Edo State declares 5-Days public holiday to mourn Oba

By Solomon Okpere BENIN CITY- THE Edo state government has declared 5-day public holiday with effect from Tuesday May 3, 2016, as a mark of honour and respect for the Oba of Benin who recently transited to immortality. This will afford the people of the kingdom and the entire people of the state the opportunity to mourn the revered Royal Father. In a Government Special Announcement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, only those on essential services in hospitals, health centres, the Fire Service and others are exempted from observing the public holiday. The Nigerian National Flag is expected to be flown at half mast across the state during the 5-day mourning period while work is expected to resume on Monday, 9th May, 2016. All government offices, establishments and parastatals are expected to fully comply with the directive. Meanwhile the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), said the departed monarch will be remembered for promoting National peace which according to it is an essential ingredient needed for national development. In a condolence message issued by the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, it noted that Oba Erediauwa who juts joined his ancestors spent better part of his reign resolving different issues of conflicts in his palace. "Imagine the number of cases treated ona daily basis in his palace. So many including cases between Governors and their godfathers that were resolved in his palace. Oba Erediauwa was a man of peace and he was a general conflict resolution who never believed in violence and ANEEJ is a non violent organization. So to that extent Oba Erediauwa prevented so many disaster and blood letting from happening and he will be greatly missed" it stated.