The Dangers of Crowning the wrong Prince as Oba

By Rosetta Brown

Our traditions, culture and customs are willed to bring peace, truth and light to our land. Our lives are guided both by the spirits and the physical, they are one. Inseparable they weave the destiny of a people far beyond our imagination, the mysteries cannot be unfolded at a glance but once the imbalance occurs by an act considered evil it must take its full course, many pay with their lives even before it can be corrected.

The Binis have for some time now lived as though they have been cursed, Robberies, killings, kidnapping, prostitution, incest and much more, all considered abominations and crimes. The gods and our ancestors must be angry. The one trusted to cleanse the land is the one who leads, he alone bears the burden to find solution, but not without consulting his council, the wise ones and the oracle.  The stubbornness of a fly they say allows it to be buried with the coffin. Even though many had suspected where the problem comes from, most were not sure until the battle of the Ogiamien and the Oba Palace began about a year ago.

We are talking about the bond made centuries ago now broken.

The first of such bond is the return of the remains of the Oba to Ile-Ife and to obtain permission for the installation of the new Oba of Benin broken by Oba Akenzua II and continued until now. Benin currently owes them three (3) kings.

Second, the Late Oba Erediauwa allegedly slept with his own blood sister by name Princess Comfort Ikuoyewen Eweka the daughter of Oba Eweka II and had Princes Eheneden and Aghatise Erediauwa.  This is an abomination because the daughter of an Oba cannot produce an Oba of Benin.  It has never happened in the history of Benin.  This is a taboo and an abomination in Bini as incest (sexual intercourse between persons so closely related that they are forbidden by law to marry also: the statutory crime of such a relationship) is not permitted. Once a child is born outside of wedlock and the proper traditional rights cannot be performed including the payment of dowry the child is considered illegitimate.

Third, the refusal for Prince Eheneden, the illegitimate and sacrilegious son of Oba Erediauwa though the first son born to him to honor the Ekiokhagba Treaty and imprisoned the Ogiamien of Utantan and brutalized the Ogiamien Royal Family. The Ekiokhagba Treaty was bond between Ogiso Erebo and Oba Eweka I and has existed and is honored by the crown Prince before he is installed and coronated as the next Oba.

The King must be Kind, compassionate, wise as well being a warrior. He must bring peace, good will and prosperity to his people. However, this does not ring true for Prince Eheneden. His half siblings have suffered his wrath over time. Three that come to mind which happened recently is

1. When he ordered, the first princess, Theresa Erediauwa out of her home, throwing her belongings into the streets like a tenant and common criminal, disgracing her before the kingdom.
2. Did nothing to intervene when Prince Ekpen Erediauwa’s land was taken away from him unjustly, and crushing his political will.
3. And asking Prince Omoregbe Erediauwa to remove the sculpture of his late mother, Queen Esther from the five junction.

He allowed himself become a political tool to destroy his own people, and sold out many times for a plate of porridge.

Recently, he drove away palace chiefs asking them to bring their sons in their stead, also an abomination, since a son cannot take over the title of his father until the final burial ceremony is performed.

He also committed a taboo and an abomination by committing incest, he slept with many of his own blood relations, including the daughter of Prince Festus Eweka, who had two children for him. Recently she was seen in a rage outside the palace for not been allowed to see him. As for the second wife she is the daughter of Eweka too.

These are not the makings of a king. We have a common adage, “Whom the gods want to destroy they first make mad.

And to make it worse, in the Nations Newspaper online on May 25, 2016 published, “Edo State Government has withdrawn a letter earlier issued on the Oba of Benin, saying it was issued in error.

In a retraction signed by the Secretary to State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, dated May 25, 2016, the government stated: “In deference to the revered age-long tradition and respect for the sensibilities of the people of the great Benin Kingdom, the Government of Edo State hereby withdraws a letter issued on 24th May 2016 entitled: “Appointment of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin.””

All these are bad signs and omen of what is to come.

The true Crown Prince is Ada Erediauwa if Benin is to be at peace. And for the Ogiamien Royal family to rest, Peace must be pursued by the Oba Palace through talks and not violence, and the Ekiokhagba Treaty honored as it has always done for centuries now.

Let the Oracle speak now in truth for the Bini People.

Ogiamien ghato kpere, Ise.