Oba of Benin urges prayers for Buhari

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku-
Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II has urged Nigerians to
pray for the good health and safe return of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
Addressing a gathering on Tuesday in Umegbe
community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo,
the Benin monarch also directed traditional rulers to
pray for the President.
In attendance at the meeting were — Igie – Ohen,
(priests and priestesses), Oba N’ Amen, Enigies
Odionwere -Evbo and all other traditional rulers in the
state.
Buhari, who travelled on Feb. 6 to the United
Kingdom on vacation, was also scheduled to see his
physician during the 10 day trip.
Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and President
Muhammadu Buhari and during the President’s
courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin as part of his 2-
day official visit to Edo State.
However, since the President’s trip, the country has
been regaled with reports, particularly on the social
media that he is very ill, but which his media aides
and other government officials have denied.
Oba Ewuare II said the President had good intentions
to change the current economic woes of the country
for the benefit of all.
He said that Buhari needed the prayers of all
traditional institutions to govern the country in good
health.
The monarch also said that celebrations in Benin
would henceforth be expanded to accommodate
other cultures and traditions of people of the entire
state.
He advised youths in the state to desist from land
speculations and other social vices, adding that they
should channel their youthful efforts to agriculture.
Earlier, Chief Anthony Osagie, the Enogie of Umegbe,
said that the monarch’s elimination of Community
Development Associations and land transactions in
the kingdom had restored the dignity of the Benin
kingdom.
Osagie and other traditional rulers at the gathering
pledged their unalloyed loyalty to Oba Ewuare II and
urged him to use his position to attract development
and basic amenities to the state.