Plans by some Shuwa Arabs, an ethnic group from Borno, to crown Idris Adanno as the Sultan of Shuwa Arab of Edo State, has been received with outrage across the state.
According to an invite circulating online, 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, Osazuwa Iduriase.
However, Iduriase has distanced himself from the event.
Prominent Benin youths who reacted on Facebook condemned the planned coronation of a sultan within the Kingdom. But unknown to many in the state, the Shehu of Borno on 4th of August had turbaned Adam Harun and given him the same title.
In his reaction, President of Benin Solidarity Movement, Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, said that Benin indigenes will 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 said.
The Coordinator-General of Great Benin Descendants, Imasuen Izoduwa, said that the organisation 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.
Amos Ehinomen Uagbor said: “Is this obtainable elsewhere ? We should now have oba and sultan in Edo State? In fact, the venue should be sealed.”
Efforts to reach mobile phone numbers on the invitation card for a reaction failed, as calls made to them did not connect.
Meanwhile, speaking on the matter, hotel owner Iduriase said, “I am a traditional ruler as well as the son of the Oba of Benin. I will not allow any facility to be used for any unwholesome business.
“The Oba of Benin is superior to any other Oba. I don’t know any Sultan of Shuwa Arab.
“As a matter of fact, they approached the General Manager of the hotel, apparently to use the hall for a party, only to discover through their letter of invite that it is to turban one Sultan.
“That facility will not be used for such. I will not allow such.”
