For the Love of the Revered Benin Monarchy

By John Legbedion

Times have truly changed. That a revered, millennium-old monarchical institution, whose authority at its height spanned what became the breadth of the West African shore, is dragged through the mud due to cheap political propaganda is not only distasteful but also disdainful and deplorable.

It is the height of desperation and an assault that must be condemned in all its ramifications.

The public ire and outcry generated among the Benin people, both within and outside the country, last week as a result of the gang-up by the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), who concocted the falsehood that the Obaseki-led Edo State Government had taken the Benin Traditional Council to court, was completely understandable.

The Benin traditional institution is held in high esteem among Edo people and across the world. Also, the head of the council, His Royal Majesty the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, is regarded as a representation of the gods of the land over the people.

Fortunately, the attempt to deploy falsehood and create tension, driving a wedge between Governor Obaseki’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Royal Palace, and the Edo people has almost gone full circle. Members of the public have been enlightened and have become aware that the same actors, who happen to be close family members of His Royal Majesty and who took the Palace to court, also listed the State Government as defendants in the litigation.

The tomfoolery and disrespect in involving the Benin monarchy in their web of lies is a canary in the coal mine. Going into a highly charged political season, it has become obvious that both the APC and its candidate for the forthcoming 2024 Edo gubernatorial election, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, have absolutely nothing of value to offer in their campaigning. The same can be said of the LP, which has also been at the forefront of driving the propaganda.

Less than a month into the official campaign season, the disingenuous parties have unwittingly shown their hand and made it obvious that they would be unleashing a barrage of nonsensical fabrications to hoodwink the Edo people into making misinformed choices during the poll.

Keen observers of the political sphere will agree that the antics of both parties should not come as a surprise to anyone. It is their stock in trade. They are known for polluting the polity with one odious falsehood after another. For them, the end will always justify the means, and not even the revered monarchy, headed by His Royal Majesty, deserves to be spared their shenanigans.

In the midst of all the uproar that greeted the misconceived development, the timely press statements by the Edo State Government, the PDP, and their candidate for the September 21 election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, went a long way in checking the LP and APC’s underhanded tactics and restoring social calm and order. This is a demonstration of the respect that they hold for the revered Oba and the royal house, albeit whatever differences they have had in the past.

This same gesture, denouncing the perpetuated mistruth, is expected from anyone who sincerely and truly holds the Benin traditional institution in regard. Any action or inaction contrariwise, from any quarter, only reinforces the position of the APC, which is exclusively for self-interest.

The deluge of incendiary and vitriolic vituperation unleashed on the Edo State governor and his administration was totally unwarranted, as they stand falsely accused.

Therefore, any individual or group that actively fueled this misadventure in demeaning the Royal Palace by propagating falsehoods, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and fails to make a public retraction is only confirming that they are in cahoots with the APC and LP. Underneath their theatrical displays of deep-rooted reverence for the Oba of Benin and his dukedoms is a callous indifference to the dignity that the monarchy deserves.

In critical times, a wise person must be able to separate friends from foes. Through their abominable act, the APC and LP have proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they are the real enemies of the Benin monarchy and the good people of Edo State.

_Legbedion, a social critic, writes from Benin City