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THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE MONARCHY UNDER OGISO ERE ABOUT 16-66 A.D 

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Ogiso Igodo did a lot to strengthen monarchial rule in the Igodomigodo. As already shown, he continued to maintain the iko-Edionwere in the administration of Igodomigodo. This seems to have been a means of retaining the support of as many Edionwere as possible and thereby broadening the base of his supports and followers. But he came to rely more on the Edionisen or five courtiers. This made the Edionisen to become more important in the council ot state and the day to day running of the administration consequently the Edionisen developed vested interest in the monarchical system. Hence when Ogiso Igodo Died rather than revert to the old system of gerontocracy or rule of Odionwere, they were persuaded to invite Ere from Udo to succeed his grandfather as Ogiso Ere was the second Ogiso and by alkl standards, the most celebrated of all the Ogisos of Benin. Ere ruled for about two generations (fifty years) and contributed a lot to the consolidation of the monarchical system. He is still very much remembered in Edo history and many names such as Esesogie, Otamere, Erebo, Eresoyen, Eregbowa, Eresuyi,Erediauwa, Eregie and so on.

Ere was Igodo’s grandson and was brought up at Udo (the home village of Igodo’s great grandfather) when Igodo died Ere was invited by the Edionisen who installed him as Ogiso in Ugbekun. They placed on his head a crown made of cowries. This crown originally belonged to Igodo, but he did not use it. He changed the status of the Edionisen into title position which individual held for life. The titles were Oliha who was their head, followed by Edohen, Ero, Ezomo, and Eholon’ Ire. They constituted the kingmakers and the council of state. He retained the Iko-Edionwere and consulted them.  

Ere installkation as Ogiso was opposed by some section of Ugbekun instead of fighting, he relocated his abode to Uhunmwidumwun where he buith a new palace and decorated the walls with reliefs in the form of furrows known as Eken  nagbeen. This design is still used exclusively by title holders and rulers of Benin in designing their houses and palaces. To further differentiate Ere from the title holders and Edionwere, he introduced the Ada and Eben scepters as his symbol of authority and honours, which were carried before him. He also made the royal dress and royal stool known as Agba. The Ughoron group of people in Okedo and Eyanugie who were professional recorders of events and story tellers were constituted into a gui’d and put at the service of the palace. They added pomp and pageantry to the monarchy, and this further helped to attract support for monarchical rule. Ogiso Ere was a lover of peace and tried to ban quarrelling and fighting in the areas under his rule. To implement this ban, he establishes the Avbiogbe- a guild of town cries. They were sent out from time to time to announce messages and proclaim the ban order. “A wua ne Ere” meaning “it is forbidden for Ere”, whenever there is a quarrel or fight.

The prevailing peace enable trade to flourish during Ere’s reign. He stabilized a central market or Eki-Ogiso now known as Agbado market. Various traders and professions were organized into guilds to regulate their practices. These were the iron smiths, cervers of Igbesamwan, cloth weavers of Owinna n ‘Ido, the blacksmiths of Eyanugie, the hunters of Oregbeni, the leather workers and pot makers. Ere helped to develop communication facilities in the kingdom. He made the people to expand the roads and clear path ways leading to villages and towns as well as farms and rivers. He encouraged farming. All these helped to boost the economy and welfare of the people.

He showed a lot of interest in religion. During his reign, the people became more religious and many gods like Ogun god of iron, sun and so on, were worshipped along with ancestral worship. Every village created its own deity, and the kingdom also established the collective ancestor shrine known as Edion Evbo, or spirit of departed ancestors. He encouraged mud or clay sculpturing and it was used in making religious objects. This strengthened their religious beliefs. The priest of the communal gods and deities were elevated to high social ranks in the society. This further helped to strengthen his rule.
Ere died at about 66 A.D and left Igodomigodo as a land of “Smiling plenty”

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