THE ARENA: Benin Traditional Council announced October 20

BENIN—THE Benin Traditional Council, yesterday, announced October 20, as the new date for the coronation of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Ehenede Erediauwa, Edaiken N’Uselu, as the new Oba of Benin. According to the Chairman of the Coronation Planning Committee, HRH, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, who addressed journalists at the palace ground, Benin City, the earlier date for the coronation, September 26, was changed due to the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that the date for the governorship election in Edo State, originally scheduled for September 10, had been moved to September 28, 2016. Akenzua said: “The Edaiken N’Uselu will now depart finally from Uselu to Eko-Ohae on October 8, 2016. His Royal Highness will normally perform some important ceremonies connected with the coronation everyday for seven to 10 days prior to the day of his final departure from Uselu. “We like to inform the general public that from the day the Edaiken N’Uselu leaves Uselu for Eko-Ohae, the use of coral beads by those who are normally entitled, will be restored and the current use of “Omo N’Orhue” (white beads) will be discontinued. Furthermore, burial ceremonies are prohibited throughout the period of the coronation process,” he said.

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Chief Charles Uwensuyi Edosomwan (SAN), lead counsel to Edo State government in the suit against one Rich Arisco Osemwingie and two others, who ascribe to Osemwingie the position of Ogiamen of Utantan nation, has described as misleading a report which claimed that Appeal Court has suspended the coronation of the Edaiken N’Uselu as Oba of Benin until the determination of the case between the Crown Prince and the Ogiamiens in High Court. A statement by Edosamwan and two other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Omoruyi Omonuwa and Augustine Alegeh, said they decided to correct the report with a view to setting the records straight. “Everything about the case has been stated by them except the actual happenings in court. When the appeal came up on the 20th of September, 2016, due to a Supreme Court engagement, a National Judicial Council engagement for another senior counsel and the unavailability of the third senior counsel for the Attorney General of Edo State, available counsel Osahon Aimiuwu Esq, on instruction from his seniors, asked for an adjournment to enable senior counsel appear”, the statement said. “Upon the case being called, appearances by counsel were announced for all the parties and, without more, same was adjourned to the 6th of October, 2016 for the hearing of the appeal. No other order was made by the Court of Appeal regarding the case. No mention was made to the case in the lower court and no order was made against the coronation of the Edaiken N’Uselu. “Regarding the ruckus that purportedly took place at the court premises on the said 20th of September, it is mystifying how the disturbances that the purported `Ogiamien’ supporters caused could be ascribed to the Ediaken N’Uselu who all through this time has not uttered a word, maintaining calm in the dignity of silence as Crown Prince. “It is general knowledge that all court sittings so far have always been packed by all sorts of colourful and loud supporters of the purported Ogiamien. The statement on the Ediaken N’Uselu was made, we believe, at the instigation of one Monday Wehere who claims an Ogiamien maternal connection all in a bid to continue the so far unreplied assault on the Edaiken N’Uselu and the royal family of Benin not minding the disaffection it may cause in peaceful Benin”.