The Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, is the second-in-command in the hierarchy of chiefs in the palace of the Oba of Benin. In a recent interview with VANGUARD, speaking on the emergence of Oba Ewuare II as the Oba of Benin kingdom, High Edebiri said,” In Benin, we have a saying that Oba is not made, he is born. The very day he is born as the senior son of a reigning Oba, if it was possible for him to talk, he will talk more maturely than his mates, he is from heaven. He has been endowed with all the things that make a king. Even at school, those who schooled with him will tell you that he exuded such leadership qualities that clearly distinguish him from others.
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“We were not afraid at all; first, he was not going to be the first Oba of Benin to go to the white man’s land to acquire education, his father went and, when he came back, he used the education he got from abroad to advance our cultural heritage. We also expect that his son will do the same. We expected him to do all he has done, but I must tell you that some of us were a bit surprised at the dexterity with which he carried out the rates. Especially trekking at his age. His father came to the thrown younger than him, but the way he took the whole matter, trekking several kilometres, satisfying all the traditions necessary for becoming the Oba of Benin, we congratulate him, we admire him. That is a pointer that he will do well.”
When the Chief Priest was asked about stories that human beings are used for sacrifice during coronations, he said, “If it happened, I was not born then. I cannot tell you whether it happened or not. I was born when the white man had come. And once the white man came, there was no more human sacrifice. It is possible it happened those days, I don’t know but in this modern time, animals are used for sacrifice and not human beings. If they do it in some parts of the country, definitely not in Edo. I am the Odionwere of the kingdom. I can speak for the people, we don’t use humans for sacrifice.”
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