‘Sultan’ Begs Oba Of Benin, Blames ‘Language’ For Coronation Controversies

*Says I’m Loyal To Oba Of Benin
*Pledges Loyalty To State Govt, Oba Of Benin

Following the outrage and controversy that greeted the purported
coronation of Alhaji Idris Adanno as Sultan of Shuwa Arab of Edo
State, the embattled self-imposed leader has canceled all
activities planned for the event.

Adanno who addressed a section of journalists in Benin, on
Friday, alleged that the program of activities for his coronation
was grossly misinterpreted by Nigerians, due to the language used
by the organisers.

He pledged his loyalty to the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, who
he described as a father to all northerners in the State.

“The whole issue was misunderstood because of the language used.
All the tribes from the north who are resident in Edo State are all
under the Sarkin Hausawa but we all now have our individual Sarkin
like those of Kanuri, Nupe and others.

“In our Shuwa language, Sultan is our own Sarkin and we only
wanted to celebrate my appointment as the head of Shuwa Arab in
Benin because we are the second-largest local ethnic group from the
north.

“We are all under Sarkin Hausawa of Benin who gave us an
introductory letter which we submitted before the Governor of the
State, the Oba of Benin and the Secretary to State Government.

“We are all law-abiding citizens and under the laws of the
State. We are also loyal to our Royal father, the Oba of Benin, who
is father to all of us.

“We apologise to the State Government for the mix-up and as
law-abiding citizens, we have also cancelled all the activities we
wanted to do as directed by the State Government,” Addano
explained.

Also speaking, the Sarkin Hausawa of Benin, Alhaji Adamu Isa,
emphasized that the whole incident was misunderstood due to the
choice of language.

“They are a community resident in Edo and they have a large
percentage of their people here too, they are into cattle-breeding
and other businesses. The thing is a misuse of language from
them.

“About five months ago, they came to me that since they are
large, they want to have a traditional head so I told them to go
and look for someone among them who is going to be their leader and
so they came with one Idris and then some issues came up then I
asked them to go and resolve it and I gave them a date to come
back.

“And then we did the turban of their leader so that in case we
have issues concerning them, we know who to hold responsible.

“You know our culture, it is easier for you to regulate the
activities of people using the traditional heads, that is why
anytime we have a large set of people from the same place, we look
for a traditional head.

“The whole issue was misunderstood. I was born and bred here in
Benin, my father was born and bred here in Benin so I understand
the tradition and custom of the land and the laws of the State. It
was just a misuse of language. Sultan in their own language means
Sarkin,” Isa stressed.

It is pertinent to recall that while Adanno was making
arrangements for his coronation in Benin City, the Shehu of Borno
had on the 4th of August in far away Maiduguri, turbaned one Adam
Harun for the same title, which was unknown to many residents in
Edo.

The development that exposed the disunity among the Shuwa people
in the State.

*Says I’m Loyal To Oba Of Benin
*Pledges Loyalty To State Govt, Oba Of Benin

Following the outrage and controversy that greeted the purported
coronation of Alhaji Idris Adanno as Sultan of Shuwa Arab of Edo
State, the embattled self-imposed leader has canceled all
activities planned for the event.

Adanno who addressed a section of journalists in Benin, on
Friday, alleged that the program of activities for his coronation
was grossly misinterpreted by Nigerians, due to the language used
by the organisers.

He pledged his loyalty to the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, who
he described as a father to all northerners in the State.

“The whole issue was misunderstood because of the language used.
All the tribes from the north who are resident in Edo State are all
under the Sarkin Hausawa but we all now have our individual Sarkin
like those of Kanuri, Nupe and others.

“In our Shuwa language, Sultan is our own Sarkin and we only
wanted to celebrate my appointment as the head of Shuwa Arab in
Benin because we are the second-largest local ethnic group from the
north.

“We are all under Sarkin Hausawa of Benin who gave us an
introductory letter which we submitted before the Governor of the
State, the Oba of Benin and the Secretary to State Government.

“We are all law-abiding citizens and under the laws of the
State. We are also loyal to our Royal father, the Oba of Benin, who
is father to all of us.

“We apologise to the State Government for the mix-up and as
law-abiding citizens, we have also cancelled all the activities we
wanted to do as directed by the State Government,” Addano
explained.

Also speaking, the Sarkin Hausawa of Benin, Alhaji Adamu Isa,
emphasized that the whole incident was misunderstood due to the
choice of language.

“They are a community resident in Edo and they have a large
percentage of their people here too, they are into cattle-breeding
and other businesses. The thing is a misuse of language from
them.

“About five months ago, they came to me that since they are
large, they want to have a traditional head so I told them to go
and look for someone among them who is going to be their leader and
so they came with one Idris and then some issues came up then I
asked them to go and resolve it and I gave them a date to come
back.

“And then we did the turban of their leader so that in case we
have issues concerning them, we know who to hold responsible.

“You know our culture, it is easier for you to regulate the
activities of people using the traditional heads, that is why
anytime we have a large set of people from the same place, we look
for a traditional head.

“The whole issue was misunderstood. I was born and bred here in
Benin, my father was born and bred here in Benin so I understand
the tradition and custom of the land and the laws of the State. It
was just a misuse of language. Sultan in their own language means
Sarkin,” Isa stressed.

It is pertinent to recall that while Adanno was making
arrangements for his coronation in Benin City, the Shehu of Borno
had on the 4th of August in far away Maiduguri, turbaned one Adam
Harun for the same title, which was unknown to many residents in
Edo.

The development that exposed the disunity among the Shuwa people
in the State.