… Tasks journalists to support Gov Okpebholo’s result-oriented governance
HAMEED BRAIMAH
BENIN CITY — His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, has urged Nigerian governors to make the preservation of national unity and peace a top priority, cautioning that political, ethnic, or religious divisions must never be allowed to undermine the nation’s stability or development.
The revered monarch made the call weekend at his palace in Benin City while receiving governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were in Edo State on a solidarity visit to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The high-powered delegation included governors, senators, federal cabinet members, and top APC leaders, who converged to express support for Okpebholo’s administration and reaffirm their commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Oba Ewuare II described President Tinubu’s leadership as courageous and decisive, commending his early initiatives to tackle Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
Acknowledging that criticism is part of every democracy, he cautioned that it must always be constructive and never allowed to incite division or threaten national cohesion.
“We should all support President Tinubu in his efforts to keep Nigeria together,” the monarch said.
“Every leader, both here and abroad, faces criticism. We must ensure that our criticisms are constructive and not destructive to the unity of our country. Nigeria is blessed with diverse cultures and peoples, and it is our collective responsibility to harness that diversity for peace and prosperity.”
The Oba particularly praised Governor Monday Okpebholo for demonstrating humility and respect for traditional institutions, which he described as vital partners in governance, grassroots mobilisation, peacebuilding, and socio-economic development. He stressed the indispensable role traditional rulers play in conflict resolution, cultural preservation, and fostering community harmony, and he urged state governments to continue to engage with royal institutions to achieve sustainable development.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who led the delegation, assured the monarch that Governor Okpebholo was fully committed to fulfilling his campaign promises.
Uzodimma highlighted key areas of focus, including the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, expansion of educational opportunities, empowerment of youth and women, and enhancement of security across Edo State.
Governor Uzodimma also sought royal prayers for wisdom, strength, and success for all APC governors, adding that the Progressive Governors’ Forum would maintain unity and synergy to deliver quality governance in their respective states.
During the visit, the delegation and the Benin traditional council explored ways to strengthen collaboration between state governments and traditional institutions, particularly in community policing, rural development, and cultural tourism.
The governors pledged to support initiatives that protect and promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
After the courtesy visit, the visiting dignitaries were taken on a tour of key historical and cultural landmarks in Benin City, including the Benin National Museum, the ancient Benin Moat, and Igun Street, the renowned bronze casting centre, where they gained insights into the rich artistic and historical legacy of the Benin Kingdom.
Among those in attendance were several APC senators, federal ministers, members of the APC National Working Committee, and other prominent party leaders, who joined in reaffirming their support for Governor Okpebholo’s administration and their shared commitment to the unity and progress of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, has described Governor Monday Okpebholo as a friendly and purposeful leader committed to the progress and well-being of the people of Edo State.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, at his Palace, the Benin monarch said that Governor Okpebholo’s administration has put the state back on the fast track of social infrastructure development.
“The Governor has started building roads, bridges, schools, and health institutions. These are the things that make people happy. The Governor deserves the support of everyone, including media practitioners,” the Oba emphasized.
He noted that the coming of Governor Okpebholo marked the end of what he described as an anti-palace regime of antagonism under the Obaseki administration, which withheld allocations to the Benin Traditional Council for seven months because, he (Obaseki) was prevented fro re-looting the Benin artefacts.
The monarch added that his relationship with the current governor is akin to that of a father and son and recounted what he described as unprovoked hostility from the Obaseki administration against the Palace of the Great Benin Kingdom.
He recalled having to use his personal funds to pay palace staff and maintain the palace during that period, saying that, “For seven months, not a kobo was given to the palace. I had to personally find money to pay the staff. Grasses grew everywhere in the palace and we didn’t have money to cut them.”
He also recalled how, during the reign of his grandfather, Oba Akenzua II, a wartime military administrator of the Midwest Region erected a multi-floor high-rise building directly in front of the palace, despite objections.
“It is a known fact that tall buildings should not be erected near traditional rulers’ palaces to prevent invasion of their privacy, especially when the building sits on sacred ground belonging to the palace,” the Oba said.
He remarked that the building, which currently houses Unity Bank, was constructed to spite the palace, and lamented that some individuals who had once been helped by the palace later turned against it.
“It became ironic that the person at the centre of this was the same one my father, Oba Erediauwa, used his influence with then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, to elevate as military governor and erase wartime negative narratives against the Midwest region,” he added.
The monarch declared: “I am saying this to show how long they have been trying to bring the palace down, but our God and ancestors will not allow it to happen. Benin was a great empire, first pauperised by the British and then by our own people, perhaps out of jealousy or envy.”
He expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship with the current NUJ executive and reiterated his call for a constitutional role for traditional rulers in Nigeria, noting that his father, Oba Erediauwa, had presented a well-researched paper on the subject at the University of Benin.
The Oba however stressed that before such roles are formalised, the law must clearly define who qualifies as a traditional ruler
This, he said was necessary because some acclaimed traditional rulers pointing indulge in acts that undermine and debase the institution, rather than uphold its dignity.
He emphasised that traditional rulers should avoid partisan politics and criminal acts
