Extolling the Virtues of Oba Erediauwa

Last Friday, the Kingdom of Benin and the whole world was jolted with the news from the Iyase that our revered monarch, His Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa has joined his ancestors. Condolences have been pouring in from the high and mighty across the country and indeed the global world at large.
As we mourn his transition, it is a fact that Oba Erediauwa affected his generation and the Benin Kingdom positively in diverse ways. It was no little wonder that as the crown was being placed on his head in 1979, the heavenly bodies reverberated their confirmation with the instantaneous appearance of the moon in broad daylight!
Since then, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa demonstrated rare leadership that elevated royalty to greater appeal in the country. He was loved by all who encountered him or came his way. He was an embodiment of peace, unity and integrity in Nigeria. During the era of the government of Late General Sani Abacha. It is on record that the government compromised almost all traditional rulers and institutions in the country, to the extent that almost all of them took turns to visit the dictator in his Aso Rock abode where they went to pay him solidarity visits and urging him to transform himself from a military dictator to the sole candidate of the five existing political partieaa so that he could become a life civilian President. It is also on record that Oba of Benin Kingdom, Oba Erediauwa was impeccable as he was never involved in the activities of the corrupt regime. He was not involved in the mess that rubbished most traditional rulers in the country.
The average Benin man or woman held their heads and shoulders very high in that era as the story was told all over the land even beyond the shores of the country. Many were, however, not suprised because before ascending the throne of his forebears, the renowned monarch had the opportunity of undergoing rigorous and thorough preparatory processes, by way of training, work and appointments.
Oba Erediauwa who was born in 1923, attended Government College, Edo College , Benin City and Yaba College, Lagos before proceeding to the prestigious Kings College, Cambridge, to study Law, Administration and History.
After rounding off his academic pursuits at the famous Cambridge University in Great Britain, the Oba, driven inherently by patriotic zeal, returned to Nigeria to contribute to national development.
On arrival, he was employed and attached to Eastern Nigeria civil service as a District Officer in 1957. Subsequently, he later transferred his service to Federal Civil Service, where he went through the mill of bureaucracy and ended up as a fit and tested technocrat of extraordinary ability.
It is of essence to emphasise that Oba Erediauwa voluntarily left the Federal Civil Service as Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, in 1973. Thereafter, he briefly held the office of Regional Representative for Gulf Oil. Also, in 1975 he was appointed as a commissioner in the then Bendel State by the Major-General Agbazika Innih- led military administration.
Thereafter, following Oba Akenzuwa joining his ancestors, the young Solomon Akenzua on March 23rd 1979 began his epic journey as the head of Edo nation, as he was in accordance, crowned the 38th Oba of the Benin in the Oba dynasty that has endured graciously for more than 1000 years.
The monarch is the absolute monarch of the Edos and as well as the spiritual head of Edo people and all their supplications to almighty God and the ancestors normally end with a blessing for the Oba (Oba gha to kpere! Ise!) This is just as the British Anthem, God save the Queen.
Many would forever remember Oba Erediauwa for his peace loving disposition. All through his reign, Benin Kingdom witnessed unprecedented peace and progress. His kingdom habours aliens and visitors and he willingly gave his fatherly advice to serious national and international issues.
The Benin Monarch peace keeping role in Nigeria is appreciated by all and sundry. His palace is empirically proven to be one of the busiest in the south of the Sahara Africa . His palace was always filled with people seeking justice on a daily basis.
In spite of the existence of multifarious Conventional Institutions, majority of his subjects and non subjects believing in his fairness for equity and justice always felt safe to go to his palace for adjudication of disputes. Most of which were amicably resolved in ways and manners that justice was not only heard, but seen to be delivered in all cases without fear or favour.

It is important to note here that, the monarch defer all challenges to patiently and critically treat all such matters with the innate wisdom in him. It was obvious that the Oba and the people are one, just as God, the son and the spirit are one. A patriotic Edo person cannot detach himself from the monarch. In one way or the other, every one benefiting from his wisdom pot.
It is on this note that the Oba embraced all across Edo State as one. He is indeed very passionate about this uncommon love and unity in the state and it is this bond that he has projected to permeate the minds of the people that crystallized into Comrade Adams Oshiomhole unprecedented Governorship victory in 2012. It is in realisation of this point that the Edo State Governor often told citizens of the state that there is one Royal father he has so much love and respect for, that is the Benin monarch. The Governor takes him as his father and the Oba takes him as one of his sons.
Nigerians would also remember him as a monarch with great sense of humour. Very many visitors to his palace and his subjects still attest to several rib-cracking humours that the Oba would reel out that even the likes of Ali Baba, Basket Mouth, and I go Die would simply be learners.
He campaigned for the return of the artifacts stolen during the Benin invasion of 1897. One of the grandchildren of the looters in UK recently returned two important artifacts back to the kingdom (Afiami Oro and Egogo).
Oba Erdiauwa stirred the greatest controversy ever in the history of the Kingdom with his book, “I remain Sir, Your Obedient Servant.” This publication has put paid to the controversy surrounding the history of the Yoruba people who we know better today originated from the Benin Kingdom. This is what today and future generations would live to cherish from Oba Erediauwa. Great writer and author of many books, Ordia Ofeimun in his treatise “Why Oba of Benin is number one” puts it succinctly this way; ” at any rate, Edo culture has been, for centuries, a strict upholder of the principle of primogeniture and therefore some remove from parleying with those who have no respect for the firstborn adult male in the matter of monarchical rule. The reality is that whenever the Oba of Benin sat among Yoruba obas, he knew he was the eldest.” And I agree with him.