Erediauwa become the 39th Oba of Benin, traditional ruler of the Edo people in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.Formerly known as Prince Solomon Akenzua,Oba Erediauwa’s complete name turned into His Royal Majesty Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I. He was succeeded by Ewuare II.

Erediauwa was born on 22 June 1923, son of Oba Akenzua II. Before being crowned he became known as Prince Solomon Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua. 

Then called Prince Solomon Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua, the Eredi­auwa attended the distinguished Government College, Ibadan (GCI) between 1939 and 1945. His great humility at that early age, and at that period of Nigeria’s his­tory while royal personages have been held in splendid awe, is nicely documented.

After finishing from Government College, Ibadan, he furthered his schooling at Yaba College, Lagos and Kings College, Cambridge, inside the United Kingdom, where he studied Law and Administration. He returned to the USA . On comple­tion of his studies and distinctly joined the then Eastern Nigeria Civil Service in 1957, as opposed to the Western Nigeria equal in which he will be anticipated to get a privileged status. That likely signaled the choice of the future Oba of Benin to have firsthand know-how of his country beyond the comfort area of his immedi­ate state.

It was, possibly, a number of these deliberate choices that enriched his stellar career within the Federal Civil Service wherein he served and retired with distinction as a Per­manent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health in 1973. One spotlight of his provider at the federal stage became his role in what has become called the “Aburi Accord” within the warmth of the disaster that subsequently caused the unlucky Civil War of 1967 to 1970. He changed into deeply committed to Nigeria’s harmony and creditably played the function of an astute and patriotic civil servant.

In Benin, the Oba is taken into consideration to be the simplest representative of the preferred deity and is considered a god in his very own proper. He is believed to be ordained through cosmic consent. This way the humans considered him to have the ability to both venerate or curse a community, so even though he ruled with admiration and kindness for his people, they also feared him.

Erediauwa’s media-friendly photograph multiplied the royal family’s engagement with the Benin Kingdom and Nigeria in wellknown. Previously approached with apprehension via the public and media practitioners, the gates of the palace were opened, which normalized conversation with the Oba’s subjects via a quarterly press conference.

The fairly revered Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa, died on April 29 at the age of 93. The Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, broke the sad information to the na­tion according to Benin tradi­tion. The formal announcement of the passage of this first rate king has thrown his humans into mourning and the Edo State Government has granted 5 days of mourning, in his honour.

The passage of Oba of Benin has been attracting tributes from all over the world and all strata of society since it became public. The past due king turned into, certainly, a brilliant ruler and a completely committed addition to the humble servant of his people. He turned into a man of sizable information and unimpeachable integrity; and particularly, a man of peace. The Benin Kingdom, at some point of his 37-year reign, witnessed extraordinary peace and rapid improvement. He became a very good father to all of his youngsters, topics, and fellow traditional rulers.

Erediauwa was reputed for constructing formidable bridges of know-how throughout the historic Benin Empire and past. He was always available to everyone who in one way or the other needed his help. He connected very well with everyone, even with those outside the corridors of his influence. He changed into a veritable pillar of assistance to successive governments in Edo State and the kingdom. In all of his dealings, he constantly spoke truth to power.

This latter factor is one of his most wonderful legacies. Nigerians who had been traumatized within the aftermath of the June 12, 1993 election annulment and the subsequent impolite intrusion of the military in governance had the Oba of Benin and the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as the two towers of strength left to speak reality to power and give hope of a better future to the humans.

These extraordinary attributes of the past due king did not surprise people who had the privi­lege of following his adolescence and career till he ascended the throne of his forefa­thers as the thirty eighth Oba of Benin on March 23, 1979.

The curtain has fallen on Oba Erediauwa’s superb reign and the mourning of his transition is in full swing in Benin Kingdom and everywhere in the world. Governor Adams Oshiomhole aptly captured the essence of the exquisite existence of the de­parted ruler in his condolence message. He defined him as “a outstanding Edo king, a seasoned bureaucrat, necessary uni­fier, precise personage and exemplary Omo N’Oba whose reign introduced distinc­tion, colossal elegance, finesse and integrity to the traditional group in Edo State and the United States at large.” We can’t agree more with this summation.