By ANDREW OJIEZEL
The British Government has expressed its support for the crowning of the new Oba of Benin, Crown Prince (Amb.) Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken of Uselu even as the state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has declared Thursday a public holiday to enable people partake in the the coronation ceremony.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright who delivered the message when he visited Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo in Benin on Wednesday, stated that him and his wife Tricia were in the state to witness the coronation of Eheneden as the new Oba of Benin as well as convey the greetings of the Queen of England to the crown prince.
Though he said he had been in the country for one year as the British High Commissioner but was in the state for the first time, expressed the interest of the British Government to foster a bilateral relationship with Edo.
He said his country was interested in what business British companies can venture into to curtail unemployment in the state and commended the achievements of outgoing Oshiomhole’s administration in the last eight years.
Oshiomhole said the coronation was extremely important to the people hence the declaration of Thursday as a public holiday in the state.
He also said Thursday would be the first time in the history of the state that an elected governor would be presenting a staff of office to an Oba.
He said Edo was one of the few states in the country where traditional stool was not in dispute, adding that every indigene has a positive disposition to the event.
He further said that the state was keen on how to strengthen relationships and the need to be less dependent on revenue from oil by creating the enabling environment for investors.
Oshiomhole said it would be the pleasure of government to see how more investors could be attracted from UK to the state.