President Bola Tinubu has extended his warm congratulations to the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Ewuare II, commemorating his decade on the throne as well as his 73rd birthday, while lauding the monarch as an enduring embodiment of peace, dignity, and rich cultural heritage.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by the State House on Tuesday, extended the felicitations on behalf of his wife and the Federal Government.
The President praised the monarch for a decade of royal stewardship and his commitment to preserving the traditions and heritage of the Benin Kingdom.
He said Oba Ewuare II had sustained the dignity of the traditional institution while inspiring confidence among his people.
“I have watched with keen admiration the wisdom, courage, restraint, and an abiding sense of peace that have underscored your years on the throne,” Tinubu said.
He described the monarch as “a fountain of wisdom, a guardian of communal values, and a rallying point for the people’s aspirations”.
The President also commended the Oba’s efforts to facilitate the repatriation of stolen Benin artefacts, noting his role as custodian of one of Africa’s most enduring monarchies.
Tinubu prayed for renewed strength, wisdom and good health for the monarch, expressing hope that his reign would record greater achievements in cultural preservation and social development.
“May your reign witness greater successes in the cultural and social causes you have championed,” he said. The President concluded his message with the traditional Benin expression, “Oba gha t’o kpere. Ise!”
What You Should Know
President Bola Tinubu has officially felicitated with the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Ewuare II, celebrating ten years of impactful royal stewardship and his 73rd birthday on behalf of the Federal Government and his family.
- Positive Impact: The presidential recognition strengthens federal and traditional ties, highlighting the importance of cultural preservation, peace, and traditional institutions in national unity.
- Potential Concerns: While the message is purely celebratory, it brings renewed public attention to ongoing cultural advocacy efforts, such as the repatriation of stolen Benin artefacts championed by the monarch.
