Edo Declares Thursday a Public Holiday for Coronation of the New Oba of Benin

A public holiday has been declared in Edo State to facilitate the occurrence of a traditional ceremony in the South-south state.

 

The Edo Government has declared Oct. 20 as public holiday in celebration of the coronation of the new Oba of Benin, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa.

Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the Secretary to the State Government, said in a statement on Tuesday in Benin that the public holiday is in honour of Erediauwa, who will be crowned the 39th Oba of Benin.

According to the statement, the public holiday would ensure a hitch-free coronation and give Edo people the opportunity to partake in the historic installation of the new Oba of Benin.

The events leading to the coronation ceremony commenced on Nov. 8 and the state capital had been agog with preparations and activities for the coronation.

History has it that the title of Oba in Benin Empire was created by Oba Eweka I, the Benin Empire’s first ‘Oba’, said to have ascended power between 1180 and 1300.

The Oba of Benin, then, was the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire untila the British annexed the Empire in 1897.

Prince Ehenede Erediauwa on Tuesday chose his coronation name after defeating Edigin N’Use in the traditional Akhue game( marble seeds).

Erediauwa, will however, officially announce his name during his coronation on Thursday at Urho-Okpota in Benin.

The crown prince entered the shrine at the Edigin’s Palace, after playing the game of Akhue with HRH Kelvin Ekpe Edigin, the Edigin N’ Use and thereafter chose his coronation name.

Abieyuwa Edigin, a highly placed family member in the Edigin Palace told NAN that the Akhue game was the climax of all the coronation ceremonies