Tinubu salutes Oba of Benin at 73 and 10 years on the throne
- President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on ten years as king and his 73rd birthday.
- Both milestones fall on October 20, 2026, a decade after he took the throne in October 2016.
- The President praised the monarch's push to bring back looted Benin artefacts and his calm leadership.
President Bola Tinubu has sent his good wishes to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, who marks two milestones on the same day: ten years on the throne of his forefathers and his 73rd birthday, both on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The Oba, whose full royal titles include Omo N'Oba N'Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, was crowned in October 2016. In a message signed by the President himself, Tinubu said the anniversary was more than ceremony. He called it a decade of service and of steady work to keep the customs and history of the Benin Kingdom alive.
The President said the monarch has carried himself with dignity and has become a symbol of the culture and history of his people, and of Nigerians more widely.
Tinubu also praised the Oba's campaign to bring home Benin artefacts taken abroad long ago. He described the monarch as a worthy keeper of one of Africa's oldest monarchies and said the push to recover the works has helped protect the country's cultural identity.
Peace and wisdom praised
According to the President, the Oba's ten years have been marked by wisdom, courage and restraint, and by a commitment to peace. He said the monarch has remained a guardian of community values and a rallying point for his people's hopes.
The President sent the message on behalf of his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Federal Government. He prayed for renewed strength, sound health and greater wisdom for the Oba, and hoped younger Nigerians would draw inspiration from him to value their roots.
He closed with the traditional Benin words of royal acclaim: "Oba gha t'o kpere. Ise!"
For ordinary Nigerians, the tribute is a reminder of the weight traditional rulers carry in national life. Beyond ceremony, the throne has been at the centre of a long campaign to bring Benin's looted treasures back home, a cause with meaning for museums, tourism and the teaching of history in schools.
The sources did not say what events were planned to mark the double celebration, or whether the President attended in person.
