Obaseki’s visit to Palace stuns Oba of Benin

His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin has expressed surprise over Mr. Godwin Godwin, Edo State governor’s visit to his Palace at the weekend in Benin City.

Oba Ewuare II, his Chiefs, and members of the Benin Royal family were glad to have Governor Obaseki in their midst on the occasion after a long time.

He wondered why the Governor seldom visited his palace and advised the Governor and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu to keep in touch with the Palace.

He particularly acknowledged the congratulatory letter sent to him by the deputy governor on the national merit award of CFR that was recently conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Benin monarch stated that he was pleased with the last paragraph of the letter where Shaibu referred to him as his ‘loyal son and subject,’ stressing that he is glad to welcome him to his Palace.

“Our dear Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu who I usually address as my son, I got your letter congratulating me for the CFR award; I also want to state that I am happy to receive the letter where he referred to in the last paragraph that ‘I am your loyal son and subject.

“I thank you very much … As you are here, I am also glad to welcome you (Shaibu) back as my son.

“We are also glad to have the Governor (Obaseki) in our midst today (Saturday) after a long time. As they would say, ‘Na your face be this? Perhaps, we are going to see more and the face of my son there, the deputy governor,” Oba Ewuare II said.

Oba Ewuare II also welcome members of the PDP Campaign Committee for the 2023 polls and thereafter sent his best wishes to one of his dear friends, His eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto through the governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who was also present during the visit, ahead of the PDP campaign flag-off in Edo State.

Prominent members of the Committee led by PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; Presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku with his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; Governors of Edo (Mr. Godwin Obaseki); Mr. Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto); the immediate past national chairman of Nigeria’s main opposition party, Prince Uche Secondus, and Senator Dino Melaye were present at the courtesy call on the Benin monarch.

Governor Nysome Wike of Rivers State, with his loyalists in the State, led by Chief Dan Orbih, the South-South Zonal chairman of PDP was however absent at the Palace and Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, the venue of the PDP rally.