is the Oba of Benin. In some states, particularly in the West, they rotate the position.
“There are issues about who comes before the other. Every Edo person, including those who may not be directly under the kingdom, geographically, see the Oba as our paramount traditional ruler. This is why we have declared a public holiday for tomorrow (today). This is because every Edo person, regardless of his location in the state, has some strong positive sentiments about the coronation ceremony.
“So, I want to thank you for taking time out, for travelling all the way to participate and to observe the coronation ceremony. We are very grateful.”
Oshiomhole added: “We are also keen on how we can deepen and strengthen relations, particularly in economic areas, between the United Kingdom (UK) and the Edo State Government. I think we are all clear that the challenge of government, whether federal or state, will have to focus more and more on how we can become less dependent on oil revenue by creating the necessary enabling environment to attract investors.”
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Oba’s coronation: Benin community agog for Crown Prince
Residents of Use community in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State are preparing to receive the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa.
It is in the community the Crown Prince will choose the name he will answer as an Oba, after playing Akhue game with the Ekpen Kelvin, the Edigin N’Use.
This is in line with the ancient traditional: the Crown Prince does not know the name he will answer as an Oba until he plays the traditional game.
Akhue, which involved magical pebbles, was first played by the son of Prince Oromiyan, who could not talk.
Prince Oromiyan sent his son some magical pebbles and, after he played the game, he spoke his first words: Owomika. He then became Oba Eweka I.
Our reporter’s visit to Use yesterday showed that the residents were working hard to make the crown prince’s visit really memorable.
The last time the community chose a name by a Crown Prince was in 1979.
All the shrines in the community where relevant ceremonies will be held were being repaired; the women rehearsing some traditional songs and performances.
The ancient building housing the shrine, where the Crown Prince will play the game and choose a name, was wearing a new look.
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Oba’s coronation: Uzama Palace gets facelift
The Uzama Palace, where the coronation rituals and ceremony of the new Oba of Benin, Edo State, will take place, has been given a facelift.
The coronation formalities entered the third day yesterday.
Also, the ancient path, Odeoba (Oba’s road), through which the Crown Prince must walk to the palace, was also getting repairs.
The Uzama Palace is the first site of the Oba’s palace before it was moved to its present location in the 13th century by Oba Ewedo.
Prince Oromiyan built and lived at Uzama because of resistance from Ogiamen, who prevented him from entering the city.
Seven prominent chiefs, called the Uzama N’Ihinron of Edion, headed by Chief Oliha, are expected to perform the coronation rituals at the Uzama.
The Uzama N’Ihinron chiefs are: Oliha, Edohen, Ezomo, Ero, Eholo N’Ire, Oloton and Edaiken.
Oliha, who pronounces the Edaiken as Oba, is also the chief priest of the kingdom’s collective ancestors of the Uzama.
A visit to the Uzama showed that a makeshift building has been erected at the site but maintenance work was still going on.
Workers were seen maintaining the road leading to the Uzama Palace.
Obstacles on the road the Edaiken will walk through were removed even as some residents lamented destruction of septic tank pipes built across the road.
It was observed that pillars were erected on the Odeoba to prevent landlords from erecting buildings on it.
Motorists and pedestrians were prevented from passing through Ebo Street; it was sealed off with a red cloth.
Some chiefs in red attire were on the road to stop people from walking on it.
Some residents blamed the landlords for erecting structures on the path, although they were aware that the road belongs to the Oba.
A resident, Efosa Egonmwan, noted that the sealed road prevented him from developing his father’s house.
He said it was a path and not a road but pleaded for the septic tank pipes not to be destroyed.
The Edaiken will walk from Iguisi to Eko-Ohae (bachelors’ camp) where he will stay for three days. From there, he will move to Uzama, venue of the coronation rites.
It was gathered that because of the road maintenance, the Edaiken’s movement to Uzama was shifted to today.
At the Oba Market Road, where the Eko-Ohae is located, men of the Edo State Waste Management Board were removing heaps of refuse yesterday.
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Oba’s coronation: Usama palace gets facelift
I head of the coronation ceremony of Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin, the Edo State capital, the Usama Palace on Siluko Road is being renovated.
Grasses inside the palace were being cleared when our reporter visited the area yesterday.
The Usama Palace was the first site of the Oba’s home before it was moved to the current location inside Benin City by Oba Ewedo in the 13th century.
It is the venue where the coronation rites are performed.
The Crown Prince is expected to spend seven days at the Usama where he will perform all rituals and ceremonies of the kingdom’s frontline monarch.
From Usama, he moved to the palace and had to pass through Isekhere, where he crossed a bridge.