NEWSROYALE Oba of Benin’s royal voyage to Abuja, Sokoto
It is rear for a royalty to leave his domain on a voyage to visit other climes, but the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N, ‘Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare II, indeed undertook a historic tour to President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja and to the
By Anthony Maliki, Isiaka Wakili, (Abuja) & Rakiya A. Muhammad, (Sokoto)
Men and women clad in colourful Bini attires dance to the best of traditional drums at the terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja, heralding the arrival of His Royal Majesty, Omo N, ‘Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, to Nigeria’s capital city. In fact, the airport was turned into a cultural extravaganza of some sort.
It was an historic visit in all ramifications as it was the first major call of the revered Oba since ascending the throne of his forebears and coming just few weeks after his one year coronation and also to pay special respect to President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the Presidential Villa, the meeting went behold officialdom to personal reminiscences as the President recalled the working relationship the late Oba Erediauwa.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari said: “I cannot hold back my emotions, talking about my relationship with your predecessor. After General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated, I was moved from the North-East as governor to Ministry of Petroleum. Your father was then Permanent Secretary. My relationship with him was very strong. I have lost count of the number of visits to his palace as Oba.”
The president commended the Oba for following the footsteps of his predecessor and said Nigerians had reasons to be proud of the stabilising roles Benin chiefs had played right from the colonial era to the current period, not only in the Delta region but the entire country.
In the statement, Oba Ewuare II, who met President Buhari at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, said it is sad that the role of traditional rulers is yet to be reflected in the constitution of the country as Nigeria is strongly rooted in cultural values and norms.
He also reassured the government that traditional institutions will be used to strengthen the unity and development of Nigeria.
In Sokoto, it was an ebullient and hearty welcome for the Oba who was in Sokoto last week on a royal visit to Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. The event brought together the best elements of royal display with splendour and glamour.
Many thronged the streets leading to the Sultan palace to catch a glimpse of the Benin monarch who was radiant with joy.
“Riders arranged in rows to welcome me into the Palace of his Eminence and the display of drummers really thrilled me and my large entourage as a monarch,” the Oba admitted.
The Oba’s visit which was to show appreciation to the Sultan for his “uncommon support, encouragement and honour” during his coronation, is noted to be very significant in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different ethnic and religious background.
It is also of great importance in the history of the two monarchies.
The sultan elucidated: “Today, history is being made again because I remember very well as a young man, my father Sultan Abubakar of blessed memory who was Sultan for 50 years, the longest reigning Sultan was in Benin to be conferred with Honorary Degree by University of Benin in 1975, forty -five years ago, we were young people then in secondary school but we remembered vividly, his interaction with the then Oba of Benin and the two of them hit it off and built very good relationship.”
He added: “When he [Sultan Abubakar] was marking 40 years in 1978, I was told, about his visit to Sokoto at that time. Now almost 40 years, Oba of Benin is coming back home again, to meet the son of that same Sultan who reached out to them 45 years ago and who reached out to him as a crown prince and now as Oba of Benin.”
The Sultan had this to say on the thank you visit: “Whatever we have done during your ascension to the revered throne is what we believe should be done by any right-thinking person who wants God Almighty to continue to bless him in his efforts to touch lives of other human being created by God so that the entire humanity, the world would be a much better place for all of us.”
He assured: “We will do it again and again because we believe that whatever makes your brother happy, you should continue to do it without looking at yourselves, without looking at certain inconveniences, it’s never an inconvenience to us, we believe it is something must do, and we did it.”
The Sultan showered praises on the Oba for his efforts towards grassroots development and Nigeria’s unity.
He asserted that Sokoto caliphate was founded on knowledge, recalling that the fore fathers wrote many books on medicine, politics and, good leadership, among others.
The Sultan gave a parting gift to the Oba which included a book of about 20 chapters on the 20 Sultans of Sokoto and another one on Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar’s speeches delivered across the world.
For the Oba who was blissful and appreciative said: “I recollect with fondness the spectacular display of royalty, culture and tradition when we were entertained with a mini durbar during my coronation. The beauty of the grandeur display is still fresh in our memories. For this and many more areas of support, I say thank you.”
The Benin monarch, who described his people as historically hospitable and receptive to everyone, looked forward to the sustenance of the relationship between the kingdom and the caliphate.
His words: “Your Eminence, it is my hope and sincere desire that this visit will further cement that warm and cordial relationship exiting between your people and my people.”
However, it was not just the traditional leaders’ affairs as the Oba was accompanied to the Sokoto State Government House by Sultan Abubakar III and senior members of the Sultanate Council on a visit to Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Tambuwal lauded Oba Ewuare II and the Benin Kingdom for their roles in promoting national unity and enriching the cultural values of Nigeria.
He noted that as custodians of traditions, values and customs, traditional leaders have what it takes to galvanize all Nigerians towards peace, stability and progress of the country.
The Governor therefore urged them to use their influential status to promote good governance and strengthen the unity of the nation.
“We may have differences in tongue of religious creed, but we are united in the need to move our country forward. Our diversity is our source of strength,” he stated.
He added: “I have said it repeatedly that we have every reason to remain together. We are stronger as united people.”
When it was time for the Oba to return to his domain, he revealed that he was leaving the seat of the caliphate with lots of good memories, especially the historic places he visited.