In his message, Ewuare, who doubles as the Chairman of Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, commended Okpebholo for his protection of and partnership with traditional institutions compared to the irrefutable disrespect, disdain and destruction Obaseki carried out
By Sebastine Ebhuomhan I Monday, February 24, 2025
BENIN CITY, Nigeria – Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, clocked 100 days in office on Wednesday, 19th February, 2025.
Fondly called Akpakomiza, Okpebholo won a peaceful, free, fair, credible and popular governorship election on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) on 21st September, 2024, defeating his predecessor’s godson Asuerinme Akintunde Ighodalo by 291, 667 votes (51.1 percent) to 247, 655 votes (43.3 percent).
A feat collectively achieved with the support of Edo State traditional institutions, Okpebholo was sworn-in on 12th November after which he settled down to deliver on his Five-Point Agenda.
The superlative manner the governor delivered democratic dividends in 100 days without noise, lamentation, pride, threat and bullying as Edo people suffered for eight years under ex-governor Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led to an outpouring of praises and commendations marked by congratulatory messages from community, local, state, national and international individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, governments etc, happy and satisfied with the governor’s outstanding ‘eye-marked’ feats. One of the countless messages came from the revered Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR.
A very deep and meaningful message that gladdened, inspired and energized Okpebholo to do more, the three-page royal pat on the back, dated 19th February, signed by Chief Stanley Obamwonyi (the Esere of Benin) for His Royal Majesty, was carefully penned, patiently organized and appropriately directed by the Office of the Private Secretary of the Oba of Benin despite the kingdom’s total focus on the first of two-part traditional funeral rites for Omo N’Ikuoyemwen, the Iyoba Ewuare II, which ceremony began on Saturday, 15th February and ends on Friday, 28th February. Thereafter, the second part, the performance of Ekasa group, takes place between the 1st and 27th of March, 2025.
The royal commendation with reference BTC.A40/VOL.LVVI/402 left no doubt about the deep, broad, respectful, and cherished relationship between the governor and the monarch.
Ordinarily, a linear-patterned relationship in which the latter customarily mentors by providing cultural, traditional and socio-political guidance and support to the former, this one, however, unlike the one with the immediate past governor, is founded upon mutual respect.
In his message, Ewuare, who doubles as the Chairman of Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, commended Okpebholo for his protection of and partnership with traditional institutions compared to the irrefutable disrespect, disdain and destruction Obaseki carried out. For history, reference and emphasis, excerpts of Ewuare’s message have been reproduced below.
Titled: Congratulatory Message on Your 100 Days in Office, it begins. “It is with great pride and profound gratitude to God Almighty and our ancestors that I write this letter to Your Excellency. On behalf of the Royal Court of Benin, the Benin Royal Family, the good people of Benin in particular and Edo in general, both at home and in the Diaspora, I extend my hearty congratulations to Your Excellency as you mark 100 days in office as Governor of Edo State.
“Without any iota of doubt, your victory at the polls was a watershed in the electoral history of the state. It was a divine answer to our people’s prayers for an end to the previous administration that had rendered the whole environment in Edo State very toxic. Disrespect and disregard for the rule of law was the order of the day. The psyche of the people of Edo State was severely brutalized. Edo State Traditional Institutions were also severely undermined, insulted and almost destroyed. There seemed to have been a vengeance against Edo people for reasons better known to the perpetrators which virtually took over the governance of the state before Your Excellence took office.
“Prior to your inauguration as Governor of Edo State, the traditional institution in the state, which forms a supportive part of the state governance had been subjected to the most avoidable meddlesomeness which was calculated to destroy the entire fabric of the institution. This orchestrated design was undertaken in several ways, including: (i) through the unwarranted attempt to appropriate ancient ancestral artefacts which belong to the Oba of Benin; (ii) through the unlawful move to create Traditional Councils in Edo South in total disregard of the established customary law of the Benin people as duly declared in the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of Edo State; (iii) through the denial of statutory entitlements to the Benin Traditional Council, among other unfortunate actions; and (iv) the revocation of the concession of Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre which was concessioned to HRM Oba Ewuare II and the clandestine attempt to annex part of it to add to the Central Hospital Ground which was demolished to make way for a private museum called MOWAA.
“To the glory of God Almighty and our ancestors, on your inauguration as Governor, Your Excellency immediately reversed these unlawful, wicked and inappropriate actions, thus putting an end to the schism between the Benin Traditional Institution and Edo State Government. For these statesmanship acts of lawfulness, and respect for the traditional institution of the Benin people and Edo State as a whole, history will forever remember Your Excellency in glory.
“In the last 100 days, you have demonstrated your commitment in partnering and respecting the traditional institutions in the state towards engendering a more robust institutional collaboration for peace and development in the state.
“Your Excellency, of remarkable significance is the immediate restoration of the statutory rights of the Oba of Benin and the abrogation of the Executive Orders, which sought to balkanize and disunite Edo South Senatorial District. The Royal Court of Benin remains appreciative of your efforts at stabilizing the role of traditional institutions in the state.
“Remarkably, is the unprecedented steps your administration is taking to construct long-lasting infrastructures across the state, particularly the flagging of the construction of three flyovers in Benin City, the state capital. It is also on record that a number of roads, schools and health centres across the state are receiving the attention of your administration just within a short space of three months in office.
“Your Excellency, as a foremost traditional ruler and Chairman of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, it is our earnest prayer that Almighty God and our ancestors will guide and protect you and your administration to be able to improve the economy of the state and transform the lives of Edo people in general.
“Be assured that our prayers and support are always with you and members of your administration and family in the quest to make Edo State better.
“I am confident that with Your Excellency’s great display of good faith, compassion and determination to right the wrongs of the past and uplift the wellbeing of the good people of Edo State, your administration shall be a resounding success. It is my earnest prayer that God Almighty and our ancestors shall continue to grant you good health, wisdom and unfailing energy to successfully govern the state and achieve all your aspiration as Governor.
“THE ENEMY OF MY FRIEND IS MY ENEMY.
“AKPAKOMIZA IS TRULY AKPAKOMIZA!
“Once again, congratulations!”
While Oba Ewuare’s message clearly reminded all about Edo State’s most recent experiences in the hands of a brutal dictator particularly reinforcing absolute confidence of the subjects in the sagacious leadership of the monarch, it elicited the well-wishes of many Okpebholo’s supporters as well as the criticisms of Obaseki’s few beneficiaries.
In an opinion diatribe titled, The Perils of Partisanship: A Critical Look at the Oba of Benin’s Political Involvement, published on Saturday, 22nd February, one Osayande Ekhator, who described himself as a legal, health and political analyst, alleged that the monarch has stirred controversy with his message that the writer likened to an overt political involvement. According to Dr. Ekhator, Oba Ewuare’s congratulatory statement to Governor Okpebholo on his 100 days in office, coupled with his harsh criticism of former governor Obaseki, marks a significant departure from the traditional non-partisan stance of the Benin throne. While cleverly and conveniently avoiding accusing His Royal Majesty of being a tribalist, Ekhator alleged, “This shift raises concerns about the integrity and neutrality of the revered institution.”
Restating the historical role of the throne, Ekhator stated that the Oba of Benin is a symbol of unity and impartiality, serving as a spiritual and cultural leader rather than a political figure and partisanship. Particularly, he exemplified with the palace support for Ize-Iyamu against Obaseki in the 2020 elections and Okpebholo against Ighodalo in 2024 as indications of the Oba’s political leanings and erroneously claimed that such actions undermine his traditional role and alienate segments of the populace.
Furthermore, Ekhator said the description of Obaseki’s administration in the congratulatory message as “toxic and detrimental to the state’s psyche” further exacerbates his perception of bias, a deviation from the neutrality of the throne while warning that it risks undermining the unity and stability that the institutional monarchy has long symbolized for centuries.
While Ekhator’s scholarly piece leaves much room for an equally scholarly debunking or deprecation, a vile social media post on Facebook by one Osaretin Gaius, reposted, shared, and forwarded by the untrained, ill-mannered, uncourt and rascally Crusoe Osagie on social media correctly repudiates Ekhator with its disrespectful content: “The Oba of Benin is very useless without apology.” While Gaius may be unknown, Osagie is Obaseki’s former Special Adviser on Media Projects and present spokesperson. After reading the abuse, an avid social media observer of the sharer had this to say: “And the former SA to Governor Godwin Obaseki, a Benin man for that matter, gladly shared the post. At least, this should show the world that the palace didn’t make any mistake in writing that congratulatory message… Hmmmmmmmmmmm, what a shame.”
It is unarguable that the content of the Oba’s congratulatory message must have reminded Comrade Curtis Eghosa Ugbo of the excesses, abuses and illegalities of the Obaseki administration, which informed his open declaration of ex-governor Obaseki, Ighodalo, Crusoe Osagie and Albert Obazee as enemies of Benin Kingdom.
In a similar but unrelated reply titled, Obaseki: the Omo Ale of Benin Kingdom, a former Chief Press Secretary to Obaseki and an ex-spokesman for Ighodalo Campaign Organization, John Mayaki, flayed the ex-governor for betraying Benin Kingdom. Omo ale is a Yoruba vocabulary for a bastard. Mr. Mayaki, who has since abandoned both men for their inherent traitorous tendencies, described Obaseki as the man who mistook governance for a personal grudge in Edo State, and whose tenure as a governor would be remembered for his relentless war that sought to destroy the very culture that birthed him, the Benin Kingdom, and the throne of the Oba of Benin Kingdom.
Mayaki asked rhetorically, “Which one would you say was the most unforgivable of all his transgressions? Some persons say his attempt to hijack artifacts—the most sacred emblems of the identity of our people now being returned after decades of diplomatic efforts after being looted by British invaders in 1887. This Omo ale attempted to deny the artifacts their rightful place—the palace of the Oba of Benin. (He) preferred private hands—his business accomplices.
Again, as a reminder to those who are seeking to deliberately befuddle history, Oba Ewuare was installed in October 2016 after the demise of his father, Oba Erediauwa. Even as the Crown Prince, he prayed and wholeheartedly supported the governorship aspiration of Obaseki just as he supported the other candidates. Obaseki won the election as widely predicted by political and media trends, campaigns, analyses, observations and investigations and was sworn-in a month later in November 2016. Oba Ewuare provided cultural, traditional and socio-political guidance and support to Obaseki. During the celebration of Obaseki’s first 100 days, Oba Ewuare wrote to congratulate him and visited him at the Government House to pledge the kingdom’s support. He encouraged the governor to govern the people of Edo State with fear of God and love for humanity. Other critical stakeholders also pledged support for Obaseki as detailed in a report by John Mayaki titled, 100 Days: Centennial Musings on Obaseki’s Economic Administrations, published on 22nd February, 2017.
But Obaseki failed to galvanize the avalanche of goodwill that ushered and buoyed his administration long before he divided the APC and ran to the PDP, which he totally destroyed as he attempted but failed to divide and destroy Benin Kingdom. While Obaseki gave in to ingratitude, greed, lie, subterfuge and threat, Oba Ewuare did not do anything shocking or different in last year’s governorship election, where he openly welcomed, embraced, prayed for and inspired every candidate that knocked on the gates of the palace for support, including the APC candidate, Senator Okpebholo.
Looking at the congratulatory message again, what was the expectations of Obaseki, Ighodalo and their faction? Was there an attempt to appropriate ancient ancestral artefacts belonging to the Oba of Benin? Yes. Was there an unlawful move to create Traditional Councils in Edo South in total disregard of the established customary law of the Benin people as duly declared in the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of Edo State? Yes. Was there a denial of statutory entitlements to the Benin Traditional Council? Yes. Was there a revocation of the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre that was concessioned to Oba Ewuare? Yes. Was part of the Central Hospital demolished to make way for a private museum called MOWAA as against the initially agreed Palace Museum? Yes. Was there a clandestine attempt to annex part of the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre to balance the hospital ground? Yes. Beside the billions of Edo State Government fund illegally committed into the privately-owned MOWAA project, the above-listed are some illegal acts committed by the Obaseki and Ighodalo administration. If all the above allegations are true, how will a sane mind still expect the monarch to keep quite or lie?
Who has forgotten so soon how alleged Obaseki and PDP’s secret plan to depose some traditional rulers for being unsupportive of the state’s misrule and violence was openly speculated then?
As Edo State governor between 2008 and 2016, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who presently legislates for Edo North Senatorial District in the Senate, had very deep, cordial and cherished relationship with Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory. He did not betray the late monarch, a trust he has since extended to his successor. On the other hand, Oba Ewuare II, has adopted his late father’s honest, frank, friendly, inquisitive, unbiased, straightforward and non-tribal disposition, which has nurtured his trusted relationship with Governor Okpebholo of the Esan extraction. In contrast, ex-governor Obaseki, a son of Benin Kingdom, rebelled against promises and agreements reached with the monarch, and suspended statutory entitlements of the traditional council in a wicked but selfish attempt to balkanize and destroy the kingdom. Why and how can these facts escape the searchlight of a sincere historian or critic?
It is not arguable, therefore, that contrary to the sentiments of writers and critics like Ekhator, Oba Ewuare’s congratulatory statement lauding the superlative performance of Okpebholo in 100 days and comparing the destructive acts of Obaseki in eight years is fit, proper, morally upright, fatherly and motivational for greater responsibilities and trust.
As aptly summarized on behalf of the Governing Council, Management and Staff of the University of Benin by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Edoba Omoregie, SAN, Okpebholo is being commended for his commitment to the accelerated development of Edo State which has manifested in the various projects already initiated by the governor.
For example, a highlight of seven critical sectors indicates huge progress in the past 100 days. First, the state’s Internally Generated Revenue achieved a record N10 billion monthly underlined by the employment of critical employees and elimination of Obaseki’s wasteful consultancy contracts. Second, with amended anti-cultism and kidnapping laws prescribing stricter penalties, Okpebholo stopped the deadly cult war and general insecurity Obaseki supervised; he reorganized the Edo State Security Corps leading to the recovery of over 3,500 illegal firearms, and procured 75 Toyota Hilux with 350 motorcycles etc. to enhance the capacities of security agencies. Third, he revived the state’s transport sector with 100 new Toyota Hiace buses for the state-owned Edo Line Transport Services which Obaseki shut down. Fourth, his ban on market unions responsible for inflated food prices and scarcity heralded the launch of interest-free loans for over 5,000 farmers, traders, artisans with grants to 400 small-scale business owners.
Fifth, he has followed up his infrastructure promise with the commencement of the first of three flyovers in Benin City along with about 14 different roads across the state at different stages of construction excluding federal highways. Sixth, the government has facilitated the establishment of the first National Obstetrics Fistula Centre in the South-South by allocating 25 hectares of land for its construction besides equipping Edo Specialist Hospital that Obaseki partly converted to a museum with essentials like ultrasound machines, laptops and vehicles for primary health centres across local government areas for efficient data management and monitoring. Seventh, he is rebuilding and revamping dilapidated public schools just as he is employing more teachers.
Furthermore, the passage of the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission Law pinpoints an energy sector of generation, transmission and distribution capacities following plans to concretized the establishment of USD$300 million condensate refinery and USD$500 million 100MegaWatt hydropower plant.
With endless possibilities, the Five-Point Agenda has transformed into the SHINE Initiative: Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Education. Like the Oba of Benin, an accomplished diplomat, has done already, every traditional ruler and resident of Edo State must align with these objectives of the government and support Okpebholo.
Thus, the message is loud up to the tribunal that the good people of Edo State are united behind the man they elected as governor who has already put the state on the path to greatness. A new Edo has risen, indeed. Oba ghator kpere, Ise!
NB: Mr. Sebastine EBHUOMHAN is an award-winning journalist and media consultant from Edo State. He can be reached on: usie007@yahoo.com and 08037204620.
