The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, on Sunday, publicly denied a claim by former Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that he advised against the 2016 gubernatorial candidacy of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Oshiomhole made the assertion during a visit to the Benin palace, following the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s victory in the Saturday gubernatorial election.
While addressing the monarch, Oshiomhole, who knelt before him, stated, “Your Royal Majesty, I would like to apologise for my poor judgement.
Despite your advice, I supported Obaseki, believing that as a Benin man, he would respect our traditions. I now realise it was a mistake.”
In a swift response, the Oba refuted Oshiomhole’s claim, stating that he never advised against Obaseki’s candidacy.
The monarch said, “When you brought Obaseki to me, I did not say anything against him. I want to correct that. I didn’t advise against him when you presented him.”
He further pointed to Elemah, a former chairman of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue and Oshiomhole’s close associate, as a witness to the encounter.
“You will recall, this one is your witness when you brought Obaseki to introduce him to me,” the Oba remarked.
The interaction, which took place in the presence of notable figures such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and APC leader Senator Okpebholo, added a dramatic twist to the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the APC’s electoral victory.