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

The elders, who operate under the umbrella of the Edo Socio-Cultural Advancement and Good Governance Initiative, expressed shock and disappointment at what they described as a “childish, unwarranted and unacceptable behavior” of some Labour Party supporters across various social media platforms.

DAILY POST recalls that the 2023 presidential candidate of LP, Peter Obi and Akpata on Saturday paid a courtesy visit to the Oba’s palace shortly after inaugurating the party’s campaign office ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

During the visit, Akpata while seeking the support of the traditional ruler, repeatedly referred to himself as a “son of the palace” in both English and the local dialect.

But Oba Ewuare II later countered the claim.

According to a video clip making the rounds, the Oba swiftly dismissed his assertion, stating that he had asked one of his chiefs to verify Akpata’s claims, only to find that the candidate had no direct or distant links to the Palace.

The development did not go down well with some of the LP guber candidate’s supporters, with some of them verbally attacking the Oba on various social media channels.

However, in a press statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, spokesman of the Elders’ group, Comrade Melvin Irabor, said the Oba was not out of place in correcting Akpata’s claim to be the “son of the palace.”

“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 noted that they were inundated with a “barrage of abuses” on the revered Oba of Benin by Akpata’s supporters on platforms.

Irabor read out some of the “disappointing comments,” including one by a user who described the Oba as a “useless ruler,” and another who suggested that the Oba would have “warmly received” Akpata if he had brought “money full of ‘Ghana must go.'”

The group emphasized that the Oba of Benin, as the “mouthpiece of the gods and the revered royal father of the kingdom,” has a responsibility to stay apolitical and correct any candidate making “erroneous remarks and insinuations.”

"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 elders warned the Labour Party supporters to desist from hurling insults on the Oba, stating 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.”

DevilsEqual:
Its not an Igbo movement but they've somehow selectively said rubbish about Benin Oba,Ooni and Sultan but somehow havent touched those sub-kings from the East....Dumb logic



If other Nigerians ever had this kinda dull brain that defends shitty logic like this, then we'd not have produced a Nobel Prize winner in our 60+years existence

Irabor read out some of the “disappointing comments,” including one by a user who described the Oba as a “useless ruler,” and another who suggested that the Oba would have “warmly received” Akpata if he had brought “money full of ‘Ghana must go.'”

Sharpsharp00123:
only a fool will believe there’s something called obidient

They are just igbos who lost out n are pained

They have insulted everyone except their igbo kings

yyba:
Obidients are the ones bringing hate to peter OBI with all this lack of respect to others opinion and choice

yyba:
Obidients are the ones bringing hate to peter OBI with all this lack of respect to others opinion and choice

Ogonimilitant:
APC propaganda. The Waste side live on propaganda and nothing more. Come to think of it , if Akpata says he is a son of the palace, that means he belongs to Bini and has respect for The throne. But the useless Oba wants to play politics with his subject.

Useless man

Heffalump:


Who told you all LP supporters are Obidient? As an LP candidate you may pull supporters from APC, PDP, and others. It depends on the politician involved.

Destroyerofyeeb:
Ever since this bini oba came to Lagos to talk crap and disrespect aworis calamity and disrespect has been following him upandan like flies , I heard they took him to court recently. The disgrace just began . A child that spits on his father would always end up in disgrace