EDO PRINCE BLAST PDP

The crown prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, has warned the Peoples Democratic Party to stop using his visit to President Goodluck Jonathan to acquire votes ahead of the general election.

Prince Erediauwa, who urged the public to disregard the use of his pictures, images, audio and video to campaign for votes, said he is not a member of any political party.

The Benin Prince noted that his visit to the Presidential villa as directed by his father, Oba Erediuawa, was to extinguish negative comments that the Oba does not support the government of President Jonathan.

He stated that reference by some PDP politicians to his father’s statement that “President Jonathan will be given the opportunity to continue his good work” was being misinterpreted.

Eheneden said the prayer came to pass by way of the President being nominated as presidential candidate of the PDP.

The prince, who spoke in a statement signed by the secretary to Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, said his father’s message was politically manipulated by some self-serving politicians in order to gain the upper hand in soliciting for votes.

The statement said, “The Oba of Benin is a non-partisan traditional ruler who treats all politicians equally and always pray for all those who are into partisan politics and other ventures.”

Meanwhile, royal palace chiefs led by the traditional Prime Minister of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin, has restated that the Benin monarch has not endorsed any candidate for the March 28 presidential election.

Chief Igbe, who read a statement issued at the end of the chiefs’ meeting, urged electronic media houses to stop showing the prince’s visit to President Jonathan.

It will be recalled that the declaration of the Esogban of Benin Kingdom and chairman of Benin Forum, Chief David Edebiri, that the Binis would not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan has caused a verbal war among palace chiefs in Benin Kingdom.