Oba coronation-: uzama's palace gets facelift

The Uzama Palace, where the coronation rituals and ceremony of the new Oba of Benin, Edo State, will take place, has been given a facelift.

The coronation formalities entered the third day yesterday.

Also, the ancient path, Odeoba (Oba's road), through which the Crown Prince must walk to the palace, was also getting repairs.

The Uzama Palace is the first site of the Oba's palace before it was moved to its present location in the 13th century by Oba Ewedo.

Prince Oromiyan built and lived at Uzama because of resistance from Ogiamen, who prevented him from entering the city.

Seven prominent chiefs, called the Uzama N'Ihinron of Edion, headed by Chief Oliha, are expected to perform the coronation rituals at the Uzama.

The Uzama N'Ihinron chiefs are: Oliha, Edohen, Ezomo, Ero, Eholo N'Ire, Oloton and Edaiken.

Oliha, who pronounces the Edaiken as Oba, is also the chief priest of the kingdom's collective ancestors of the Uzama.

A visit to the Uzama showed that a makeshift building has been erected at the site but maintenance work was still going on.

Workers were seen maintaining the road leading to the Uzama Palace.

Obstacles on the road the Edaiken will walk through were removed even as some residents lamented destruction of septic tank pipes built across the road.

It was observed that pillars were erected on the Odeoba to prevent landlords from erecting buildings on it.

Motorists and pedestrians were prevented from passing through Ebo Street; it was sealed off with a red cloth.

Some chiefs in red attire were on the road to stop people from walking on it.

Some residents blamed the landlords for erecting structures on the path, although they were aware that the road belongs to the Oba.

A resident, Efosa Egonmwan, noted that the sealed road prevented him from developing his father's house.

He said it was a path and not a road but pleaded for the septic tank pipes not to be destroyed.

The Edaiken will walk from Iguisi to Eko-Ohae (bachelors' camp) where he will stay for three days. From there, he will move to Uzama, venue of the coronation rites.

It was gathered that because of the road maintenance, the Edaiken's movement to Uzama was shifted to today.

At the Oba Market Road, where the Eko-Ohae is located, men of the Edo State Waste Management Board were removing heaps of refuse yesterday.

Posted via Festechvibes panels.