12th December, 2013
JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin
Lagos-based human rights activist and lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has been honoured with a chieftaincy title by the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa.
He was conferred with the title, Enobakhare of Benin kingdom, which places him as one of the high ranking chiefs in the kingdom. The title translates into: “Oba’s word is final.”
Emissaries of the monarch, led by Chief Festus Osakpamwan, on Wednesday night, decorated Ozekhome with the title.
He was thereafter taught the dance steps of a Benin Chief, as well as the greetings of the Oba by Palace chiefs.
The human rights lawyer later danced through the streets around his Akhionbare-Street residence as a way of informing the people about the title bestowed on him by the Oba.
Present at the occasion were younger brother of the Oba, Prince Edun Akenzua, Chief Arala Osula, Edo State Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Aanena Jemitola and her counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture, Abdul Oroh, amongst others.
Chief Ozekhome is expected to pay homage to the Oba and perform the final ‘thank you’ on Friday.