Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, has died after a brief illness in a private hospital in Benin City. He would have been 94 on September 2.

Family members said he died at 12:20 p.m. “He has not been too strong and we took him to the hospital a few days ago and he died this afternoon, the family will follow the protocols for the formal announcement to be made,” a family member said.

The Esogban, who is next after the Iyase (Prime Minister) of Benin Kingdom often referred to as the Odiownere of Benin Kingdom, is a vocal voice in the traditional institution, respected for his wealth of experience in the tradition and culture of the kingdom.

His last major outing was his participation in the March 18 governorship and state House of Assembly elections, where he said the February 25 presidential election was the best since he started voting since 1951.

He said he had never missed any election since he cast his first vote in 1951 as a 22-year old young man,

Edebiri, who was a seasoned journalist and a writer, in 2022 unveiled two books, “Tripod of Life: Essence of Benin Tradition and Culture” and “The life and Times of Iyase N’Ohenmwen”  to mark his 93rd birthday, where he said Nigeria derailed from the part of  development when in 1979, the leaders adopted the American presidential system of government, which, he said, has not been practised as it should be.