Nigeria: Benin palace says Oba Erediauwa is alive

The Benin palace has dispelled a rumour that the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, has passed on.

 

Reports suggesting that the monarch had joined his ancestors were rife on the social media on Friday. Such talks were further accentuated by the refusal of the monarch to receive the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and President Goodluck Jonathan when they visited his palace on January 29 and February 4 respectively.

The Benin Traditional Council, however, on Friday, described the reports as untrue and a mere speculation that had been on for more than six months.

Secretary to the council, Mr. Frank Irabor, stated that it was the responsibility of the council to issue a formal statement when there is such development.

“If there is anything like that, there is usually a statement from the palace or from the Benin Traditional Council,” Irabor said on phone.

Irabor, who did not comment further on the health status of the foremost raditional ruler, added that the inability of President Jonathan to see the monarch when he visited the palace did not necessarily support the rumoured claims on the Oba’s health.

...NigerianTribune