Sen. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North recently explained why he bowed down to Oba Ewuare II, the respected king of Benin, during a visit. In an interview with Channels TV’s “Politics Today,” Oshiomhole said that what he did was both a sign of great respect and an acknowledgement of how important the traditional institution of the Benin people was to them.
Oshiomhole knows a lot about the history and culture of the Benin Kingdom because he used to be governor of Edo State. He talked about how kneeling before the Oba is a custom among the Edo people, who see the monarch as very important in their society, during the interview. He made it clear that what he was doing had nothing to do with politics or getting something for himself. Instead, he was honouring a respected leader and the cultural ideals he stands for.
The senator said that the Oba is more than just a ceremonial leader in Benin society. He stands for the person who is in charge of the people’s history, traditions, and beliefs. Oshiomhole agreed that the Oba’s role goes beyond politics and the government; the Oba has a spiritual and symbolic place in the lives of the people of Edo. He was only following traditional rules when he kneeled. These rules stress how important it is to respect leaders and people in power.
Oshiomhole also used the chance to stress how important traditional masters are to Nigeria’s society and government. Basically, he said that traditional institutions like the monarchy in Benin are very important for keeping cultural heritage alive and giving people moral direction. He said that Oba Ewuare II was a leader who had always carried out his duties with style and honour, which made him a person to be admired.
There was talk that the previous governor’s actions were political, but he denied it. It was made clear by Oshiomhole that kneeling before the Oba is a long-standing custom and that he would have done the same thing no matter what the political climate was like. He said that because he was born and raised in Edo, he had always been aware of the city’s traditions and never been afraid to show respect where it was due.
Oshiomhole also said that a lot of people get the greater meaning of these cultural acts of respect wrong, especially in today’s fast-paced political world. He was sad that some people might see what he did through a political lens and not understand the culture and traditional meaning of it. He saw kneeling as a sign of his close ties to the Benin Kingdom and how important it was to keep these cultural practices alive.
People talked about Oshiomhole’s words on “Politics Today” on social media. Some praised him for being humble and showing respect for the traditional ruler, while others saw the action from a political point of view. But Oshiomhole stuck to his beliefs and said again that his love for the Oba and the Benin Kingdom was real and came from growing up in Edo and learning about the culture there.
Finally, Adams Oshiomhole’s choice to kneel before Oba Ewuare II shows that he understands how important the Benin people’s culture and traditions are to them. He did it to show respect for the respected institution of the Oba and to show how important traditional kings are to keeping Nigerian society together. Oshiomhole’s explanation reminds us that culture and custom still have an impact on how people act and what they believe in, even in today’s modern political world.