Igue Festival: Obaseki, Shaibu visit Oba Of Benin

• Monarch Hails Gov’s Support For Royal Museum
• Assures Of Better Collaboration With Govt To Ensure Peace, Security

To commemorate the 2022 Igue Festival, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, along with his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie and other top government functionaries, paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare ll, during the week.

Receiving the visitors, the Oba of Benin who appreciated everyone present, commended Governor Obaseki for working with the traditional institution to ensure security and peace in the state and for supporting the development of the Benin Royal Museum.

He said: “Present here today and uniquely together are the Esogban, Iyase and Osuma of Benin Kingdom. They are the most senior chiefs in my palace and also members of the royal family. This is to support the governor.

“I thank you for recognising that the traditional institution has played a major role in ensuring peace and unity in Edo State. Also, I use this opportunity to thank you for the support given to the Benin Royal Museum. I also thank you for the support for the cultural institution.”

The Oba appealed to the Governor to keep up with his good work in maintaining peace and unity in the state. He pledged that the traditional institution would do its best to supporting peace in the state. “We will use all our resources to ensure peace reigns in the Kingdom and ensure the people are happy because happiness is key,” he added.

On his part, Governor Obaseki hailed the monarch for supporting the government’s efforts at ensuring peace and security in the state, noting, “The last few years have been difficult but despite the challenges and difficulties, the Kingdom is doing well. There is peace in the land. With your support and the support of the traditional institution, we have been able to secure peace in the State. Security report as of today shows that we are doing well, as we have not recorded any major crime as we celebrate Igue. The success recorded in securing our people is due to the advantages we have in the development of our traditional institution in the last centuries, falling back to the traditional security arrangement, which has enabled us integrate the element of traditional security apparatus and that of the state, leading to the success recorded in securing the people.”

Reassuring of the government’s commitment to ensuring safety and security across all Edo communities, the governor reiterated that the anti-grazing Bill has been signed into law and is fully functional in the state.

He said, “Security and peace which we currently enjoy has made Edo a destination for investment as hotels in the cities are fully booked, with people thronging the state to do business. This is due to the support we continue to enjoy from Edo people, and our decision has continued to pay off for us to have peace and unity in the land. There are challenges in Nigeria and there will continue to be challenges. Our role as a government is to reduce the challenges for our people and create hope of a better future for them.”