By John Mayaki
THE ancient kingdom of Benin and, indeed, the good people of Edo State are making history today, October 20. A new dawn beckons as the 39th Oba of Benin is being crowned. Twenty-one days from now, that is on November 12, a new governor, elected after the fierce gubernatorial election of September 28, will be inaugurated to steer the ship of the state for the next four years.
By all standards, the two events, with the promises of new beginnings, are historic as they are auspicious. While both Prince Ehenede Erediauwa and Godwin Obaseki come into office in an atmosphere of great expectations, the good news is that both, being young in age and at heart, possess not just vitality, but have come fully prepared for the burden of service to the good people of Edo State. It is truly a new dawn for the people of the state. Talk of answers to prayers, the emergence of Godwin Obaseki as governor-elect, could only have come as a testimony to the countless prayers offered by the new monarch to his ancestors –prayers for a peaceful poll and the emergence of a credible individual to pilot the affairs of the state in the next four years.
In the heat of the tension that enveloped the governorship election, one recalled the Oba saying: “We all went down on our knees…We prayed harder and honestly, our ancestors and God Almighty answered all we prayed for, that He should give us a peaceful election and a governor that will keep food on the table for our people and respect the traditional institution”.
Today, it is unlikely that anyone will still doubt that the prayer has been answered, hence the Oba is thankful to “God and our ancestors for hearing the fervent prayers we prayed before the election and for bringing out somebody that will uplift our people and respect the tradition”.
Never one to miss the import of the mandate and the burden it carries, the Oba would not fail to caution the governor-elect: “I will tell the governor-elect, keep to your promises, keep your words, put food on the table of our people, respect the traditional institution and ensure you build on what Oshiomhole has done”.In this regard, the Oba of Benin is not alone; it was the same refrain from other traditional rulers from Edo Central and Edo North who, aside offering their unanimous support for Godwin Obaseki, also expressed their willingness to partner with the government to safeguard investment that will improve the economic well-being of their subjects.
Not that Obaseki’s loyalty to the royal family and the Benin tradition was ever in doubt. For guidance and advice, Obaseki has stated that he will be counting on the Oba to succeed just as the governor-elect has spoken of his vision for Edo State where the famous cultures and traditions will be reinvigorated as part of an economic growth strategy and harnessed for the greater benefit of the people.Said Obaseki: “I see an Edo state where our people will live in peace, and where social justice, equity and fairness shall prevail at all times”. On a day like this, the two great men not only have reasons to celebrate one another.
Together, with the entire people of Edo State, they have enough reasons to be proud of the new dawn.
For Obaseki in particular, it must come as something of pride not only to witness the milestone in the Great Benin Kingdom, but as a major participant. Moreover, the import of the partnership between the palace and the in-coming government can only be a signal to greater strides in a state that is ordinarily hungry for development. For the good people of Edo State, it is time to tap into Obaseki’s personal and leadership skills garnered in the course of a sterling career in private and public life – a factor which has now propelled him to become the first banker to be elected governor in the state. Surely, the people cannot wait to see him deploy these managerial skills to tackle the socio-economic gridlock that the last administration plunged the country into, to build a better, prosperous and economically sustainable Edo State based on cultural cohesion and ethical values.
Little wonder, the mood across the state today is one of great excitement. The city centre and its environs are wearing a new look while all traders and drivers carrying out commercial activities around the Urhokpota Hall have been found a new arena for their business as they welcome their new monarch. Visible on the horizon is the huge tent – the temporary abode for the Crown Prince erected at the Urhokpota Hall premises – the place called Eko-Ohae (bachelors’ camp) where Prince Erediauwa is expected to stay for three days immediately he leaves his Palace at Uselu.
Edo people have shown that we can never be more hopeful about our future. Indeed, we’ve never been more hopeful about Edo State and the progressive government and virile traditional institution that we are about to experience. This hope, Edo people will sustain under our new Oba and our new governor.
Mayaki writes from Benin City.