The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday says Governor Godwin Obaseki and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo are planning to depose the Oba of Benin.
The party, in a statement by its media consultant, Prince Kassim Afegbua also said the duo have also concluded plans to demolish the Palace Museum and convert it to a state monument.
Tne full statement reads “We have uncovered a sinister plan by Governor Obaseki and his anointed godson, Asue Ighodalo to move in a draconian manner against the Oba of Benin; to depose him and then demolish the Palace Museum and convert it to a state monument. They reasoned that the Palace Museum under construction will obstruct the one being built by the government at the old General Hospital ground”.
“Part of the plot is to first and foremost reduce the powers of the Oba of Benin by balkanising the kingdom through proxies like the Enigies, whom as we have seen were being prompted to sue the Oba of Benin; an act that is extraterrestrial by every stretch of the imagination. Daring Governor Obaseki, has refused to hand over to the Palace, the grant allegedly sent by the Government of Germany to support the building of a new Palace Museum to warehouse the celebrated returned artefacts”.
” Instead of handing over the grant to the intended destination, Governor Obaseki has decided to take up the construction of his own museum called Edo Museum of West Africa Arts, and has invited a non-native to preside over the museum; an act that is outlandish to the cultural heritage of the state”.
“It was also revealed that the Governor wants to demolish the Palace Museum inside the Palace ground; because according to him, the government has not enjoyed any support from the monarchy. The approach will be to accuse the Palace of not having building plans approval from its Geographic Information System office. The Oba Akenzua Centre which was handed over to the Oba of Benin by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during his time as Governor, has also been under lock and key, and is now overgrown with weeds”.
“According to insider sources, the governor says, “it is about time to cut the overarching powers of the Monarchy.” The Enigies, who took the Monarch to court were spurred on by the Edo State government as a last ditch effort to reduce the powers of the Oba of Benin, and totally obliterate a system that has endured for over 700 years”.
“Knowing Governor Obaseki as a property demolisher, there are fears that going by the bloody face the Enigies received at the High Court in Benin on Monday, 15th July the Governor may indeeed move against the Palace. Those who expressed this fear point at other properties that the Obaseki administration had demolished under one pretext or another, warning that his cold war with the Palace over artefacts and the museum, may provoke him to take a vexatious action to finally demystify and humiliate the Palace. The IMPROPRIETY of his reasoning and action is of bewildering heights.
“We call on all our supporters, Edo indigenes home and abroad to maintain vigilance over this sinister plot to humiliate a monarchy that has remained our pride for over 700 years and speak up truth to power. The recent ban of the Okhaigheles who are supposed to be the eyes of the Oba of Benin is a pointer to the dark passions against His Royal Majesty. It is unheard of in the Benin Tradition and Culture for Enogies (Dukes) to challenge the authority and imperiality of the Oba of Benin”.
” The ongoing ding-dong between the government-backed Enigies and the monarchy is a strong indication that Governor Obaseki wants to destroy the sanctity of a monarchy that has enriched the cultural ingenuity of the Great Benin Kingdom. All lovers of Edo’s cultural heritage must rise up to defend and preserve the monarchy, without let or hindrance. The spirit of our ancestors will surely fight on the side of the great Oba of Benin”.
“As a Benin indigene, Governor Obaseki does not need to be reminded of the Oba’s place amongst the Class of Obas in the country. Any further attempt to undermine His Royal Majesty’s authority shall be resisted using legitimate means to a greater effect.
