THE IKA KINGSHIP CULTURE TRADITIONAL RULERS 1979

DECLARATION MADE UNDER SECTION 8 OF THE TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS’ EDICT, 1979, STATING THE CUSTOMARY LAW REGULATING SUCCESSION TO THE TITLE OF OBI OF ABAVO.

1. There is only one Ruling House in Abavo known as the Oheifun.
2. Succession is by primogeniture and females are absolutely barred. Should an Obi die without a surviving male issue, succession passes to his eldest surviving brother and his heirs. An heir apparent will however be disqualified if he suffers from serious deformity, contagious disease or insanity or if he is an ex-convict, in which case, succession passes to his eldest surviving brother and his heirs.
3. If the heir apparent is a minor at his father’s death, the Unwangue acts as Regent until he attains majority.
4. Upon the demise of an Obi, interment takes place as soon as possible and the Unwangue announces the death within seven days. Three months after the death, the deceased Obi’s children and where appropriate, assisted by the Abavo community, perform and complete the burial rites and ceremonies spread over a period of fourteen days.
5. Thereafter on the appointed day, the Olihen installs the Obi designate in the presence of the general public.
   DATED at Benin City this 28th day of September, 1979. D.P. LAWANI, OON, KSG, Secretary to the Military Government,
   Bendel State of Nigeria. (IV) TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS’ EDICT, 1979.
   Declaration of Customary Law Regulating Succession to Traditional Ruler Title.
   It is hereby notified for general information that in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 8 of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs’ Edict, 1979, and by virtue of all other laws enabling it in that behalf, the Executive Council of the Bendel State of Nigeria has approved the following declaration.

DECLARATION MADE UNDER SECTION 8 OF THE TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS’ EDICT, 1979, STATING THE CUSTOMARY LAW REGULATING SUCCESSION TO THE TITLE OF OBI OF AKUMAZI.

1. There is only one Ruling House in Akumazi known as Unona.
2. Succession is by primogeniture and females are absolutely barred. Should an Obi die without a surviving male issue, succession passes to his eldest surviving brother and his heirs. An heir apparent will however be disqualified if he suffers from serious deformity, contagious disease or insanity or if he is an ex-convict, in which case, succession passes to his eldest surviving brother and his heirs.
3. If the heir apparent is a minor at the time of his father’s death, his eldest surviving paternal uncle acts as Regent until he attains majority.
4. Upon the demise of an Obi, the heir apparent is symbolically installed. Interment takes place thereafter usually within three days of the demise. Burial rites and ceremonies, which usually take seven days are then performed and completed.
5. On the appointed day, the Ogene from Owere-Akumazi or his representative, failing which, a suitable person nominated by the Ruling House from amongst themselves, formally installs the Obi designation in the presence of the Chiefs and the general public.
   DATED at Benin City this 28th day of September, 1979.
   D.P. LAWANI, OON, KSG,
   Secretary to the Military Government,
   Bendel State of Nigeria.

(V) THE TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS’ EDICT, 1979.
Declaration of Customary Law Regulating Succession to Traditional Ruler Title.
It is hereby notified for the general information that in exercise of the powers conferred by the Section 8 of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs’ Edict, 1979, and by virtue of all other laws enabling it in that behalf , the Executive Council of the Bendel State of Nigeria has approved the following declaration:

DECLARATION MADE UNDER SECTION 8 OF THE TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS’ EDICT, 1979, STATING THE CUSTOMARY LAW REGULATING SUCCESSION TO THE TITLE OF OBI OF UMUNEDE.

1. There is only one Ruling House in Umunede known as Ede.
2. Succession is by primogeniture and females are absolutely barred. Should an Obi die without a surviving male issue, succession passes to his eldest surviving brother and his heirs. An heir apparent will however be disqualified if he suffers from serious deformity, contagious disease or insanity or if he is an ex-convict, in which case, succession passes to his eldest surviving brother and his heirs.
3. If the heir apparent is a minor at the time of his father’s death, a suitable male members of the Ruling House, acts as Regent until he attains majority. The Regent is selected at a meeting of the Ruling House convened by the eldest member thereof and presided over by the Ogene.
4. Immediately upon the demise of an Obi, the Ogene symbolically installs the Obi designate. The eldest member of the Ruling House announces the death and the interment takes place on the fourth day. A three month period of general mourning is observed and thereafter, burial and ceremonies spread over a period of one month are performed and completed.
5. At the end of the three months period of general mourning, but before the burial rites and ceremonies are performed, the Ogene formally installs the Obi before the general public.
   DATED at Benin City this 28th day of September , 1979. D.P. LAWANI, OON, KSG, Secretary to the Military Government,
   Bendel State of Nigeria

To be continued…