I Discussed Historical Facts, Not Yoruba Origin - Erediauwa
From Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City
The Oba of Benin, Omo N'Oba Erediauwa I, has thrown more light on the controversy that has trailed his autobiographical publication, I Remain, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, stated that he had no apologies to offer anybody for his comments in the memoirs.
He explained that what he discussed in the portion of the book that has drawn the ire of numerous people, particularly Yoruba personages, including traditional rulers, historians and politicians, was purely based on historical evidence that anyone could verify.
The Benin monarch, who gave the expalanation yesterday at his quarterly parley with newsmen in his palace, noted that it was wrong for people to draw conclusions about the book simply by reading a particular portion or chapter of the publication.
"I discussed historical facts. I did not discuss historical myths or mythology; I did not discuss the origin of the Yoruba as a race.
"On the historical facts I discussed, the names of the villages and the various landmarks left behind are still there to this moment I'm talking with you. Take this as an assignment, go to Ekenhuan (a Benin suburb); I will not give you the names of the places (but you can) find out out for yourselves as investigative journalists.
"The point here is simple: these are historical facts that are still there for anyone really interested to verify," he said.
He later offered to send some copies of the book to the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) while advising all mass communication practitioners and interested Nigerians to endeavour to read the book in order to make informed criticism of it.
Following the launching of I Remain, Sir, Your Obedient Servant at the Muson Centre, Lagos, last May, the book has generated high level controversy pitching mainly prominent Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin origins in the different divides of the debate.
In the book, Eredauwa wrote that Oduduwa, the aclaimed progenitor of the Yoruba was a Benin prince who was meant to be sacrificed to the gods but was released into the bush by the priests sent to sacrifice him.
He noted that it was after the Benin Prince escaped into the bush that he found himself in a place the Binis call Ure but known as Ife to the Yoruba. He added that there had been some Yoruba settlements in and around Ife before the advent of Oduduwa (Or Uzoduwa to the Binis) in that area.
The first reaction to the book came from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who described the book as a falsification of historical facts. The Ooni's comment , however, attracted sharp reply from the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, who said he would rather believe the Benin monarch because of his credibility.
Since then, many top Benin and Yoruba accademics and commentators have given different versions of the history while some even attacked each other's tribe.
Meanwhile, Erediauwa frowned at the poor translation of the Benin language by newscasters at a local radio and television station in Benin-City. He said the situation was an indication of the unwillingness of many youths from the area to learn their monther-tongue today.
He said the communal dispute between two villages in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state was being looked into by the Benin Traditional Council, but solicited the assistance of journalists towards the campaign to protect Benin and national historical monuments, especially the famous centuries old Benin Moat.
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