Breaking: Edo Elders Condemn-Insults Directed At Oba Of Benin By Labour Party-Supporters (Details)

Breaking: Edo Elders Condemn-Insults Directed At Oba Of Benin By Labour Party-Supporters (Details)

A group of elders in Edo State has strongly condemned the “unwarranted barrage of insults and abuses” directed at the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, by supporters of the Labour Party (LP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Olumide Akpata.

Operating under the Edo Socio-Cultural Advancement and Good Governance Initiative, the elders expressed shock and disappointment at what they termed “childish, unwarranted, and unacceptable behavior” from some LP supporters on various social media platforms.

According to Ireporteronline , the 2023 presidential candidate of LP, Peter Obi, and Akpata paid a courtesy visit to the Oba’s palace on Saturday after inaugurating the party’s campaign office ahead of the September 21 governorship election. During the visit, Akpata repeatedly referred to himself as a “son of the palace” in both English and the local dialect. However, Oba Ewuare II countered this claim, stating that verification revealed Akpata had no direct or distant links to the palace.

The Oba’s correction did not sit well with some of Akpata’s supporters, who subsequently attacked the Oba on social media.

In a press statement to Ireporteronline on Tuesday, the spokesman for the elders, Comrade Melvin Irabor, stated that the Oba was justified in correcting Akpata’s false claim. “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 said.

He highlighted the “barrage of abuses” directed at the Oba, with some social media users making derogatory comments. Irabor read out some of these comments, which included calling the Oba a “useless ruler” and suggesting he would have welcomed Akpata if he had brought money.

The elders emphasized that the Oba of Benin, as the “mouthpiece of the gods and the revered royal father of the kingdom,” must remain apolitical and correct any erroneous claims by candidates. “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,” Irabor stated.

The group urged LP supporters to stop insulting the Oba, warning that such actions would be considered an “affront on the palace.” They called on all political parties to conduct their campaigns in a “democratic manner and keep the campaign issues-based.”