Tragedy as Benin mourns their now LATE KING, Erediauwa joins ancestors

OMON N’OBA Ne Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa has joined his ancestors. He was the 38th Oba of Benin Kingdom.
A terse announcement yesterday in Benin by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom (the Traditional Prime Minister), Chief Sam Igbe who spoke in Bini dialect said, “OSORHUE BUNRUN; Oba Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom, the Prince of Peace, Ebo, Ayemwirhe, Emimi Mini Mini, has re-united with his ancestors. May he find perfect peace with God.”

Shortly after the traditional breaking of the symbolic white chalk (Osorhue) by the Iyase at the Urho Ozolua Shrine within the Palace in the presence of other Palace chiefs, journalists and the Bini people, the chiefs and those present wept openly in mourning the passing on of one of the foremost traditional rulers in Nigeria.
The Iyase also announced that all Bini males were expected to shave their heads, all markets closed and all Palace chiefs to wear only one bead around their necks.
Traditional rulers from the seven local government areas that make up the present Benin Kingdom, Palace chiefs of different grades and societies, indigenes of Benin Kingdom, women, members of the Benin Royal Family as well journalists had gathered at the Palace as early as 10am when it was learnt that an important meeting would take place at the Palace.
Before the announcement, there were concerns among the people about the motive of the convergence which had virtually every class of the Benin Kingdom in attendance and the atmosphere at the Palace ground was tense It was learnt that at the meeting earlier in the day, the news of the passing on to glory of the Oba was first broken to the Crown Prince, HRH (Ambassador) Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N’Uselu and members of the Benin Royal Family before the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe formally announced it to the people of Benin Kingdom and the world as demanded by Bini custom.
A Palace chief, Omon Osagie Utetenegiabi, the Obadolagbonyi of Benin Kingdom, while reacting to the passage of Oba Erediauwa said, “It is customary that when a sitting Oba becomes an ancestor by translating to a greater glory, the news is first broken to his eldest son and the immediate family which was done earlier today.
“And the Iyase of Benin, as the highest ranking chief, then breaks the news to the people of Benin Kingdom and the world.
“Iyase is the traditional Prime Minister and the bridge between the people and the royalty and that is what he has done today. From today until the expiration of ‘Emwinekhua’, all Benin chiefs that have been entitled by the Oba to wear the two round beads round their necks, will now wear one. It is customary because when you see a chief wears one bead, it shows that we are a state of mourning.