ANOTHER Prince of the Benin Royal Family, Prince Ekpen Erediauwa, has resigned his appointment as Executive Director (Government House) barely 24 hours after he alleged that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has harassed and threatened his life over a parcel of land he acquired from the Federal government some years ago
He has therefore promised to institute a legal action against the Governor over the allegedly harassment and threat to his life.
This is coming on heels of the recent demolition of official residence of some staff of the University of Benin by the governor as the dust raised by that action is yet to settle down.
According to Prince Erediauwa, “there is a parcel of land at Okoro-Otun Avenue, GRA Benin. It is a Federal government property based on investigations I conducted few years ago; I made some contacts and acquired the land.
“Last week, the Comrade Governor invited me and asked about the property, I said yes, I owned it and that some people were working and I stopped them. I told him that the land belongs to me. He (Governor) told me to stay away from the land.
“He said if I don’t stay away from the land, he will arrest me, he said if I send anybody there, they will be physically manhandled. My lawyers are looking into the matter”
Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned what it called the forcibly acquisition of Prince Erediauwa’s land by the governor and described the action as an abomination in Benin Kingdom.
State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih who addressed a press conference on the matter, asked Commissioners from Edo South in the state to resign their appointments if within seven days if the governor fails to retrace his steps and handover the disputed land to Prince Erediauwa.
According to Chief Orbih, “what we are doing here is to advise the governor to leave the land for Prince Ekpen Erediauwa and if he fails to do that within seven days, and decided to continue to develop the land as he is doing now, every Binis in his cabinet should know to do; they should turn in their letters of resignation”
“What we are doing is to avert a crisis situation in the state. I appeal to Edo sons and daughters that this is one affront we will not tolerate, the governor has taken it too far and as a political party, we have a responsibility to fight for what is good and right. He should leave Prince Ekpen Erediauwa alone”
At press time, response from the Government House, Benin was still being awaited as attempt made to speak with Media aides to the governor failed.
