Some youths in Edo State on Friday gathered outside the Obaseki family residence to protest what they described as continued acts of disrespect toward the Oba of Benin.
The protesters, who sang songs in Bini and displayed placards, remained at the scene for close to an hour. During the protest, they issued a joint statement cautioning against any conduct they said diminishes the sanctity of the Benin royal palace.
The statement was signed by the President of Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide, Iyamu Osaro, also known as Culture, and the Coordinator of Otedo Youth Union, Uwadiae Iyoha. It was read aloud at the venue and later released to journalists on Saturday.
Entitled Public Warning and Call for Accountability, the statement said the protest became necessary following what the group described as unpalatable utterances by the former governor and his associates.
According to the youths, they would not allow the revered royal institution to be turned into a subject of mockery. They faulted the Obaseki family for holding a press conference to condemn the harassment of Dr Pedro Obaseki while allegedly failing to caution family members over actions viewed as disrespectful to the Oba.
The statement reads, “Today, we, the concerned youths and stakeholders of Edo State, are compelled by the persistent misdemeanours, reckless utterances, and sustained provocations by Godwin Obaseki, and his close associate, on the Oba of Benin, to embark on this warning walk and issue this statement of facts to properly situate the issues before the public.
“The palace of Oba of Benin is sacred to the Edo people, who are forever loyal to the throne. Also, the Bini people have been peaceful, loving and have always worked in accordance with stipulated constitutional laws.
“However, we shall not stand and watch our sacred royal palace be ridiculed by some mediocre, whether physical or online, and we shall always be radical towards anybody who does so.”
The group further urged the former governor to return to the state to address several contentious issues linked to his name.
Raising concerns, the youths argued that the Obaseki family’s silence over time suggested that “moral authority cannot be selectively invoked only when consequences arise.”
They added, “While we do not support violence in any form, it is on record that we have constantly warned those who are in the habit of throwing tantrums at the great Benin Royal Palace to desist.
“We insist that actions and words have consequences, and those who have held positions before and are still holding positions must be prepared to be held accountable by lawful and civil means.
“We therefore caution against selective outrage, misinformation, or attempts to intimidate Edo people for expressing legitimate grievances. No individual should be unjustly harassed or scapegoated.
“It should be noted that we are born to continually defend our rich culture, traditions, heritage and customs. Nobody should make mistakes of casting aspersions on the custodian of our rich culture, traditions, heritage and customs; otherwise, he or she will meet the wrath of Edo people.
“Finally, we want to urge the Obaseki family to restate their loyalty to the throne and call their sons to right the wrong of the past instead of making more threats.”
The development comes amid an ongoing disagreement between the former governor and the Oba of Benin over the proposed location of the Museum of West African Arts.
Dr Pedro Obaseki, a cousin of the immediate past governor, was stripped in Benin last Sunday. A video circulating online showed him being attacked at Uwa Primary School while he was there to play football. He was stripped and taken to the palace, where he was reportedly made to kneel at the gate of the Oba Palace.
Those who brought him to the palace allegedly told palace guards that they had apprehended an Oghion (enemy) of the Oba.
However, the Benin Traditional Council later distanced the Oba from the incident. In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Secretary of the BTC, Frank Irabor, the council said the Oba of Benin did not authorise the manhandling or harassment of Dr Pedro Obaseki, stressing that such actions are not in the character of the monarch.
(PUNCH)
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