By Ogochukwu Isioma
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has warned the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop the fake news on its candidate in the September 21, 2024 Governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, following his recent outing in Maryland, United States of America.
Recall that Okpebholo, yesterday, flew into Maryland for a town hall event at the Best Western Hotel, Lanham where he met and interacted with the Edo diaspora community on his plans to address key issues in Edo State, such as insecurity, healthcare, infrastructure development, and the creation of a diaspora ministry.
An online medium (not METROWATCH) had reported that, at the meeting, the APC candidate expressed his frustration that the ongoing crisis within the Benin Traditional Council, involving the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II and Governor Godwin Obaseki was a distraction from governance and had brought the palace into disrepute.
Okpebholo was also reported to have blamed both parties for the lingering crisis, calling for unity and reconciliation. He was said to have urged the Benin Monarch and Governor Obaseki to “sheath their swords and put Edo State above their personal interests and egos.”
Reacting in a statement titled, “Edo APC to PDP: Stop that Fake News” issued by Prince Kassim Afegbua, Director of Media, APC/Okpebholo Campaign Council, the APC dismissed the report as fake. The council accused pro-Obaseki propagandists of deliberately twisting Okpebholo’s words to discredit him.
According to the council, Okpebholo never referred to the Oba of Benin in condescending language nor mentioned the word “distraction” during the Town Hall meeting. Instead, he was said to have emphasized the importance of respecting traditional institutions and consulting with traditional rulers, including the Oba of Benin.
The council condemned the attempt to misrepresent Okpebholo’s remarks, calling it a failed attempt to score cheap political points. Afegbua described Okpebholo as a humble and respectful Edo son who understands the revered position of traditional rulers in the state.
The statement reads in part, “What he (Okpebholo) told the August gathering was that the Governor, Godwin Obaseki has no business meddling into the affairs of our traditional rulers and that Obaseki’s present effort was targeted at ridiculing the revered Oba of Benin and the Benin Palace as a formidable institution.”
Okpebholo was quoted as saying, “Before the advent of modern administration, the traditional institutions were the anchor of governance and administration in most communities in Nigeria. In fact, the Benin Empire is larger in size and influence than the present Edo state. Any serious-minded Governor who understands our traditional institutions should naturally accord respect to our traditional rulers, and in Edo state, the Oba of Benin, undoubtedly takes a pre-eminent position.
“If I become an elected Governor by the good people of Edo State, I will constantly consult with the great Oba of Benin and other traditional rulers across the state before taking major policy decisions. Our traditional rulers are the custodian of our value system and culture.”
The APC Campaign Council continued: “We found it very distasteful that pro-Obaseki media would twist the entire story upside down to discredit the candidate and drag him into the murky waters that the infamous Governor Obaseki has continued to drag the state in. They wanted to score a cheap political point, but they misfired abysmally.
“Senator Monday Okpebholo, is not only a man of subliminal humility and respect, he remains a proper and well brought up Edo son who understands the revered position of traditional rulers in the state, especially our quintessential Monarch, the Great Oba of Benin. Governor Obaseki has been dragging the Benin Palace artefacts with the Great Oba of Benin. He has refused to open the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre which has grown weeds and become descrepit. All the monies that were donated by foreign governments who returned our artefacts, have been with-held by Governor Obaseki without releasing same to our Monarch. ”
The APC candidate, however, pledged to give all traditional rulers in Edo a pride of place in the affairs of the state, if elected Governor come September 21, vowing to restore the “glory and candour” which the Benin Royal Palace represents.
