Oba Ewuare II, A Divine Unifier, Harbinger Of Peace, Development In Benin Kingdom – Pa Edokpayi
By Our REPORTER
The Odionwere of Ekhoenuwaya in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, Pa Anthony Irogbetin Edokpayi has commended His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom for his exploits on the throne of his forebears describing him as a unifier sent by God at this time to unite the people and bring peace and development to the great Benin Kingdom.
The Odionwere also appreciated Oba Ewuare II for being at the forefront of the resuscitation, promotion and the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the people of Edo State.
Pa Edokpayi gave the commendation while speaking to Journalists on the recent celebration of the Emorho feast which took place at the Palace of the Oba of Benin.
He urged the people to disregard the insinuations in some quarters that “the celebration of our traditions especially the feast of Emorho is fetish”, maintaining that it is not.
The Odionwere clarified that the feast is celebrated to thank God and the ancestors for guidance and protection during the current farming season and to pray for a bountiful harvest as well for the coming planting season.
Pa Edokpayi emphasized the need for the people of Edo State to complement the Oba’s efforts by taking the message to their various homes to continuously teach their children and wards the traditions of the land and pay less attention to western cultures that have eaten so deep into our culture and making it look as if it is now our own culture
He used the occasion to congratulate Oba Ewuare II, CFR for the successful celebration of the Emorho feast and his 8th anniversary on the throne of his forebears and prayed God Almighty and the ancestors to continue to protect him and his household, grant him the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the kingdom to greater heights
In their separate remarks, the Secretary of the Community, Comrade Ojo Obazee and Okaighele, Eghe Osifor thanked the Oba for the prevailing peace in the kingdom.
They eulogised the Oba for the timeous resuscitation, preservation/protection and promotion of the rich cultural heritage for which Benin kingdom is known all over world.
They noted: “Our culture and tradition is our pride and we should guard and protect it jealously for the upcoming and generations yet unborn.”
They however used the occasion to appeal to the State Government and Oba Ewuare II, to come to their aid as a community, as there were no visible government presence in the community in terms of infrastructural developments such as health centers, functional schools for the children, pipe-borne water, etc., pointing out that the little they have done was through self-help.