A group of elders in Edo State has strongly condemned the “unwarranted barrage of insults and abuses” directed at the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, by supporters of the Labour Party and its gubernatorial candidate, Olumide Akpata.
Operating under the Edo Socio-Cultural Advancement and Good Governance Initiative, the elders expressed shock and disappointment at the “childish, unwarranted, and unacceptable behavior” of some Labour Party supporters on social media.
The criticism follows a visit by the 2023 presidential candidate of LP, Peter Obi, and Akpata to the Oba’s palace. During the visit, Akpata referred to himself as a “son of the palace,” a claim that Oba Ewuare II quickly refuted.
The Oba’s correction led to backlash from Akpata’s supporters, who verbally attacked the Oba online. In response, the elders, through their spokesman Comrade Melvin Irabor, defended the Oba’s actions and condemned the disrespectful comments directed at him.
The elders emphasized the Oba’s apolitical stance and urged all political parties to maintain respect and focus on issues-based campaigns.