The Palace of the Oba of Benin has firmly dissociated itself from the recent attack on media practitioner, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, describing the incident as unauthorised and contrary to the values of the Benin Monarchy.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Sunday, was linked to alleged comments attributed to Obaseki during a meet-and-greet in the United Kingdom organised by former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki. The comments were said to be critical of the Benin Monarchy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor, the palace stressed that the Oba of Benin, His Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, had no involvement whatsoever in the incident.
Irabor described the revered monarch as a peace-loving leader and a father to all, noting that acts of violence are completely inconsistent with his character and leadership style.
“The Benin Traditional Council wishes to use this medium to inform the general public that the unfortunate incident in which Pedro Obaseki was manhandled was not authorised by the Oba of Benin,” the statement read.
“It cannot be authorised because it is not in the character of our revered monarch to do so. The Oba of Benin is a peace-loving father to all.”
The council also cautioned youths against taking the law into their own hands, regardless of provocation, and urged them to respect constituted authorities.
“They should always respect the laws of the land in all actions and utterances and allow appropriate security agencies to handle all matters,” the statement added.
The BTC further advised social media users to verify information properly before sharing it publicly to avoid misinformation and unnecessary tension.
The statement concluded with goodwill messages from the monarch, as Irabor conveyed the Oba’s wishes for a happy New Year to the general public.
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