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  • Prince, Lucy deny leaking information to housemates

    Prince, Lucy deny leaking information to housemates

    Evicted Big Brother Naija All-Stars houseguests Prince Nelson and Lucy Edet have denied information leaking to the housemates while on the show.

    The Nation recalls that Lucy and Prince, who were among the four houseguests brought in by Biggie two weeks ago, were sent packing during the live show on Sunday.

    The evicted houseguests granted an interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, which was posted on the Africa Magic YouTube channel on Tuesday.

    In the interview, Ebuka said to them: “A lot of the fans have accused you guys of leaking information to the housemates; telling them things about who might be strong and what the perception of them is outside. Is that a valid assertion?”

    Prince replied: “I never leaked any information to anybody.”

    Read Also: I’m hopeful brands will work with me, says BBNaija’s Seyi

    Lucy also denied the accusation, saying, “I don’t think I did either.”

    Prince continued: “But I know one thing I did say to them was that some of their attitudes in the House were not All-Star worthy. I know I did say that.”

    Lucy added: “First of all, I wasn’t watching the show like that. Just pieces and pieces here and there on Instagram. So, that would have been difficult to say.”

    Seyi, before his eviction on Sunday, had bragged during a conversation with Venita that he was one of the six housemates carrying the show because Nigerians are angry with him over his misogynistic comments.

    Fans believed one of the newly introduced houseguests, Kim Oprah, Sholzy, Prince, and Lucy had briefed him on happenings outside the show.

  • Prince Nelson saves Alex with ‘Black Envelope’ immunity for the week

    Prince Nelson saves Alex with ‘Black Envelope’ immunity for the week

    Big Brother Naija All-Stars housemate, Prince Nelson, on Monday willed his ‘Black Envelope’ luck to co-housemate, Alex.

    Prince Nelson’s envelope ordered him to give his immunity to another housemate which means his preferred housemate, will be saved from this week’s nomination.

    Prince Nelson was introduced coupled with three other ex-housemates in week five as Biggie’s House guest.

    Read Also: BBNaija: Alex opens up about root cause of conflict with CeeC

    According to the rules, they will be on the show but cannot win the N120million prize and can also not be evicted by housemates.

  • Prince made suspicious transactions from dad’s estate, witness alleges

    An Ikeja Special Offences Court yesterday heard that Prince Semasa James made questionable transactions from the accounts of the estate of his father, the late King Afolabi James of Kwame Land in Badagry.

    A witness, Mr. Gbolade Lasisi, told Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo that he was invited to audit the estate’s accounts following suspicion of frudulent transactions.

    Lasisi, an auditior, was led in evidence by Oluwafemi, Olabisi, the prosecutor for the Special Fruad Unit (SFU).

    Semasa is alleged to have defrauded the estate of N500million.

    Lasisi said Semasa did not cooperate with him nor provide documents relating to the estate during the audit.

    “In the interest of fairness, the first defendant (Semase)  was advised to come with his own auditor and he was to provide some documents for the audit, but he did nothing.

    “When that did not happen, the SFU provided three bank statements that we used to carry out the exercise”, he said.

    Lasisi said he discovered that there were many deposits into accounts that were not connected to the estate.

    “Some of these accounts are the personal accounts of the first defendant, Kolade James, Komaj Nigeria Limited, Touch Down Travels and many others like that.

    “We recommended that if the estate had many administrators, there will be no issues of mistrust and the burden of giving report will not be on one person, as there will be other administrators giving reports to the beneficiaries.”

    Under cross-examination by defence counsel Martins Oyigbo, the witness alleged that the amount illegally diverted from the estate was about N500million.

    “In the charge sheet, I saw N500million, but in audit report (Exhibit K1) you probably have more than the N500million in the charge.

    “Some of the suspected fraudulent disbursements are- N48,514,354.92 on page five of Exhibit K1, on page seven, N112,531,646, on page eight, N272,381,253, on page nine,  N18,277,850 and on page 31, 242,500,” Lasisi said.

    The audit report dated February 5, 2018, covered 2002 to June 2017.

    “We tried our best to interface with the account officers but they (the defendants) made it difficult for us.

    “In analysing the bank statement, I used an excel spreadsheet to analyse all the figures. When the report was completed it was presented to the estate of Oba Afolabi James,” the auditor said.

    Semasa is standing trial with Afolabi Kazeem, his personal assistant. Their trial continues tomorrow.

  • Prince arraigned for ‘fraud’

    A prince of Kweme land of Badagry, Semasa James, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Special Offences Court for allegedly defrauding the estate of his father, late King  Afolabi James of N500million.

    He was arraigned on a two-count charge of forgery and stealing before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.

    The prosecutor for the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police Force, Mr Sunday Ekong said the offence was committed between 2000 and 2017.

    Ekong told the court that Prince James fraudulently converted N500million property belonging to the late king between 2000 and 2017.

    According to Ekong, the Prince had forged the resolution of a company called CAJ Industrial Enterprises dated November 28, 2011.

    He alleged that the defendant purported that the resolution was signed by his father, who was one of the directors of the company.

    He said the forged document was purportedly signed in 2011 by the king, nine years after his demise.

    The prosecutor also alleged that Prince James forged the resolution with the intent that it will be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person.

    The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the two count charge of forgery and stealing preferred against him by the Police.

    Sequel to his not guilty plea, his counsel, Mr Martins Oyigbo, asked the court to grant his client bail.

    Oyigbo argued that his client is well known and has a street named after him in the community and that he has no previous criminal record.

    He assured the court that the defendant will not jump bail, explaining that this was why the reigning king, Olalekan James, one of the siblings of the defendant is in court and ready to be a surety to the defendant.

    “My Lord, my client has no criminal record and should be presumed innocent until contrary is proven,” Odigbo said.

    In his response, the prosecutor, in a written application, opposed the bail of the prince, saying, “We have a written address dated April 18, 2018 which is opposing the bail of the defendant.

    Ekong told the court that that the defendant jumped administrative bail and that was why his passport was seized by the Commissioner of Police.

    “We have with us evidence that the defendant jumped bail and that is why his passport is with us. Our intention is to make sure this matter goes on and we are afraid that if he is granted bail, he will jump bail again and delay trial,” he said.

    The prosecutor also told the court that 15 prosecution witnesses, mostly relatives have been lined up against the defendant and were ready to give evidence in the matter.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo granted the prince N20million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The trial judge ordered that one of the sureties must be a land owner, which should be proven with a Certificate of Occupancy.

    “The second surety should be a relative with a viable means of income. Both sureties must show evidence of payment of taxes of the last two years, the Certificate of Occupancy must be verified by the Registrar of Titles and the SFU,” Justice Taiwo said.

    The Judge ordered that Prince James Semasa be detained at the SFU till perfection of the bail conditions.

    The matter was adjourned till May 11, 14 and 15 for trial.

  • Adieu Prince Adewale Aladesanmi

    About two months ago, I got a call from Mr Kayode Alabi one of my seniors at the famous Christ School Ado-Ekiti who has relocated back to his home town of Ado from Lagos. I was very happy to reconnect with him. After returning from London where he had spent a very long time, he came back to Lagos and worked with our mutual friend the late Senator Kunle Agunbiade. My association with Alabi (Oga Kayode) goes back beyond Christ school. His mother as I recollect, was a successful textile trader and rich woman in the 1950s. She was therefore quite influential in Ado of those days. Kayode her son lived briefly with Chief Oduola Osuntokun, a young dashing and handsome budding politician at that time. Chief Osuntokun was not only a parliamentarian, he also played the centre-forward for Ekiti football team. He was also the second graduate in what is now Ekiti State. But he was better known as a strict disciplinarian. Because of this reputation, influential Ekiti families sent their children to him for grooming. Chief Osuntokun did not spare the rod. I know this because I was a reluctant victim of his philosophy of spare the rod and spoil the child. I recollect that Chief Peter Ajibade, SAN, former Attorney General of the old Western State was one of the graduates of the Osuntokun School of discipline. Kayode Alabi and Prince Adewale Bejide Aladesanmi were later to follow. It seems in retrospect that from the Osuntokun School, one went to Christ School. Even after entering Christ School, Chief Osuntokun kept an eye on his wards either by making them cut the grass in his yard or cleaning his compound as part of the compulsory early morning work every Christ School boy had to do before going to classes. Chief Osuntokun at this time was a rising star in Ekiti. He was a member of the Western House of Assembly. He shared with Chief Anthony Enahoro, brilliant debating skill which was highly valued in parliamentary system of government. The leader of government and later Chief Obafemi Awolowo valued this attribute. By 1955, Chief Awolowo made Chief Osuntokun Minister of Works and after the election of 1956, Chief Osuntokun became Minister of Finance in the old Western Region and he was only 34 years old. This was the Osuntokun who mentored many Ekiti people including those I already mentioned and others like Chief Afe Babalola, Architect Alade, professors Adelola Adeloye, Fola Esan and of course, his younger brother, Kayode Osuntokun and  many others. I was a small boy in those days but I remember and to quote Chukwu Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu – “Because I was involved”.

    Prince Aladesanmi who now belongs to the ages was one of the “Osuntokun boys” I grew up knowing as a brother. He was extremely fair and handsome. He was well liked by people. Sometimes in the 1950s, I do not remember precisely the exact year, there was a big ceremony in Ado when I believe Prince Adewale was presented to the public in some kind of ceremonial bath in which he was carried around the town as a future king. In Ado, princes were called “Oba” and princesses were called “oja”. During my primary school days, I knew a few of these princesses and princes because of the closeness of Chief Osuntokun to Oba Aladesanmi, the father of the departed Adewale. At a point, Chief Osuntokun’s immediate younger brother, the late engineer Edward Abiodun Osuntokun, one of the first Ekiti boys to attend Government College Ibadan was a fiancé to Princess Yetunde, the first child of Kabiyesi. In short the Osuntokuns were part of the royal fabric of Ado-Ekiti. This writer at a time in my last year at secondary school was quite close to one of the Ado princesses!

    I say all this to show that the death of Oga Bejide was a personal loss. I had not seen him for a long time. When his father, Kabiyesi Aladesanmi “Waja” in 1982 or thereabouts, I came to sympathize with the family but I did not see the prince. Neither did I see Adedeji who was my friend, classmate and age mate. I only saw my former friend the princess that I was familiar with. Two months ago, Prince Adewale called me more or less from the blues. I was pleasantly surprised. He told me his friend Kayode Alabi had given him my number. He wondered why I had not been visiting him. He reminded me I had travelled all the way from London to see him in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1965 and yet I won’t come and visit him in Ado. He then said “Don’t you know the immense contribution of your family to Ado-Ekiti?” I apologized to him that I will soon come and see him in Ado. Then he added “your pounded yam is waiting for you”. My readers can then imagine the shock I had when Oga Kayode Alabi phoned me wailing that he has lost one of his best friends and wondering what to do. I felt guilty and regretted not seeing and saying fare well to a brother. If I knew he would pass on so soon, I would have gone to Ado to see him.

    Prince Adewale, I believe, made his own mark. He lived the leisured life of a prince as a young man. He was known all over Ado as someone who was special. When his colleagues were struggling to go to the local universities in Nigeria, his father,Kabiyesi Aladesanmi sent him abroad to prepare him for a bright future possibly in industry, commerce, government and on the throne. He justified his father’s confidence in him. He studied accountancy and banking in Newcastle upon Tyne. He rose to the rank of general manager in the banking sector before he retired into business and the corporate world as a member of a few boards before settling down into the life of a prince and head of his father’s family. He combined the refinement of a modern man with deep knowledge and commitment to his roots. He will be sorely missed and he has carried to eternity solid and treasured knowledge of traditional institutions and culture of Ado. ERINWO AJANAKU SUN BI OKE!

  • Family mourns Lagos prince

    The Arota-Ologun family has condled with the Oniru family of Lagos State over the death of the Otun Oba of Iruland, Prince Alaba Oniru.

    A statement by the head of Arota-Ologun family, Chief Teslim Adeola Almaroof, described the late prince as a true Lagosian, who contributed to the development.

    Describing the late prince as an accomplished person, Almaroof noted that the deceased’s contribution towards the empowerment and welfare of the people was enormous.

    The deceased, he added, was an amiable and hard working person whose efforts at promoting peace and unity cannot be underestimated.

     

  • The prince who died fighting

    The prince who died fighting

    Tributes continued yesterday for the gallant officer who died fighting Boko Haram on Friday.

    Unknown to many, Lt.-Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali was a prince whose father is a retired officer. His father is Etsu of Bassa- Nge Kingdom (Kogi State), Brig.-Gen. Abu-Ali (retd.).

    on September 9, 2015, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, visited Gamboru Ngala, which had just been recaptured from Boko Haram terrorists after a fierce battle. He wanted to see things for himself.

    But the COAS had another motive — to personally decorate one of his men, “a war hero, a quiet but fiercely dedicated officer”, Major Abu-Ali —who had been granted an accelerated promotion to Lt.-Colonel.

    Under the cover of darkness, the COAS decorated Abu-Ali, who was surrounded by his men, many of them belonging to what is referred to as “the other rank” with his new rank.  Ali saluted smartly, shook hands with the COAS and saluted again.

    The COAS was lavish in his praise of Lt.-Col. Abu-Ali. He recounted his many brave acts in the war against Boko Haram.

    What followed was one of the most enduring moments in the history of the war against Boko Haram. Lt.-Col. Abu-Ali ran into the waiting arms of his men, who grabbed him and lifted him off the ground. They were shouting and singing.

    This appellation was not bestowed on him for nothing, in the fight against Boko Haram, Lt.-Col. Abu-Ali’s name is written in gold. He participated in every battle, always at the head of his men.

    In early February 2015, the Army faced the arduous task to recapture Baga town from Boko Haram terrorists who had established a Caliphate of the most extreme form of Islam. Baga was a fortress for Boko Haram and any  battalion unsure of itself would merely be on suicide mission if  it tried to regain Baga.

    The Army found solace and courage in a “smallish guy” with the rank of a Major.

    Abu- Ali is an unconventional choice to lead the battle into Baga. If you met him, he would have a lot of explanations to do to convince you he is a soldier.

    Abu- Ali is smallish in stature, with a round and unassuming expression. One cannot but notice his pale skin, big eyeballs and sparse frame. No; Abu Ali cannot be a soldier, one would say.

    So, it was this unusual candidate that led the battle into Baga. It was according to Acting Director Army Public Relations Col. Sani Usman, one of the fiercest battles against Boko Haram.

    But Abu -Ali won the war despite all odds and took back the strategic town.

    Tactical, intelligent, Sophisticated.

    So how did Abu- Ali achieved the impossible? According to several colleagues, journalists, subordinates who spoke to The Nation, Abu- Ali was one of the finest tacticians in the Army.

    “Abu -Ali does not believe only in the quantity of the troops or the numerical strength he believes in tactics,” one said of him.

    Abu -Ali was a tank expert. His philosophy of war modelled the modern realities where emphasis is on equipment than men.

    This was Abu -Ali’s successful strategy in Baga. He used it again when he captured Monguno.

    “ He told us not to worry that we would only need to do five percent of the work, that the remaining 95 percent he would do with tanks,” the soldier told an online medium after the battle.

    Abu -Ali believed that there was no need for “unnecessary loss of lives” when machines could do the job. He was an expert tanker and was said to always lead his men in his own tank. In Baga, he led with the T-72 second generation tank.

    No formation could stand in the way of Abu -Ali and his furious tanks, town after town fell to his superior strategy, courage and determination.

    The fear of Abu -Ali was the beginning of Boko Haram’s wisdom, say many commentators. Referred to as the albatross of Boko Haram, he would drive his tanks against a column of insurgents, destroy their IEDs and save the lives of his soldiers.

    Abu -Ali also conducted many operations against the insurgents deep into Sambisa forest, clearing insurgents camps one after the other.

    Pray, stay alert, stay alive

    Abu- Ali had an uncommon relationship with his officers and men, many of whom hardly speak well of the establishment. In the Operation Lafiya Dole (peace by force) which is responsible for the fight against Boko Haram, Abu-Ali was loved, almost to a fault.

    He not only fought side by side with his men, he was prepared to lay down his life for them. “Pray, stay alert, Stay alive” were his usual charge to his men. He would tell them that if anyone should die, it would be him.

    That was exactly what happened last Friday when it all ended for Abu –Ali.  Abu- Ali and the men of 272 Tank Battalion had done extremely well in curtailing what the army called “remnants of Boko Haram”.

    Mallam Fatori had been a Boko Haram stronghold, but Abu-Ali dislodged the terrorists but intermittently, “remnants” of the insurgents would attack the army’s position.

    On Friday, they came again, this time in large numbers. Sources said Abu-Ali recognised the precarious position he was in and quickly called for reinforcement.

    No one has been able to tell how Abu -Ali died. He reportedly died fighting. Four soldiers died with him. Four were injured. Fourteen terrorists died.

    A source said Abu-Ali would have been alive if he had not been devoted to his men. He would not leave them, he would not accept any special treatment or right to live.

    His duty was his life, when colleagues recall his exploits he would assume a furlong look, unable to process why he would be singled out for special recognition.

    Many were stunned when the picture of Abu-Ali’s body arrived from the war front in a body bag, flown in an Air Force helicopter. A parade of soldiers saluting the body as it was wheeled past. It was a touching spectacle.

    A nation mourns

    On the day Abu-Ali died, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was one of the first to commiserate with the military and his family. Ali’s death was a big loss to th state (he was and indegene) and  the Etsu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom.

    Bello said: “He was a gallant officer who served the nation with his all and paid the supreme price by laying down his life for the peace of the country. He will be remembered for his sacrifice and  commitment to the cause of the Nigerian Army to rid the country of insurgency which has been a source of concern to every one.

    “Kogi State and indeed Nigerians will never forget your gallantry as you led a team of the Nigerian Army to recapture Baga from the control of terrorists and you died while in active service, gallant soldier.”

    The tributes poured in from those who knew him and those who did not. It is impossible to measure in words the outpouring of grief and anger which enveloped the nation at Abu-Ali’s death.

    Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-General Rabe Abubakar, told The Nation: “Ali served his country very well to the extent of sacrificing his life for his dear country. He said it is better for him to die than  lose his subordinates. Very courageous, quiet but focused  and highly professional and intelligent. The Nigerian military in general and Nigerian Army in particular  will miss him.”

    Defence Minister Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali described  the death of  Abu-Ali as “tragic and unfortunate”.

    In a press release made available to The Nation, he prayed God to grant the war hero eternal rest.

    “Defence Minster describes Lt.-Col. Abu-Ali  as a major pillar in the war against terrorism and insurgency in the Northeast. He also expresses his condolences to the father of the deceased,  Etsu of Bassa- Nge Kingdom (Kogi State), Brig.-Gen. Abu-Ali (retd), his young family and the Nigerian Army,” the statement read.

    The late Lt.-Col. Abu -Ali would be given a hero’s burial today, but it will be a celebration of his short life, of his dedication, commitment and love for fellow human. He left behind his father, Brig. Gen. Abu-Ali (rtd), the Etsu of Bassa-Nge, a young wife and three children.

     

  • Benin Crown Prince ‘wrestles’ Okhuaihe priest

    The Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, has “wrestled” with the Chief Priest of Okhuaihe Shrine, Osarodion Usuanlele, the Ohen N’Ukoni Neyedo.

    The symbolic wrestling took place at the weekend as part of the coronation rites of the frontline monarch.

    The Okhuaihe Shrine is located at Evbuekoi in Uhunwode Local Government Area.

    After the symbolic wrestling, both of them went opposite ways and are never to meet again, once the Crown Prince becomes the Oba.

    The Okhuaihe Chief Priest will not enter Benin again and whenever the Oba wants to pass through the vicinity, the Chief Priest would leave the area. It is an abomination for the Okhuaihe Chief Priest to visit Benin.

    As part of the rites and rituals, the Crown Prince visited the Chief Priest around 7:55 p.m and both proceeded to the sacred forest in the community where some rites were performed.

    The Crown Prince left Evuekoi for Azama N’Uhe ancestral shrine at Oloton’s palace on Isekhere Street, where some traditional rites were performed as part of the coronation rituals.

  • Nnewi crown prince laments poor state of education

    The crown prince of Nnewi Kingdom in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Prince Obi Orizu, has lamented the decrepit state of education in Nigeria, especially at secondary and tertiary levels.

    He decried the bad attitude exhibited by some teachers and lecturers which, he said, has contributed to the level of inefficiency in the education system.

    In an interview in his palace at Nnewi, Orizu urged the Federal and state governments to hasten efforts to arrest further degeneration of the nation’s education system.

    The prince said the poor state of infrastructure in schools has moved him to construct new classroom blocks in some parts of the country and give scholarships to indigent students in his hometown and other places as well.

    In 2012, Orizu said he built a classroom block for Edoji Central School, Uruagu, Nnewi to celebrate his father, Igwe K.O.N. Orizu at 87; and a block for Nnewichi Central School, Nnewi.

    In Cross River State, he also built a brand new school fitted with  state-of-the-art facilities for Hope Waddel Training Institute in honour of his grandfather, Igwe J.N. Orizu II, and his own father who both went through the school in 1924 and 1942.

    In 2010, he renovated about five classroom blocks for Nnewi High School, Nnewi among, many others.

    The king-in-waiting, who studied up to PhD level in Nigeria and abroad, however, expressed confidence in the Buhari-led administration and Anambra state governor, Dr Willie Obiano, to reposition the ailing education sector and other areas of the economy.

     

  • Benin Crown Prince begins journey to ancient throne

    Benin Crown Prince begins journey to ancient throne

    Al is set for the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa and Edaiken N’ Uselu to begin the journey from his temporary palace at Uselu in Egor Local Government to Benin City, where he will be crowned the 39th Oba of Benin.

    Three committees have been inaugurated by the Benin Traditional Council to ensure a hitch-free coronation ceremony.

    The Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, at a news briefing, said the committees were inaugurated since the Crown Prince has performed all the required traditional rites including Emwinekhuan (the Royal funeral rites for the late Oba Erediauwa II).

    Chief Igbe named the committees to include Coronation Planning Committee which has Prof. Gregory Akenzua as chairman, Finance Committee with Dr. Greg. Ero as chairman and Government Committee which has Chief Oseni Elamah, as chairman.

    Roads around the Oba’s palace such as Plymouth road, Ibiwe and adjoining streets are already being reconstructed.

    The Emwinekhuan (funeral rites), which lasted for 15 days, showcased colorful cultural display. It reaffirmed how strong the Binis hold their cultural values and ancient tradition that has been passed from generation to generation for many centuries.

    Palace chiefs displayed how some secrets surrounding funeral rites of an Oba are well guarded.  Everything about the funeral activities had to be done appropriately with correct timing and performed by individuals to whom such functions were assigned.

    It was first time many residents in the state saw the Isiemwenro guilds (the big ants that stings the Oba’s enemies) in full regalia.

    Among the unique feature of the funeral activities was the day residents in the state were ordered not to cook with fire. To some, it was another way of declaring fasting but to others it was a day to eat food prepared the previous day without getting it heated by fire.

    There were also questions about whether the ban on fire was from fire wood, gas or stove, as the order was not specific.

    There was wide compliance with the directives, as bread and snacks sellers made huge sales as many families resorted to eating only bread until 6pm.

    Among the rites performed by the Crown Prince during the Emwinekhuan included the Iviorhue rites representing purity and peace which was performed by Ihogbe Chiefs, headed by Chief Leteman. The Ihogbe head was delegated by the Ihama N’ Ihogbe, the Izakhue and Isoton where the Crown Prince trekked to Benin with 201 Chiefs.

    The performance of Isoton enabled the Edaiken to formally take over the position of his transited father.

    It was gathered that the Edaiken will never step foot on some of the villages and shrines he visited to perform some rites as part of the coronation process once he is crowned as ‘Oba’. Such villages are Ughoton, Ovbiogie among others.

    However, just as all the ancients rites were observed according to dates and numbers in the funeral of Oba Erediauwa, so will it be in the coronation of Prince Erediauwa. Prince Erediauwa will trek through the ancient path his forebears took from Uselu to ascend the throne in Benin, in fulfilment of the Benin’s ‘Odeobawu’, which means’ the path of an Oba never dies’.

    Every Chief knows the role to play but the coronation rites are the functions of seven prominent Chiefs otherwise known as the Usama N’ Ihinron. It was during the reign of Oba Ewuare in the 15th century that granted  the Ihama N’ Igun a special right to carry out a background function at the coronation ceremony.

    The Uzama N’ Ihinron also known as Edion consist of Chiefs Oliha,  Edohen, Ezomo, Ero, Eholo N’ Ire, Oloton and Edaiken.

    Chief Oliha, who pronounces the Edaiken as Oba, is also the Chief Priest of the collective ancestors of the Uzama.

    On a day set by the Crown Prince to leave his palace at Uselu, he would be escorted by chiefs from the Uselu community. Immediately he leaves the Edaiken Palace, the gate is closed and would not be inhabited again until another Edaiken is installed.

    On his way to Benin, the Crown Prince makes a symbolic climbing of a palm tree that has lived over 500 years called ‘Udin amamieson amieuwa (suffer before pleasure). The palm tree was first climbed by Oba Ewuare during his suffering days, when he was hungry, to eat of its nuts. Since then, every Crown Prince had to perform the ceremony of climbing the palm tree.

    From there, the Crown Prince will be escorted to Iya-Akpan, a moat situated long the Benin-Lagos express road, where Chiefs from Oredo will take over and Chiefs from Uselu will return home.

    The Edaiken (Crown Prince) will walk through Iguisi to Eko-Ohae (bachelors’ camp) where he will stay for three days. From there he moves to Uzama, venue of the coronation rites.

    Uzama was where Prince Oromiyan built and lived because of resistance from Ogiamen. It was Oba Ewedo in the 13th century that moved the palace to the present location. While at Uzama, the Edaiken proceeds to Use to choose a title he will be known by as an Oba.

    It is said that before this ceremony, the Edaiken never knows the name he will bear as an Oba. It was at Use that Oba Eweka 1, son of Oronmiyan, first spoke his first words ‘Owomika’ after playing the Akhue (traditional) game.

    After the Use ceremony, the Edaiken returns to Uzama where the coronation rites will be completed and he is pronounced an ‘Oba’. His public appearance as an Oba would be to be presented to his people. But before then, he would have to cross a bridge at Isekhere, where he would  be assisted by Chief Isekhere across the now dried up Omi oteghele River on his way to ascend the throne. The river is no longer there but a symbolic bridge is constructed there and it is over the bridge that the Isekhere helps the Oba to cross over.

    Across the river, the Ogiamien would be waiting for a duel with the new monarch, following which the Ogiamien and his followers would flee. The Oba would then proceed to Urho-Okpota, where he receives Staff of Office from the governor as well as performs some ceremonies before moving into the Palace.

    After seven days, he assembles his ‘army’ for the battle of Ekiokpogha, where he engages the Ogiamen in a mock battle. This battle is a re-enactment of a real battle between Oba Ewedo and Ogiamien.

    Our reporter’s visit to the palace recently  showed that preparations were in top gear for the Crown Prince’s eventual arrival as 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom.  It was observed that the palace is wearing a new look with new buildings being erected, perhaps befitting of modern time.

    Some of the workers said work would soon finish in the new palace. It was gathered that the Crown Prince wielded the big stick by reducing the staff strength.