The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II has expressed his displeasure over the political upheaval in Edo State, adding that PDP candidate, Godwin Obaseki, should have allowed him resolve the conflict.
The Oba expressed this during a peace talk in the palace in Benin City.
According to him, “I’m not happy about this. When you did not let me resolve the issue between you and your friend, Comrade, before it got to this point. If we had done it that time, we will not be sitting here now. Everything would have been smoother than this.”
Speaking further, Oba Ewuare II advised Governor Obaseki to employ foresight in his actions as his tenure was only ephemeral.
“It will be good to look beyond your office because you’re not going to be there all the time. You see the elder statesman there, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun? He was once a Governor too. He’s not there now. So, everybody knows that it is transient. Look at how one day when you are no longer the Governor everyone can sit and still give you respect. More respect even, he said”.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, who the Oba had told to call his thugs to order and desist from violence, could be observed rubbing his palms together in apology and deference to the Oba.
At the peace talks, however, were representatives of other contesting parties in the state.
