A coalition of civil society organizations in Edo State has expressed strong disapproval of the criticisms and disrespectful comments being directed at the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, by supporters of the Labour Party.
The coalition, which operates under the umbrella of the Edo Socio-Cultural Advancement and Good Governance Initiative, conveyed its shock and disappointment at what it described as “unacceptable behavior” of some Labour Party supporters across various social media platforms.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Benin City, the coalition’s spokesman, Comrade Melvin Irabor, emphasized that the Oba’s actions were appropriate in addressing any erroneous remarks and insinuations made by the Labour Party Candidate.
“Our Oba was well within his rights to correct any inaccurate statements made by the candidate,” Irabor stated.
The coalition highlighted that it was overwhelmed with comments and criticism directed at the revered Oba of Benin by Labour Party supporters on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
The coalition stressed that the Oba of Benin, as the “mouthpiece of the gods and the revered royal father of the kingdom,” has a responsibility to remain impartial and correct any candidate making inaccurate statements.
“Every candidate contesting in this election has the support and blessings of our Oba. He is the father of all and he wishes every one of them well,” Irabor asserted.
The coalition urged Labour Party supporters to cease their criticism of the Oba, noting that such actions would be considered an “affront on the palace.” It called on all political parties to conduct their campaigns in a “democratic manner and keep the campaign issues-based.”
