A civil society organisation in Edo State has strongly condemned the “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 group, Edo Socio-Cultural Advancement and Good Governance Initiative said it was disappointed at the “childish, unwarranted and unacceptable behaviour” of some Labour Party supporters across various social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter following a clarification made by Oba of Benin on Akpata’s “son of the palace” claim.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Benin City, the group’s spokesman, Comrade Melvin Irabor, said: “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 read out some of the comments, including one describing the Oba as a “useless ruler,” and another suggesting that the Oba would have “warmly received” Akpata if he had brought “money full of ‘Ghana must go.’”
The group emphasised 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 added.
The group warned Labour Party supporters to desist from hurling insults at the Oba, stating that such actions would be considered an “affront on the palace.”
It also called on all political parties to conduct their campaigns in a “democratic manner and keep the campaign, issues-based.”
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