Buhari, Jonathan, Atiku, Oshiomhole, Tambuwal mourn late Oba of Benin

Tributes have continued to pour in for the late Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba Erediauwa Akpolokpolo, whose demise was officially announced, late Friday afternoon, by the Benin Council of Chiefs, in Benin City, Edo State.
The oldest member of the council, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, had broken the traditional white chalk at the palace signifying the transition of Erediauwa Akpolokpolo.
Reacting to the death of the paramount ruler of the Benin Kingdom, Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, GovernorsAdams Oshiomhole and Aminu Tambuwal of Edo and Sokoto states respectively, praised the late Oba for his exemplary life.
President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina that he received with sadness and an immense feeling of great national loss, news of the passing away of the highly revered traditional ruler of Benin Kingdom
“On behalf of the Federal Government, President Buhari extends sincere condolences to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the people of Benin Kingdom and Edo State on the passage of the beloved monarch who had ruled over his people since his ascension to the throne in 1979.
“The President extends special commiserations to Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa and other members of the late Oba’s immediate family” the statement said.
Buhari assured them of the fullest sympathy and solidarity of the Federal Government and all Nigerians as they mourn Oba Erediauwa who will always be remembered as one of the most outstanding traditional rulers of his era.
“As the late Oba goes to join his very illustrious royal ancestors, President Buhari believes that his place of honour in the history of the Benin Kingdom and Nigeria has been assured by his long and highly successful career as a public servant, administrator and chief custodian of the much celebrated culture and traditions of his people.
“The President prays that God Almighty will receive the late Oba’s soul and grant him peaceful repose.
“He also prays that God will grant Crown Prince Erediauwa the wisdom and courage he will require to build on the laudable legacies of Oba Erediauwa”
Also reacting, former President Goodluck Jonathan, described the late Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa as a bridge builder, who did his best to unite communities and political actors of differing views and tendencies.
In a statement through his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said: “I received, with profound grief, the news of the passage‎ to eternal glory of the Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin, after a glorious 36 years on the throne.
“The late Oba Erediauwa was an exemplary monarch who was highly revered and respected across the country because of his love for peace and knack for conflict resolution. He was indeed a peace-loving father figure, a stabilising force and courageous bridge builder who devoted so much energy to not only bringing communities closer, but also ensuring rancor-free politicking by uniting politicians of divergent principles and proclivities.
“He was in a class of his own as a cultural aficionado; a devotee of his people’s tradition, who gave so much of himself in serving as the custodian and spiritual guide of the iconic Benin culture and civilisation.
“He also acquitted himself as a highly principled public servant, an accomplished scholar and a nationalist who remained committed to the cause for Nigeria’s unity, growth and renaissance.
“I can recollect easily from my personal interactions with the late Oba Erediauwa that he was a modest, urbane, and rational monarch whose counsel carried faultless ring.
“He will indeed be missed by his family, the good people of the great Benin Kingdom, Edo State, and the entire nation.”
On his part, Edo State Governor, Oshiomhole, paid glowing tribute as well, saying: “Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo N’Oba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large.
“His carriage comes with an élan that was peculiar with the reverence of royalty. His uncommon courage was symbolic of the can-do spirit of the Edo mind. His unity of purpose was not in doubt even as he used his revered position to promote constructive engagement amongst all shades of opinion and culture in Edo state. As a thorough-bred bureaucrat, rising to the pinnacle of his career as a Federal Permanent Secretary, he understood the dynamics and intricacies of governance. He was the alternative voice to the many voiceless in our society, calling government attention to issues of development and transparent governance, without minding whose ox is gored. He was brave, fearless, punchy and instructive in his verbal and written messages.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement to mourn the passing of Erediauwa released by the Head of Media to Atiku, Mr Paul Ibe, in Abuja, noted that late Oba Erediauwa of Benin was a role model, exceptional leader and leading light in the comity of traditional rulers in the country.
It said Erediauwa radiated royalty, majesty, wisdom, intelligence and nationalism even as he spared no effort in protecting the traditions and values of his people, adding that the passing of the monarch came at a critical time when the country was facing numerous challenges of nation-building and would miss his wise counsel.
The statement called on “the proud people of Benin kingdom, the people and Government of Edo State and all Nigerians to take heart at the passing on of this illustrious royal personage.
“The remarkable life he lived, the place of the Oba in Benin and Nigeria history are assured.’’
The statement extended condolences to the Benin royal family and called on all its members to take heart and honour the memory of the late Oba by working for peace, which was a cardinal pursuit of the monarch during his lifetime.
Also, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State described late Erediauwa as committed nationalist and traditional ruler par excellence whose reign brought tremendous progress to Benin Kingdom in particular and Edo state in general.
This is contained in a condolence message issued in Sokoto on Friday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam.
In it, Tambuwal said the deceased monarch lived a life of service to his people and the nation at large.
“Oba Erediauwa has written his name in gold, through his invaluable contributions to the growth and development of the nation’s socio-economy, as well as his globally acknowledged views on governance, public policy, history and leadership.
“He was an accomplished Nigerian and a seasoned bureaucrat whose ideals will be cherished for a long time by succeeding generations of Nigerians.
“The governor extends the condolences of the people and government of Sokoto State to the royal family, the people and government of Edo over the loss.
The palace announced the passing away of Omo n’Oba n’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, in Benin on Friday.
In what raised suspicions about the monarch’s state of health, the Crown Prince of Benin, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa last October began rites to be crowned new Oba of Benin as he was formally installed as the Edaiken of Uselu after the successful completion of the mandatory traditional rites.
Erediauwa is expected to go through some traditional rites before he assumed the traditional stool of Edaiken of Uselu.
As the Edaiken of Uselu, the heir apparent to the Benin traditional stool is expected to be in Uselu, which will become his temporal place for 90 days.
The Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, HRH Prince Eheneden Erediauwa trekked from the Oba Palace to his Palace in Uselu as part of ceremonies to officially install him as Edaiken N’Uselu