The Leopard left for the forest at the heat of the campaigns for the 2015 general elections. Born in 1923 to Oba Akenzua 11, he was crowned the 38th Oba of Benin on March 23, 1979. Prior to his ascension to the throne, he was Prince Solomon Igbinoghodua Aisiokuoba Akenzua.
As tradition requires, he relinquished his name Solomon immediately he became Oba. He attended Government College Ibadan (1939–1945), then Yaba College before he proceeded to King’s College, Cambridge to study law and administration.
He joined the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service in 1957 as a District Officer, later moved to the Federal Civil Service where he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in 1973. For a short period he was the regional representative of Gulf Oil.
In 1975 he was appointed Commissioner for Finance in the then Bendel State during the military administration of Major-General George Agbazika Innih. Ascending the throne on 23 March 1979, he celebrated his 30th anniversary in 2009.
How he ruled the Kingdom
During his reign, Oba Erediauwa was known to be a peacemaker, a great diplomat who rarely spoke, dogged and uncompromising when it came to issues that affects the lives of Nigerians.
For instance, when late General Sanni Abacha coerced most of the first class traditional rulers in the country to back his attempted transition to a civilian president, Oba Erediauwa was one of the few traditional rulers who remained resolute in their belief that the military should go so that the nation could enthrone democracy.
He received pressures from Abuja, he was even threatened as Saturday Vanguard learnt, but the monarch declared he would not support such satanic move. When he spoke, his words were law. As a result, he commanded the respect of any political leader.
In March 2004, there was serious crisis between the then Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Ozor Kalu and former Chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.
After the crisis which drew the attention of many Nigerians, the former Governor explained to journalists when he visited his counterpart in Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, that he decided to sheath the sword when His Royal Majesty told him to stop.
According to him, “the Oba is our father; he told me to stop the war of words and resolve the matter. Who am I when our Royal Father has spoken? I had to stop my war with Chief Anenih, who is a respected party leader.”
In order to administer justice and ensure effectiveness in the administration of the Kingdom, he created dukedom in the seven Local Government Councils in the Edo South Senatorial District which is made up of the Binis.
He decided to install his younger ones as Enogie of each dukedom to help administer the kingdom effectively. It was the first of its kind. He equally achieved peace in the kingdom through the revival of most Benin cultures and traditions which were fast eroding before his ascension as Oba.
One of such festivals is the Ugie-Ewere Festival which is celebrated annually to herald the beginning of every New Year in the Kingdom. The Benin traditional worship center known as the Holy Aruosa was strengthened during his reign.
Traditional courts were set up in the Kingdom to settle rifts such as chieftaincy and land disputes in communities. Once judgment was pronounced by the palace, it became final. Anyone who decided to head to the normal courts, would be fighting the Oba’s authority.
His reign as Oba witnessed drastic reduction if not total eradication of ritual killings in the Kingdom. And he was able to achieve this through spiritual curses invoked upon such perpetrators.
These curses were administered by the Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, who is the Odionwere of Benin Kingdom, in collaboration with some other powerful palace chiefs in the Kingdom.
It will be recalled that in the late 90s, there were incessant accidents at the Ikpoba Hill River in Benin City, and the Binis were asked to pray against wicked spirits while the Oba deployed some of his powerful chiefs to consult the gods and find solution to the problem.
Ever since then, the bridge has been peaceful and that ended the losing of innocent souls on that bridge.
Some artefacts that were stolen during the invasion of Benin Kingdom in 1897 were recovered during his reign. Tourism was also boosted following the influx of foreigners who comes to witness the annual Igue Festival.
He was Chairman of Benin Traditional Council throughout his reign and it was used to foster unity among traditional rulers in Nigeria and Edo State in particular. His influence in politics cannot be underestimated because his words were laws as far as the Bini Kingdom were concerned.
In 1991 it was said that a message from the palace gave victory to the SDP governorship candidate, Chief John Odigie Oyegun who ran the governorship against Lucky Igbinedion, son of the Esama of Benin.
Following the controversy that trailed that election and the seeming support the monarch gave to Chief Oyegun, the Oba was subpoena at the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal to the chagrin of the Binis. Hell was let lose when the Binis saw the Royal Father trekking to the tribunal.
They stormed the streets in protest to condemn the tribunal and the Esama of Benin who is one of the powerful chiefs of the Oba. The Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and his son Lucky, were declared enemies of the Oba.
This was where his problem with Esama started. It took the intervention of prominent Edo sons in the Christendom like Rev. Father Theophilus Uwaifo, Okhiaya-Inneh (SAN) to plead on behalf of the Esama. The matter was finally settled when Esama had his 70th birthday. The guest were all at the Baptist Church waiting when Esama was taken to the palace to beg the Oba.
In 2007, the Oba of Benin who heard the cries of his people for change in the governance of the state, backed the entrance of Governor Adams Oshiomhole into the politics of the state.
As a matter of fact, his tacit support enabled Oshiomhole to carry out his urban renewal programme in Benin City. For instance, before the re-construction of the Airport Road to six lanes, the design required the demolition of part of the palace walls.
And when the Oba was informed, he told the governor that “I will not be a hindrance to your urban renewal programme in Benin City, if it means destroying part of my palace to construct the road. Go on and destroy it; we want development in Benin Kingdom.”
Unknown to the Oba, Oshiomhole betrayed his emotions when he left the palace that same day. He was overwhelmed with the humility and the progressive nature of the Oba, particularly when the opposition PDP created the impression that Oshiomhole who is from Edo North Senatorial District, wanted to destroy the Benin cultural heritage.
Oba’s humility and support overwhelmed Oshiomhole who became so emotional as he wept and echoed “God bless the Oba”. And in 2012, during the campaigns for the re-election of Governor Oshiomhole, the Oba did not hide his preference for the former labour leader.
And in Benin Kingdom, the Enigies (Dukes) watch the body movement of the Oba and they flowed with it. It will be recalled that when Governor Oshiomhole visited the Oba in 2012 to inform him of his plans to run for a second term in office, the Oba directed the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe to pray for the Governor.
From the prayers which were being said in native Benin language, the Iyase was not hitting the point as the Oba had wanted. And the Oba did not hide his feelings, as he interrupted the prayers and urged the Iyase to say prayers a father would give to his son, adding that he should give Oshiomhole a special prayer.
And after Iyase’s prayers, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri took over and prayed to the admiration of the Oba. Esogban declared after his prayers that the Oracle had spoken and whoever wanted to doubt the oracle should wait for the consequence.
The support of the Palace and the people of Edo State gave Oshiomhole victory in the entire 18 Local Government Areas of the state, a feat no governor had achieved in the country. Because of the love the Oba has for Oshiomhole, he openly shunned the PDP delegation led by the then President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, when Jonathan visited the state for his presidential campaign. On that occasion, after waiting for half an hour, only Jonathan was later ushered into the inner chambers of the Oba where he met with the Royal Father for about 10minutes. Chief Anenih and other PDP leaders were locked out.
Prominent Nigerians react
Some prominent Nigerians have reacted to the passing on of the Benin Monarch. The reactions have been expectedly expressive of the deep loss of one of the most respected traditional rulers in the history of Nigeria.
Oba Erediawa was a rare gem – Dogara
In condoling with the people of the Bini Kingdom over the transition, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, noted that the late Oba’s legacy of peace would continue to make impact in the Edo nation and the entire country for generations to come. “The Edo nation will always remember the late revered monarch as a royal father who loved peace and mediated disputes with fairness. Nigeria has indeed lost a dependable royalty and jewel of peace”, the Speaker lamented.
Our hearts are heavy – Oshiomhole
In his reaction, the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole mourned the royal passage with the following words: “Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo N’Oba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institutions in Edo State and the country at large.”
He concluded: “Edo people will miss our iconoclastic 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. “Oba gha to kpere, ise.”
He was a man of history – Uduaghan
In his response, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan expressed deep sadness, and described the Monarch as “a man of history who helped to promote the Benin culture and commanded tremendous respect.”
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