Okiye Visits Family Of Late Esogban Of Benin
…describes Edebiri as an iroko tree in the forest
By Simeon OSAJIE
A former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and a frontline Edo 2024 gubernatorial aspirant, Rt. Hon. Francis Okiye has described the late Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri as an ikoro tree in the forest while others tap from.
Hon. Okiye made the assertion when he visited the family of the matriarch of Edebiri family, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom who recently joined his ancestors.
Okiye who was accompanied by Chief Julius Akhaboba, said he was at the residence of Chief Edebiri to sympathized with the family over the demised of the matriarch.
While delivery the message on behalf of Rt. Hon. Francis Abumere Okiye Campaign Organization, the former speaker said that in many fora, he have attempted to say several things about the great oracle of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri.
“As l have attempted to say in several fora, words are not enough, it differently will fail me in making attempt to express the man, Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom.
“In my tradition, an iroko tree is the stronger, the biggest, the most important venerable in the forest, and all the strength that is required is tapped from the iroko tree, every other power in the forest tap from the iroko tree. That is the only hyperbolical way l can attempt to describe the Esogban.
“He means so much to humanity, he is a man of great wisdom and he is a great stabilizer. His words stabilized politics, he stabilized the Kingdom as huge as that of the Benin, he stabilizing the entire state of Edo and the Midwest, but he is also a nationalist that stabilize national instabilities“, he said
Continued: “So, we have lost a great man at a very very wrong time. This is the time we needed him particularly what is happening in Edo State and the country today. But we have known right to question his departure. We believe God have the reason while He allowed his death to come this time. We believe this world is becoming too much of worldly and it has nothing spiritual, no celestial approach. So by that, l believe God is taking away the saint.
“That is a consolation, but it is a better way of describing the exit of such a man of Edo State. I will really miss Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of great Benin Kingdom.”
On his part, Chief Julius Akhaboba said Chief David Edebiri was a great man.
“He a great Chief of Benin Kingdom. He was a nationalist as a youth, he was a nationalist as a journalist, he was a nationalist as a politician, and now a foremost chief in the Benin Kingdom and he was still a nationalist.
“A very brave person. The nation will miss him. I am missing him already because was a very close friend of mine. I pray God will keep hi. In His bosom.”
In his response, Rev. Collins Edebiri, elder son of late Chief David Edebiri thanked Hon. Francis Okiye and Chief Julius Akhaboba for their visit and said he was touched with their words.
“There are certain traditions in Benin that sometimes are bigger than us. We on our own have not really got to town. It is very improper to say our father has passed on until we formally inform the palace. We are glad for the overwhelming support we have received from people like you.
“For us as children, we are satisfied that our father lived a good life and the evidence is very visible.
“It is only better when a man have lived well, you live in this kind of bliss of glory. When a man that created you needs you, no matter your efforts, you will surely go to creator.
“What is left for as children is to also live a life that people can emulate. I really appreciated for your visit,” he said.
