A-B-O-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N

 

Outrage greets Obaseki over social media attack on Benin Palace

A peal of thunder and lightning is coursing through Benin nation against Governor Godwin Obaseki following a social media attack launched Monday morning against the revered Benin throne believed to be orchestrated from the Benin Government House. 

Adopting a pseudonym “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)”, the post rained abuses on the Oba of Benin over his peace gospel ahead of the September 19 governorship polls which ironically has attracted praises for Oba Ewuare II across the state and the nation at large. 

While hosting the peace meeting in the palace last week, Oba Ewuare II had enjoined both candidates of PDP (Obaseki) and APC (Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu) to rein in their thugs and ensure the polls held in a peaceful atmosphere. 

Apparently, Oba Ewuare‘s peace message did not go down well with Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu. 

Specifically, Oba Ewuare II, who fondly describes Edo Deputy Governor as “my son”, urged him to keep the peace. 

Several media reports had earlier linked Shaib to the recruitment and arming of thugs who have been terrorizing political opponent across the state. 

Apparently unhappy at the outcome of the parley which observers believe exposed Obaseki and his deputy as the aggressor and the chief promoters of violence, Obaseki’s agents decided to launch the attack against the monarch. 

Interestingly, nimble computer software deployed on the social media soon after the post started trending seamlessly revealed the origin as Benin, not Canada as falsely claimed by the author. 

Specifically, the online thread led back to Government House in Benin. 

While describing the Benin monarch in unflattering terms, Obaseki’s “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” came close to insinuating that the Oba risked suffering the fate that befell the recently deposed Emir of Kanu, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. 

Sanusi was controversially deposed earlier this year by Governor Ganduje for not supporting his re-election in 2019. 

Besides, “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” made an elaborate effort to launder the image of the governor’s grandpa, Agho Obaseki, often referred to in history as “traitor” for betraying Ovoramen to British invaders in 1897 despite being a beneficiary of the Oba monarch. 

Rather, “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” described Agho Obaseki as the one who did Ovoramen a big favour in the episode. 

Reacting yesterday, prominent Benin sons and daughters condemned Obaseki for this “taboo”.

Said Dr. Odigie Obasuyi, a Lagos-based historian of Benin origin, “With this, Obaseki has crossed the red line. This is unacceptable. In my view, Oba Ewuare II acted like a true sage in that widely reported peace parley. Obaseki’s desperation for second term will lead him to a political ruin.”

Said Mr. Osasuyi Agbonifo, a Benin-based businessman: “People don’t seem to learn from history. Recall that once upon a time in the 90s, one wayward Miitary administration of Igbo extraction tried to be rude to Oba Erediauwa over the king’s principled pro-democracy stand. He didn’t end well.”

Also reacting, a prominent palace chief condemned the media post, warning those trying to discredit the Benin Oba for his otherwise sagacious role, risked incurring the wrath of the ancestors.