Oba
of Benin, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, has dismissed reports that suggested
that he shunned President Goodluck Jonathan and leaders of the Peoples
Democratic Party during their visit to the palace on Saturday.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo, governors Emmanuel
Uduaghan (Delta); Idris Wada (Kogi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); and the
PDP Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, were among top party officials who
accompanied Jonathan on the visit to the palace before proceeding to the
Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, for a rally ahead of the July 14 Edo
State governorship election.
But the President was reportedly told after waiting
for minutes that he could not meet with the monarch for “circumstances
beyond his control”.
The Oba, in a statement by the Secretary of the Benin
Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, on Monday said the Oba later met
with Jonathan in a private chamber in the palace, despite a “complicated
situation on that day”.
The statement read, “The Palace would like to make it
clear that the Omo N‘Oba did not shun Mr. President and the Peoples
Democratic Party members that came with him.
“Three weeks ago, the Omo N‘Oba waited for over two
hours in his open office where he received Vice-President Namadi Sambo
and the PDP chiefs that were in Benin for their political rally.”
Meanwhile, the Oba has pleaded with politicians to
shun violence during the election, saying seeking government offices
should not be regarded as a do-or-die affair.
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