There is palpable tension across Benin Kingdom over plans by some Shuwa Arabs, an ethnic group from Borno State, to crown Idris Adanno as the Sultan of Shuwa Arab of Edo State.
The coronation ceremony is slated to hold on Saturday, 21 August, 2021, at Rialto Hotel, Eyaen, a suburb of Benin City.
The hotel is owned by a Duke in Benin Kingdom, HRH Osazuwa Iduriase.
According to PM News, the Shehu of Borno, Dr Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai Al’amin Elkanemi, had turbaned Adam Harun as Sultan of Shuwa Arab in Maiduguri on 4 August.
That some Shuwa Arabs are staging another show, less than three weeks after, is indicative of a division amidst the Shuwa Arabs living in Edo State.
Prominent Benin youths have condemned the planned coronation of a Sultan within the ancient Kingdom.
Reacting to the planned installation, the President of Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM), Elder Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, said Benin indigenes will do whatever it will take to resist what he described as “evil act” by persons who are bent on fomenting trouble.
“This will never happen in Benin Kingdom, we are Benin,” Ugbo added.
Also reacting, the Coordinator-General of Great Benin Descendants (GBD), Imasuen Izoduwa said the organization would meet and lock up the hotel-venue of the coronation, for allowing “such nonsense” in the land.
“We will meet later today so we can lock up that hotel by tomorrow or next for allowing such nonsense in our land. Enough is enough, I will no longer take any of this in our Kingdom,” he said.
Comrade Amos Ehinomen Uagbor said: “Is this obtainable elsewhere? We should now have OBA and Sultan in Edo state? Infact, the venue should be sealed.”
Efforts to reach mobile phones numbers on the card for a reaction failed, as calls made to them failed to connect.