The controversy that has trailed whether or not the Oba of Benin had endorsed a particular Presidential candidate has finally be put to rest as the palace has affirmed that all those contesting are the subjects of the Benin monarch.
The Oba also said he has not mandated any of his palace chiefs to speak on his behalf in a matter relating to the political activities in the country.
The palace also stated that more worrisome is the strategy adopted by a political party through the media to politicise the visit of His Royal Highness, the Edaiken N’ Uselu to the Presidency several months ago in their favour.
The Benin monarch insisted that what is paramount to the electorates is that politicians after winning an election should provide the basic needs for the people.
A communique signed by 6 top ranking palace chiefs including the Iyase of Benin , Chief Sam Igbe, read in parts: “As a result of these claims and the resulting controversies and counterclaims, all the Oba Palace chiefs led by the Iyase of Benin, have met and duly resolved that the Omo N’Oba,Uku Akpolokpolo,Ovia of Benin,has never mandated any of his palace chiefs to speak or make any political statement on his behalf,especially as go the choice of a political leader for favour in the forthcoming election.
“Surprisingly, the visit of the visit of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’ Uselu to the presidency several months ago, which was meant to express/pledge the support /loyalty of the Benin monarch and his people for /to the President’s government, is thus being unscrupulously used by overzealous politicians to whip up sentiments and boost support of the people for their party in Edo South District in particular ( and Edo in general.)
“In the circumstance, the general public is hereby reminded that the Omo N’Oba has always believed that all citizens participating in political activities or are in one political party or the other, are his subjects; and while loving all, as well as the non-politicians, the Omo N’Oba, at the same time prays to almighty God and the ancestors to give our great country and Edo, politicians who will respect the traditional institution’s generally.
“That politicians should empower and give employment to the teeming unemployed citizens and improve the country and Edo State economy to the extent that every citizen gets the proverbial three square meals a day”.
