Contrary to the general notion in many parts of Edo State that the appointment of the immediate past Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, was a result of his leadership prowess, indications have emerged that it was not entirely so.
The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, gave the indication when Prince Agba visited the Palace to inform the Oba to assist with the budget for the Benin Royal Museum after he has left office when he can no longer do much.
The Oba, responding to Agba’s stewardship as a minister from Edo State, said it was gratifying for the ex-minister to acknowledge his (Oba’s) intervention that made former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as a minister.
“I think throughout your tenure, I cannot remember if we actually saw you more than two times. The first time you came was when you complained about the flood situation in Benin City, now your tenure is completed,” Oba Ewuare II said.
“We interacted once in a while. It is true that my intervention with former President Buhari made you benefit from the office you held, we thank God for that.
“But I was also wondering about many things, as you were a beneficiary of that office, Budget, and Planning, I was wondering if any of our people was also beneficiary from your office. I am stating that they should thank you if anyone benefited from your being in the office,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Prince Agba recalled the prayers of Oba Ewuare II against the disintegration of the nation and thanked him for his assistance which gave him the privilege to be appointed by President Buhari.
He said he was in the Palace with some of his friends and brothers to thank His Royal Majesty for his love for Edo State and the nation.
“You will recall that after the elections, a lot of people thought that the country would go on fire but His Royal Majesty continued to organise prayers to ensure that there is peace in our country and I thought it worthy of commendation that His Royal Majesty should be thanked for the prayers you offered to God and our ancestors,” Agba said.
He reminded the Oba that in 2016, Edo State had one minister in the cabinet of the immediate past President of Nigeria, but in 2019 His Royal Majesty wrote to the then President to consider and let Edo have two ministers.
The ex-minister noted that he was a beneficiary of that prayer and happened to have become the first minister from Edo North since 1999, noting that he was there to thank His Royal Majesty for that privilege.
“So, I have done my assignment for three and a half years and I have successfully completed it, I thought it wise to come back to His Royal Majesty and thank you for your prayers, for your support and the advice throughout the three and a half years, I was a minister,” he said.
