OBA OF BENIN OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP TO MASTER EFOSA DIVINE OMORUYI

By: Desmond Agbama, Chief Press Secretary to Oba of Benin

It was emotion laden section on Thursday during the weekly open mediation held at Ugha-Ozolua in the Oba Palace Benin City as the Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba Of Benin offered scholarship to Master Efosa Divine Omoruyi, whose mother and siblings were being oppressed by their family members after the death of their father, Mr. Omoruyi Okunmafiyi.

 

Engineer Okunmafiyi an uncle to Master Efosa Divine Omoruyi had led other members of their family to accuse Mrs Angela Omoruyi, wife of Omoruyi Okunmafiyi, now deceased, of single handedly burying their late brother without the consent of family members, denying ever knowing the woman as their brother’s wife or the children.

 

Narrating her side of the matter, Mrs Angela Omoruyi said her husband has been having a rift with his siblings, and as a result he was abandoned and neglected for the past twenty years.
 

Mrs Omoruyi explained that when her husband eventually died, she informed the family members, who instead of arranging a befitting burial for her husband began to demand for the children’s birth certificate and document of her husband’s house.
 

Having listened carefully to the two parties, the Oba of Benin condemned in strong terms the wicked and inhuman treatment meted on the woman and her children by members of Okunmafiyi family.
 

The Benin Monarch chided them for not given their brother a befitting burial or take care of the children left behind, instead were afterthe deceased property.
 

Oba Ewuare II said the Palace would continue to give hope to the hopeless as no one will be discriminated against on the basis of tribe, race, religion or status in the society.
 

Obviously happy with the judgment, everyone present, including array of Palace Chiefs joined Mrs Angela Omoruyi and her children to thank the Oba of Benin for the kind gesture.
 

The joy and happiness of Mrs Angela Omoruyi, her children as well as their uncle Mr. Michael Aigheyisi knew no bound as they described the judgment as that of King Solomon in the bible. They expressed gratitude to the Oba of Benin for the judgment and thanked him for the scholarship, adding that the Oba has removed shame from them and wipe away their tears and sorrow.
 

Ruling on another matter between Osaretin Ugbogbo and the Odionwere of Obagie N’Okakporo village Pa Moses Omoregie Okhiaro with one Friday Amalawa, the Oba of Benin warned the Odionwere and other members of the Community not to trespass or encroach on the land belonging to Mr. Ugbogbo, pointing out that it is a taboo to destroy someone’s house in Benin Kingdom.

Oba Ewuare II said Mr. Friday Amalawa would be handed over to the appropriate authority for violating the law banning the activities of community development association in Edo State.
 

The Enogie of Uteh-Ekoko HRH Ogieayevbona Ogieriakhi who was earlier confirmed by the Oba of Benin as the Enogie and traditional head of the Village was in the Palace with members of his community to pay homage and re-affirm their loyalty to the Benin Monarch.