Ex-Minister, Agba, denies attacking Oba of Benin

The king, known as Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, dance to celebrate a document he signed for the repartriation to the ancient kingdom of looted artefacts by the British military force in Benin City. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

Immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Ikanade Agba, yesterday, pledged his loyalty to the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare ll, despite recent criticism by the monarch about his stewardship as a minister.

Agba also distanced himself from some articles written by some persons in response to the Oba’s enquiries about his stewardship as a minister. He said writers of the articles were not known to him (Agba), stressing that he neither sponsored any article nor commissioned anyone to reply the Oba, whom he described as his father.

Ewuare II had, during Agba’s visit to the Benin throne on June 15, questioned the former minister about his stewardship in the state. Agba, in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Benin, entitled: “Disclaimer Notice”, said: “I do not, I repeat, I do not, and I will not have any disagreements with His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin Kingdom, on any matter whatsoever.

“I would like to address some commentaries and articles that have come to my attention, purportedly in response to the questions I received from our esteemed Royal Father, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare ll, Oba of Benin Kingdom about my stewardship.

“Let me make it clear, without any doubt, that the commentaries and articles that have surfaced are neither sought nor sponsored by me. It is not my nature to join issues in public. He is not only my father but also the father of all of us in Edo State.”

According to the former minister, after the public meeting, where the monarch queried his stewardship, he later met with the Oba in private and clarified clarified some of the issues raised by the Oba.

“However, unaware to most, later that evening, His Royal Majesty graciously granted me an opportunity to privately discuss and address those concerns, allowing me to provide clarifications and answers, especially regarding how the provision for the storage of the artefacts was captured in the budget, for which I apologised and clarified,” he stated.

He advised “those who insist on writing articles and commentaries, attempting to politicise the situation” to “discontinue this fruitless pursuit.”