Benin traditional council lifts ban on funeral rites

Following the successful completion of rites of passage for the late Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), on Monday, lifted the suspension on burial ceremonies, which it had earlier put on hold, saying “His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has graciously granted permission until further notice, for people in the kingdom to carry out the necessary burial ceremonies.”

The Iyase (Prime Minister) of Benin Kingdom, Sam Igbe, who led other palace chiefs, at a press briefing in Benin City, the Edo State capital, said the Benin palace shares in the plight of all bereaved families’ inability to perform their funeral ceremonies, noting that the palace, “is aware of the plight of our people who had to endure the delay in their obligation to bury their departed loved ones”.

Igbe however noted that information regarding the pending coronation ceremonies would be published in due course.

It would be recalled that in observing all customs and traditions, in honour of the departed monarch and in obedience to the Benin tradition, the Benin Palace had declared that, “all funeral rites would be prohibited from the date of announcement of Emwinekhua (obsequies),” which has since been completed.