Esogban Of Benin Kingdom Is Dead

The Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, has died at a private hospital in Benin City, Edo State after a brief illness.

Naija News reports that the late chief would have been 94 on September 2, 2023.

Speaking to The PUNCH, a family source said that he died at 12:20 pm adding, “He has not been too strong and we took him to the hospital a few days ago and he died this (Thursday) afternoon. The family will follow the protocols for the formal announcement to be made.”

He said: “The Esogban who is next after the Iyase (Prime Minister) of Benin is often called the Odiownere of the Benin Kingdom.

“His last major outing which was widely reported in the media was his participation in the March 18th Governorship and State House of Assembly elections where he said the February 25th Presidential election was the best since he started voting in 1951.

“He said he had never missed any election since he cast his first vote in 1951 at 22 years. I thank God I am alive to vote in this election.

“I am here to vote as I did two weeks ago. It will interest you that I started voting at age 22 on December 1951 in the regional election to the House of Assembly elections in Ibadan. We were then part of the Western Region. Since then I have not failed to vote in any election, be it national or sub-national.”

Edebiri who was a journalist and a writer, unveiled two books in 2022, “Tripod of Life: Essence of Benin Tradition and Culture” and “The Life and Times of Iyase N’Ohenmwen” to mark his 93rd birthday where he said Nigeria derailed from the part of development when in 1979, the leaders adopted the American Presidential System of government which he said has not been practised as it should be.