The great oba of Benin kingdom

HISTORY : OBA AKENZUA II (1933-1978)

"THE SCHOLAR/BUILDER KING OF THE GREAT BENIN KINGDOM"

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Sovereign Godfrey Edokpa-Orhogbuyunmwun Aiguobasinmwin Eweka was conceived in 1899 at Irhirhi town in late Orhumwense's home.

Ruler Godfrey was beneficiary hypothetical to the crown sovereign (beneficiary Apparent) to the position of royalty of Benin, when the spirit of the Edos was spooky. That was the very period their King, his granddad, Ovonramwen had just been dismissed and expelled to Calabar on thirteenth September 1897 after the Benin Massacre and Benin Invasion.

He was the single offspring of his mom, Queen Ariowa. At that point, the Benin exceptionally didn't allow a second birth by the mother of a future King subsequently the aphorism "Omo Kpa r' Ekpen bie".

His mom hailed from Evbodobian town in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. Tragically, she didn't live to see her child enthroned in 1933, as she passed away in 1926, however her body was treated at Evborubu town, as per custom. She was formally covered after the crowning ritual of her child as Oba of Benin in on the fifth of April 1933.

Ruler Ariowa was from that point declared "IYOBA" (Oba's Mother). Her child, the ruler, fabricated a house and brought a landmark up in her memory at the passageway to Eguae-Iyoba. He likewise manufactured a house in her town to deify her name.

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Foundation…

Oba Akenzua's dad, AIguobasinmwin Ovonrawen (Eweka II) was conceived by Queen Eghaghe who hailed from Uvbe town in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo state. She was of Egbede family. Her mom was the little girl of Chief Evbuomwan, the Enogie of Abavo. Her dad was Osenugbe of Isi. She passed away calmly on eighteenth February, 1933. She kicked the bucket after the end of her child, Oba Eweka II. She was covered by her terrific child, Oba Akenzua II.

Oba Akenzua's, father, Oba Eweka II was a strong and gallant man and this earned him the handle of Ovbiudu. He remade the present castle after the vestiges of the old royal residence following the Benin Expedition war of 1897, henceforth the epithet of " Eweka N' Ologbe".

The term was suitable in light of the fact that it was Oba Eweka I who begun the second tradition after the statement of the last Ogiso and the development of Oronmiyan, an excellent child of Ogiso Owodo from Ife, where his dad lived while on outcast after he got removed from Benin through the shrewd ruses of Esagho, the spouse of Ogiso Owodo. It was Oba Eweka I who manufactured the principal castle.

After the expelling of Oba Ovonramwen, his child, Eweka II, resigned to his mom's sister, Ediagbonya's home in Ekhor. While there, he took to cultivating until he was gotten back to Benin by the British diplomat and named District Head. He took up habitation at his grandma's home in Ogbe quarters.

On the death of his dad in a state of banishment in 1914, Eweka II's rising was tested and turned into a matter of discussion. Be that as it may, for the shrewd judgment of the British Officials, in view of strong proof given by some Benin Chiefs, the tables would have turned for Chief Agho Ogbedeoyo, the Obaseki of Benin, who had represented the Oba during the Interregnum of 1897-1914. In the event that this was not the situation, Oba Eweka II and his first child, Oba Akenzua II, would have missed the crown.

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EARLY YEARS/ACADEMIC PURSUITS…

In his young days, Oba Akenzua II was put under the tutelage of his dad's nearby partner, Chief Ajayi, the Ovienrioba of Benin. He was prepared in the affidavit and comportment expected of an Oba.

In 1907 while living with Chief Ajayi, Akenzua was sent to the Benin Government School. His superintendent was Mr. Okai, a Ghanaian. He passed the then Standard Six out of 1915.

In 1918 he continued to lord's College, Lagos, where he contemplated and passed the then Junior Cambridge assessment in 1921. That was the most noteworthy class feasible then at the school.

Among his schoolmates at lord's College, were the late Bishop A.W. Howells, Justice R. Ade Doherty and Dr. Samuel Manuwa.

His mentors included Mr. Sincere Ikoli and Mr. Charles James Smart, who turned into a well known letter-essayist in Benin City before his passing in 1966.

Oba Akenzua II separated himself as a splendid researcher. He was an extremely sharp sportsman; he was excellent at cricket and football.

Aside from Western Education, Oba Akenzua was extremely tremendous in the information of Benin convention, traditions and culture.

On his arrival from the school, he was delegated a vehicle assistant in the Benin Native Administration. He was later moved to his dad's castle as the Oba's classified secretary. In the different positions held, he picked up initiative information.

In 1925, he was sent to Abeokuta to ponder Native Administration framework under Sir Ademola II, the late Alake of Abeokuta.

When he came back to Benin, he was selected the District Head of Eguaedaiken, in spite of the fact that he had not been started into the Palace Society or introduced the Ediaken. He was for all intents and purposes in change of the territory of Iyeke-Uselu, concealing Uselu to the Benin divisional limit with Ondo State.

Oba Akenzua II played out his obligations respectably and reasonably without flaw. He earned the regard of the Colonial Administrative Officers. He portrayed every one of the characteristics of a conceived ruler. He was, truth be told, decidedly ready to accept the position of authority of his dads at the time he was called upon to put on the mantle of his progenitors.

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Rising TO THE THRONE

Upon the downfall of his dad Oba Eweka II, after a short ailment, Akenzua was started into the Iwebo castle Society.

As indicated by custom, he needed to play out the privilege of Odafen-Vbonoreguae, the Ukonniwebo, Edaiken and Iyanehien separately before he was authoritatively educated regarding the passing endlessly of his dad. After the declaration, he played out the rituals of the internment functions for fourteen days.

Prior to his establishment, he confronted a sensational test. His didn't originate from the boss or his siblings, as on account of his dad and granddad, however his senior stepsister, princess Ighiwiyisi!

Her explanation was in light of the fact that she was the main conceived of their dad and along these lines rotated to succeed their dad as the Oba of Benin.

After an extended discussion, the Colonial Officers and Benin Chiefs, intensely challenged her case that there was no priority of a lady turning into the ruler of Benin.

Regardless of that, she contended that if not allowed to rule as Oba, she ought to be conceded the privilege to name a substitute among her siblings.

Her new strategy was similarly rebuked in light of the fact that there was no priority in the archives of Benin history to help her mission, in spite of the fact that she refered to a few models, for example, that of princess Ayubini, the oldest little girl of Oba Osemwende and senior sister to Oba Adolo.

At long last, The Government maintained the focuses raised by the Edaiken, Prince Godfrey Edokparhogbuyunmwun Eweka to succeed his dad as the Oba of Benin.

Subsequent to experiencing the different phases of the establishment, he was delegated Oba Akenzua II, Oba of Benin on the fifth April, 1933, in the midst of phenomenal celebration. He was introduced the staff of office by His Honor Lt. Representative Buchanam Smith.

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OBA AKENZUA II's REIGN

During his first year as ruler, Oba Akenzua focused on familiarizing himself with the pragmatic job of an Oba and the complexities of Benin customary law and traditions.

He restored the royal residence to meet present day patterns. This was viewed as courageous of the ruler as the royal residence ingrained amazement and dread in the psyches of individuals. He additionally made a unique banquet hall for August guests.

The dividers proliferating the enormous encased courts offered route to a huge spread of an open yard. The lord additionally raised a fence so as to stamp the degree of the Palace.

The lord took extraordinary savor the experience of playing billiard. He had a billiard table in his castle which he played most nights with certain Chiefs.

Two years after he moved toward becoming Oba, he introduced three of his quick more youthful siblings as Enogie; Uwaifiokun Eweka turned into the Enogie of Obagie. Ogiesoba Eweka, Enogie of Aideyannoba. Iyi Eweka turned into the Enogie of Oghada.

A couple of years after the fact, he made other innate titles, similar to that of Obarayi-Edo on Chief Ogiemudia Obaseki. Boss Johnson Francis .O. Akpata, the Aihie-Oba of Benin. Arala of Benin on Chief Sunmola Omo Lawal Osula. He likewise made the Osula of Benin and Obaseki Titles innate.

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OBA AKENZUA'S HISTORIC TRIP TO ENGLAND IN 1950

On the greeting of Queen Elizabeth II, Oba Akenzua II, visited England with his significant other, Queen Idada, the Ohan of the collection of mistresses on October 5, 1950. The imperial couple was joined by their little girl.

During that visit, his first child, Late Oba Erediauwa, who was in England at the time, visited the nation with his dad.

On the fifth of February, 1956, Queen Elizabeth II of England visited Nigeria and made a stopover at the Benin Airport where she was gotten by Oba Akenzua II, the occupants and different dignitaries from the whole kingdom.

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MORE LEGECIES…

- In Oba Akenzua's tireless exertion to recover the lost brilliance of the extraordinary kingdom, a portion of his late granddad, Oba Ovonramwen's coral formal attire were returned by the British Museum.

He had the boldness, capacity and persistence to surmount all preliminaries and interests of his rule.

He worked indefatigably to discover arrangements between the British principle and culture of his kin. He was likewise intense and dynamic in the headway of Nigeria.

For his numerous triumphs, he was granted Companion of the request for Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G) by the British Queen.

The Oba deliberated with the Doctorate Degree LL.D (Causa) on the nineteenth May 1966 by Ahmadu Bello Zaria.

For his job in Nigeria's freedom, Oba Akenzua was granted the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (C.F.R.N).

Oba Akenzua II was likewise a Minister of State in the then Western House in 1955 and an individual from the Western House of Chiefs from 1959 to 1963.the great legacies continues..