Benin residents queued on Sunday to see the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, during his New Year’s Day solidarity walk in Benin City, Edo state.
The walk to the palace began after a thanksgiving service at the Saint Aruosa Cathedral (Edo National Church of God) on Akpakpava street to cap off the annual ‘Igue festival’.
The monarch was accompanied by members of the Benin royal family, chiefs, dukes (Enigie), Benin residents, church worshipers and palace officials during the procession through Oba Ovonramwen Square where fun seekers at the Museum Nacional and local merchants paraded. go out to pay homage.
The adjacent streets, which link the Plaza del Rey, were temporarily closed during the procession of the Oba, who is the spiritual leader of the church, amid cultural dances, cheers and prayer songs praising the monarch.
During the church service, Oba Ewuare II, with members of the royal family and Oloi (queens) gave thanks to God and the ancestors.
In a sermon titled ‘Iwero’ (Greedy People), Holy Aruosa Cathedral’s presiding priest, Ohen-Osa Igbinoghodua, warned secessionist agitators, including some dukes (Enigie) involved in scandalous activities in the Kingdom of Benin, to retrace your steps so as not to incur the wrath of God and the ancestors.
Igbinoghodua also advised groups conspiring with the dukes in the Kingdom of Benin to administer certain areas of the kingdom in the Oba’s name, not to divide the Kingdom of Benin.
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