Re-Election: Your Victory is Sure – Oba of Benin Tells Jonathan

Re-Election: Your Victory is Sure – Oba of Benin Tells Jonathan

The Oba of Benin, Omon’oba
Erediauwa, has assured President
Goodluck Jonathan of victory in the
forthcoming election slated for
March 28.

The Oba gave the assurance
Thursday in Abuja through his son
and a chief in the Benin Kingdom,
Ada Erediuwa, who led a delegation
of princes and chiefs of the Benin
Kingdom on a visit to a former
Minister of Information and elder
statesman, Edwin Clark.
Prince Erediuwa recalled that his
father had met with Mr. Jonathan
three times adding that while the first
meeting was a private affair between
the two leaders, the second meeting
was a public function when the
president went to Edo to commission the refurbished Benin-Lagos
expressway.

He said the third meeting sometime
in September 2014 was the most
significant because the Oba
presented a “red ododo” to the
president.

The prince explained that the Oba
deliberately gave the president the
material to pass a message. He said
it was the highest Benin traditional
attire and the Oba wore it when he
had to go to court. “He wore it and trekked to the court
to show he meant business,” Mr.

Erediuwa said. “In Benin Kingdom,
the ododo represents success and it is
a sign of victory. Whoever wears it
to the battle field must return home.”

Reports in recent past had suggested
that the Benin royal house was in
conflict with the presidency.

However, Mr. Erediuwa said the Oba
had made it clear by his actions and
words that he supported the
president.

He, however, stated a “need for the
Benin Kingdom to hold a private
meeting with the president after the
general elections to address all areas
of concern.”

Mr. Clark, in his remarks said the
president considered Benin home. He also
pledged to ensure that a meeting between the
royal house and the presidency was held as soon
as the elections were over.

Mr. Clark also said the little misunderstanding
between the president and the Benin Kingdom
may have to do with the appointment of the
former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah,
ostensibly to replace her husband Christopher
Ogiemwonyi, who was from Edo State.

He explained that Ms. Oduah was appointed on
her own merit having served as the treasurer in
the president’s campaign prior to 2011.
He said she was appointed to represent Anambra
State while an Edo man was also appointed on
the constitutional slot of the state and was even
posted to the same ministry Mr. Ogienwonyi
served in.

“There was nothing the president did to spite Edo
State,” Mr. Clark said. “What happened was a
normal thing in government.”
Mr. Clark also said to avoid a repeat of such an
incident, the Benin royal house would be
consulted “on the appointment of a minister from
the state”.

He also assured that after the election, which he
said the president would win, “Bini will be
accorded a pride of place in the government of
President Goodluck Jonathan”.

On the endorsement of Mr. Jonathan, the elder
statesman said he believed “the prince has
spoken the mind of the Oba”.

Newsweb

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1 Response

  1. October 11, 2023

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