The Great Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, has joined his ancestors.
He died at 93.
His death was announced few minutes ago by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe.
The late monarch has been battling an unknown illness since last year.
Erediauwa was the 38th Oba of Benin, traditional ruler of the Edo people in Benin City, Nigeria.
Before being crowned, he was known as Prince Solomon, Aiseokhuoba, Igbinoghodua Akenzua. He attended Edo College, Benin City, Government College, Ibadan then Yaba College, before going to King’s College, Cambridge to study Law and Administration. He joined the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service in 1957 as a District Officer, later moving to the Federal Civil Service where he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in 1973.
For a short period he was the regional representative of Gulf Oil. In 1975 he was appointed Commissioner for Finance in Bendel State during the Military Administration of Major-General George Agbazika Innih.
