A prominent group of elders in Edo State has issued a strong condemnation against what they described as an “unwarranted barrage of insults and abuses” aimed at the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II. These derogatory remarks have been attributed to supporters of the Labour Party (LP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Olumide Akpata.
The elders, united under the banner of the Edo Socio-Cultural Advancement and Good Governance Initiative, have expressed profound shock and disappointment at what they termed “childish, unwarranted, and unacceptable behavior” from some Labour Party supporters on various social media platforms. Their reaction follows a series of disrespectful comments directed at the revered traditional ruler.
The sequence of events leading to this controversy began when the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, alongside Olumide Akpata, paid a courtesy visit to the Oba’s palace. This visit occurred shortly after they had inaugurated the party’s campaign office in preparation for the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21.
During the visit, Akpata, in his address seeking the support of the traditional ruler, repeatedly referred to himself as a “son of the palace,” both in English and in the local dialect. This declaration was later contested by Oba Ewuare II. According to a widely circulated video clip, the Oba refuted Akpata’s claim, explaining that he had asked one of his chiefs to verify the candidate’s assertion, only to discover that Akpata had no direct or distant ties to the palace.
This rebuttal did not sit well with some of Akpata’s supporters, who took to various social media platforms to express their displeasure, many resorting to verbal attacks against the Oba. The situation escalated with some supporters using inflammatory language, further aggravating the elders.
In response, the Edo elders, through a press statement available to the DAILY POST on Tuesday, voiced their support for the Oba’s actions. The statement, delivered by Comrade Melvin Irabor, the spokesperson for the elders’ group, clarified that the Oba was within his rights to correct the misleading statement made by Akpata. “Our Oba was not out of place in correcting the erroneous remarks and insinuations by the Labour Party candidate, Barr. Olumide Akpata, for claiming to be the ‘son of the palace,’” Irabor emphasized.
Irabor also highlighted that the group had been bombarded with a “barrage of abuses” directed at the Oba by supporters of Akpata on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. He cited examples of these “disappointing comments,” including one particularly disrespectful remark where a user labeled the Oba as a “useless ruler.” Another user suggested that the Oba would have “warmly received” Akpata had he brought “money full of ‘Ghana must go’.”
The elders underscored the significance of the Oba’s role as the “mouthpiece of the gods and the revered royal father of the kingdom,” who has the duty to remain apolitical and to correct any false claims made by political candidates. They reiterated that “every candidate contesting in this election has the support and blessings of our Oba. He is the father of all and he wishes every one of them well,” thereby reinforcing the impartiality and fairness of the Oba towards all political aspirants.
In conclusion, the elders issued a stern warning to the Labour Party supporters, urging them to desist from hurling insults at the Oba. They emphasized that such actions would be deemed an “affront on the palace,” and called on all political parties to conduct their campaigns in a “democratic manner and keep the campaign issues-based.” This call for civility and respect underscores the elders’ commitment to maintaining decorum and respect for traditional institutions amidst the heated political atmosphere.
