…described him as an icon, legend, epitome
By Lucky Efese
BENIN CITY- The break down of news of the death of a prominent Benin palace Chief, Chief D.U. Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom and number Three in the palace hierarchy, on Thursday, has continued to generate different reactions by the Benin people, especially some traditional rulers as his intellectual dispositions in handling issues of traditional importance at the palace of the Oba of Benin, the state and beyond was unwavering.
HRH S.O Aghaghowen, the Enogie of Ogua and Chief Priest Osarumwense Amayo, the Ohen Iso of Ugbekun Quarters both in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state eulogised the Benin Chief cum astute politician for his steadfastness to promote development in the state and kingdom, saying his death has brought dark day and vacuum to the city which will be difficult to fill immediately.
The Odionwere Oghedoyia as he was conventionally called while alive, according to the traditional rulers, has been described as an icon, legend and epitome of modern administrative prowess, who has left an indellible foot print towards the realization and actualisation of accountable and transparent leadership to the people.
“Late Chief Edebiri was among the few living allies of the Awos and the only left ally of Awo in the state as his contemporaries like the sage, Chief Anthony Enahoro among others, have since left the sinful world to join their ancestors”
They said that the late Esogban of Benin, further hyped his status in 2012, when he publicly declared his support for the second term bid of the former governor of the state and now senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, to propel the already support from our ever living, foremost and revered Oba Erediauwa CFR, that the oracle had spoken and there was no rival for then Governor Oshiomhole to continue in office for second tenure, a development which ended the controversies surrounding the insinuations that the then PDP led federal government under the steering ship of His Excellency Dr Good luck Ebelle Jonathan, the President and Commander-in-chief was planning to scuttle the electoral processes to rig the election in favour of the PDP.
The traditional rulers added that the late Chief, who also a professional journalist in his working days, was a man with an impeccable character who harnessed his potentials to reform the kingdom and the state, while praying to God and the ancestors to comport him wherever he would be, just as they had prayed to God and the ancestors to comfort the children and the entire family to give them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss
