The Benin Traditional Council yesterday announced a new date for the coronation of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince (Amb.) Eheneden Erediauwa, the Edaiken N’Uselu, as the new Oba of Benin kingdom in Edo state.
Chairman of the coronation Planning Committee, HRH (Prof) Gregory Akenzua at a press conference in Benin the state capital disclosed that the coronation ceremony earlier fixed for Monday, 26th September, 2016, has been scheduled for next month October 20th, this year.
Prof. Akenzua who was flanked by members of the planning committee including top palace chiefs of the kingdom, stated that the change in the date for the epoch making coronation ceremony was as a result of the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the shift of the governorship election which was originally slated for Saturday 10 September but rescheduled for next week Wednesday, September 28.
He explained that “as a result of this change, His Royal Highness, the Edaiken N’Uselu will now depart finally from Uselu palace for Eko-Ohea on the 8th of October and is expected to perform some important ceremonies connected with the coronation everyday for seven to ten days prior to his final departure from Uselu.”
According to the chairman of the committee, “Consequently, the coronation which was previously scheduled to take place on 26thSeptember, 2016 has now been shifted to 20th October, 2016.
The committee further reminded members of the public that “from the day the Edaiken N’Uselu leaves Uselu palace for Eko-Ohea, 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.”
Members of the coronation planning committee further warned that “burial ceremonies are prohibited throughout the period of the coronation process.”
On the mode of accreditation for the coronation ceremony, Prof. Akenzua said, “as a standard practice, we expect official letters to come from the management of media houses based in Nigeria, and the country representative offices of foreign media outfits, to the coronation planning committee, requesting for accreditation for their staff, if they wish to cover the event.”
In addition, “the name, position and address of such nominated staff must be clearly stated,” adding that, “we expect that nominated officials should be line editors or higher in rank in their organizations.”
The committee pointed out that “all such nominated media men for coverage of the coronation ceremony shall undergo clearance by security sub-committee, after which they will present themselves at the coronation planning committee secretariat at the Oba palace for data capture and biometrics”.
