If the #Museum of West African Arts (#MOWAA) had experienced what befell those Base Transceiver Stations (#BTS) during the reign of Oba Erediauwa, the intended purpose of those communication infrastructures would have been hindered and rendered ineffective.
Several years ago, a telecommunications company aimed to construct a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) behind the palace of the Oba of Benin. The location was identified on Alaka Street, directly at the rear of the palace. Civil engineering works commenced and were completed without any issues. The subsequent phase involved the assembly of the components for the 75-meter mast. As the riggers proceeded, the structure began to take form within a matter of hours. However, as the tower ascended and surpassed the height of any nearby building, complications arose.
A contingent of chiefs from the Benin Palace arrived and issued an immediate 'stop work' order. The riggers descended, and the management of the company intervened. In explaining the directive, the chiefs articulated that the height of the tower would allow individuals atop it to view the inner sanctums of the palace, particularly the area where the Oba's harem resides! They emphasized that such a situation would contravene Benin customs and traditions. They pointed out that within the expansive grounds of the palace, no structure is permitted to exceed the height of the palace itself. This development led to a deadlock.
The reigning Oba at that time, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, was approached. The company earnestly requested his intervention. A skilled diplomat, Oba Erediauwa attentively listened to all parties involved. He concurred with the arguments presented by his palace chiefs from the Ewebo and Ibiwe factions. Furthermore, he took into account the economic, social, and developmental implications of the telecommunications towers on the people of Benin, his subjects, and other residents.
Oba Erediauwa concluded that since the mast would provide significant benefits to the populace and given the substantial financial investment made by the company in this project, it would be unjust to demand that the company dismantle the structure. More critically, Oba Erediauwa reasoned, the community would suffer a loss. should the construction of the mast be disallowed. He then found a middle way for the problem to be resolved.
Oba Erediauwa ordered that whenever the company's engineers and riggers intended to climb the tower, they should first notify the palace. By doing so, the monarch said that he would have sufficient time to inform his wives and instruct them to stay indoors for the duration of the work. Everyone present at the meeting chorused Oba gha to kpere (Long live the Oba). Till date, that mast is still standing, and fully operational, contributing to the economic and social development of Benin City.
Yet another encounter with Oba Erediauwa. A few years after the Alaka Street mast erection, the company needed to optimise its network around Ring Road. The problem was that from the Sapele and #Sokponba Roads ends of the Ring Road, there used to be a blind spot that cut off communication as one drove to negotiate either Forestry, Mission or Oba Market Roads. The technical unit of the company suggested a booster BTS around the Ring Road. The coordinate fell on the Benin Museum ground and the Roll Out managers negotiated with the museum and got a spot for the mast.
As the excavation work for the civil engineering structure began, a new set of Benin Palace Chiefs appeared. They contended that the entire Benin Museum ground was the bedroom of Omo N’Oba #Ovonramwen Nogbaisi of the 1897 Benin Massacre episode. The chiefs added that any excavation beyond two metres would not be allowed as some traditional items were buried in that vicinity. The company needed at lease a 20-metre excavation for its pilling for the four legs of the tower.
The chiefs agreed that such a length of excavation would only be allowed after certain rituals were performed. They fixed the ritual items at N2 million. When the negotiation to beat down the cost failed, an ex-member of staff of the museum, whose mother was a Benin princess, intervened and approached the Oba.
Again, Oba Erediauwa agreed with his chiefs that the museum ground is sacred and any digging beyond two metres would require certain rituals to be performed. Then, having listened to the reasons why a new mast was needed and confirmed that he had received reports of the blind spot in communication around the Ring Road, he agreed that a new mast was desirable. The monarch was shown the picture of the pine tree mast to be erected and how effectively it blended with the vegetation in the museum ground. He then asked why the company was not willing to perform the rituals.
The company’s representatives told the Omo N’Oba about the cost. The Oba kept quiet for a while. Then he addressed his chiefs in the Benin Language. Thereafter, he spoke: “My chiefs have agreed that N50,000 will be enough for the ritual items. Give them and after they have done what they need to do, continue with your work. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Today, Oba #Erediauwa has long joined his ancestors, but the mast is standing gidigba on the museum ground and the blind spot is eliminated! May the soul of Oba Erediauwa continue to occupy its rightful position among his forebears, Ise!
I have brought out these two narratives to show that justice, fairness and civility reside in the Palace of Oba of Benin. During the height of the misrule of the expired Head of State, General Sani Abacha, when his deputy, General Oladipo Diya and other top military brass were arrested for a phantom coup plot, it is on record that of all the traditional rulers who visited Abacha in Aso Rock Villa, only Oba Erediauwa and the late Awujale of #Ijebuland, #Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, refused to make comments. The two monarchs said that having listened to Abacha, they needed to also hear from Diya and his fellow detainees. When that request was declined, the two kings departed Abuja without saying anything about the coup plot. That is tradition, that is culture.
Credit: #JeffersonUwoghiren
#ObaErediauwa #everyone #angiesquare