Southern Nigeria: The visit of the Oba of Benin to the Obong of Calabar: What it means for Southerners

Southern Nigeria: The visit of the Oba of Benin to the Obong of Calabar. What it means for Southerners.

By Oba Eriacy Confidence

The Oba of Benin, the Ooni of Ife, the Obong of Calabar, the Alafin of Oyo, the Obi of Onitsha and Igwe of Nri are unarguably some of Nigerian's most reverred and renowned kings. Apart from the fact that  these monarchs superintend over powerful and famous Kingdoms, they tend to represent the decisions of the spirit, both good and bad. And these spirits  imposed their will on their subjects through decrees and other ways alien to mortals yet beneficial to the initiates.

 I guess you can smartly connect this revelation with the peaceful shower that greeted the arrival of the Oba of Benin in Calabar, earlier this morning? I guess you can deduce the meaning of such a harmless rain?

The Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Eradiauwa, the 38th Oba of Benin and Natural Ruler of Edo is recently in the ancient city of Calabar on a thank you visit to the Obong of Calabar, another natural Ruler, treaty king and paramount ruler of the Efiks. You may ask, thank you visit? Yes. Why would Oba subject himself to such a rigor of traveling to Calabar when he can just call his Calabar counterpart on phone and deliver the same message with the same weight? Guess I am thinking in your direction?  His visit, though a physical one, symbolizes a spiritual ritual for the reinvention of the South, a turning point for the unity needed to usher in a meaningful development in the region.

The question is, why would Oba visit Obong now that the South is in dire need for unity to enable her regain her lost glory?

Benin has always been a melting point for the  unity of all the components comprising present day Southern Nigeria.
Apart from being one of the earliest kingdoms that experienced civilization and contact with the West, Benin has proudly hoisted the flag of  Southern at various points in history as playground for unity and other times as battle ground for identity of the various components.

The Benin, Ife, Oyo, Calabar, Nri, Aro tie has existed for some many hundreds years now. All  the tribes cohabited together somewhere around Ife and Benin and this makes Oba's visit even more eventful.

The continuous ties amongst the kings of the region symbolizes the spiritual connection for rediscovery and reconciliation of the sibblinghood that existed amongst the people of the region in the past.

A Yala adage says "Yeyi e' chra' inyisi" translated to mean "Blood flows through the vein". Oba's visit is homecoming and signifies a new dimension in the relationship between the different tribes and kingdoms.It is a royal call for unity amongst the various stakeholders of the South.

Now, if our royal fathers, as revered as they are, can make efforts to reconnect with their siblings across lines, why are our politicians, businessmen, gentlemen and ladies so bent on building their unity and relationships only within the walls of their linguistic and political construct called ethnicity and geo political zones?
Why do some southerners feel so uncomfortable whenever they find themselves in the midst of their brothers and sisters from the same region. Why is it so difficult for our brothers in the National Assembly, in the military, in business, Etc to come under one umbrella? When shall we have a formidable Southern Governors Forum, Southern Legislators Forum, Southern Military Forum, Southern Elders Forum, Southern Youths Forum, Southern Traditional Rulers Forum, Southern Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum Etc.  to protect the rights of our brothers and sisters in our respective professions? Instead, we look for avenues to point accusing fingers on others and hunt them down for the benefit of our oppressors.

Like I said in one of my articles titled 'The South and the Rest in Nigeria' there's a strong evidence of the same blood flowing through the veins of the people of the South. It goes beyond the event of the birth of the colony and protectorate of Southern Nigeria in 1906. It goes beyond sharing the same geographical, political and economic space and fate in the Nigerian State. It goes beyond the cultural affinity that we tend to portray. There's a pointer to our root, the path to our destiny. Beyond the many languages spoken, beyond the many religions practiced, beyond the many political parties and beliefs, beyond the geographical and economic expression, beyond the tribal tattoos and piercings, there lies the gateway to our truest identity and the path of destiny, the very evidence of strong blood relations, the bond of oneness, the chain of brotherhood and brotherliness. But, often times, this obvious truth of genetic connection  seems to be  suppressed or displaced for some selfish reasons. The truth is that we can divide ourselves into several tribal, political and religious parts and regard the other components as no longer part of us. But we can not divide the truth and the blood that flows through our veins.We are all related to all"

In conclusion, the visit of the Oba of Benin represents the endorsement of the spirit for a new southern Nigeria. The brief shower that greeted his arrival was a confirmation of the backing of the divine elements for Southern Nigeria to be reinvented. The new Southern Nigeria has been blessed and ordained to be and the spirit is using our monarchs to show us the way. And until we realize this deep spiritual truth, we will continue to make light moves to unite the Yoruba man with his Igbo and Niger Delta siblings.

Indeed"Yeyi e' chra' inyisi"
Oba has traced his bloodline to Akwa Akpa.
Your brother's home is yours
Welcome home Omo N'Oba