He was commiserating over the death of the Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa.
The Senate President said, “We have lost a People’s monarch.”
This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the President of the Senate, Yusuph Olaniyonu.
Saraki described the late Oba as a just, fair-minded, courageous, benevolent and a people’s monarch.
He, according to Saraki, lived his entire life in the service of his people as a prince and king while also serving the nation as a bureaucrat and diplomat of high repute.
The Senate President received the news of Oba Erediauwa’s transition with great shock.
He said, “A glorious chapter in the annals of the Benin Kingdom has just come to a close.
“My grief-stricken heart however goes out to the immediate family of the Oba, the Benin Traditional Council, the people and Government of Edo State.
“[My grief goes], over the glorious but yet sad exit of the Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa – our highly revered King.
“He was a fearless and pious monarch – attributes that distinguished him among other monarchs in the country.
“We mourn the departure of our highly revered and benevolent patriarch.
“I can only enjoin his immediate family and the people of Edo State to take solace in the long, peaceful, enigmatic life of the departed.
“[It] was full of exemplary service to his subjects and the entire country,” he said.
He prayed that Almighty God will grant Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin eternal welcome and bliss in the midst of his ancestors.
“And [to] make his successor-designate a greater king and worthy successor who will positively advance the commendable legacies of progress and development exemplified by Oba Erediauwa.
The Senate President said, the country will surely miss the late Oba of Benin Kingdom.
That is because he was an embodiment of peace, culture and traditions of the Benin Kingdom in particular, Edo State and Nigeria in general throughout the time of his reign.
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