…Felicitate with Oba of Benin on Igue Festival
Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, Wednesday in the company of the Ogieneni of Uzairue, His Royal Highness, Kadiri Imonikhe, Omogbai 1V visited the palace of the Benin Monarch on a thank you visit to His Royal Majesty over the recent commissioning of the Ogieneni Palace in Jattu-Uzairue.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu (l) and Oba Kadiri Omogbai, the Ogieneni of Uzairue at the Oba of Benin Palace
The visit also provided an opportunity for the Deputy Governor, the Ogieneni and Heads of the 22 communities that make up the Uzairue Kingdom to pay homage to Oba Ewuare 11, Oba of Benin, while felicitating with His Royal Majesty on the celebration of the annual Igue Festival in Benin Kingdom.
In his remarks, Shaibu extolled His Royal Majesty for his fatherly disposition. He expressed gratitude to the Omo N’Oba for his immense support and royal presence at the commissioning of the Ogieneni Palace in Jattu-Uzairue, describing the Oba gesture as ” a rare honour for me, our Ogieneni and the good people of Uzairue Kingdom, both at home and in the diaspora”.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, the deputy governor and other state officials paid homage to the revered Monarch of Benin kingdom.
“For us as a people, His Royal Majesty’s visit to his children in Uzairue is a source of pride and we see it as a rare gesture we will cherish eternally”.
The Deputy Governor, whose speech was laced with good wishes for the Oba, prayed for long life, peaceful reign and prosperity on the throne of his forebears.
Also speaking, the Ogieneni of Uzairue, HRH Kadiri Omogbai, thanked the Benin Monarch for his royal visit to Uzairue Kingdom to commission the Ogieneni Royal Palace in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
“Thank you for coming to commission my new palace on 26th, November and for the key roles you are playing in the country”.
“I also want to thank you for taking one of my subjects, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, as your son”.
Shaibu paid homage to some high chiefs at the Oba Palace
“I also want to use this visit to further cement the relationship between Uzairue and Benin Kingdom to become stronger than ever before because of our ancestral linkage”.
The Ogieneni requested His Royal Majesty to consider taking every son and daughter of the Uzairue Kingdom as the first son/daughter of the Benin Kingdom on account of Uzairue’s migration from the ancient city of Benin many centuries ago.
Responding, Oba Ewuare II, appreciated the courtesy visit of the Deputy Governor and The Ogieneni of Uzairue.
The Oba noted that the visit of the Ogieneni of Uzairue must have some special aura around it, as the visit brought together for the first time, the State Governor, his Deputy, SSG, Exco members and the three most senior palace chiefs same day.
According to the Oba, “this event alone is an indication that Uzairue can be said to be the first son of the Benin Kingdom”.
“We are overwhelmed by this visit and l welcome you all to your ancestors’ palace. Thank you for deeming it fit to come from Uzairue to say thank you for what we did for you the other day. It’s memorable for us to also be there. I didn’t think twice before I accepted the request to have the palace commissioned”.
The Oba presented a gift to the Ogieneni of Uzairue as a demonstration of His Royal Majesty’s fatherly appreciation for the thank-you visit.
The high point of the occasion was the cultural entertainment of Oba Ewuare 11 by various dance troupes from Uzairue Kingdom, in celebration of the annual Igue Festival at the palace grounds.