The Benin Royal family yesterday dismissed comments by the Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, that the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan.
It also described as condemnable, the presence of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation at the Holy Aruosa Cathedral, the church where the Benin monarch worships as the general overseer.
Edo State Coordinator of President Jonathan Campaign, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had campaigned the Holy Arousa, where he urged some palace Chiefs to vote for Jonathan.
The royal family noted that the PDP campaign team could have sought the blessings and prayers of the church ‘Ohensa’ rather that desecrating the place where the oba worshipped.
According to the family, “It is even more so when the leader or the coordinator is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church. I wonder if he will do that in his church.
“We will not allow the Holy Arousa to be desecrated. Invading the Holy Arousa Cathedral, as Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s team did shows how desperate they are to capture the royal institution.”
Speaking through the Enogie and younger brother of Oba Erediauwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, the royal family said the Isekhure was not the spokesman of the Benin Monarch.
Prince Akenzua stated that the monarch does not endorse any politician, but mandates the most senior chief at court, during a politician’s visit to say the prayer.
The prayer, according to him, was stereotype: ‘that God may give to Benin and to Nigeria the person who will develop the land and make it possible for citizens to put meals on their tables’.
Akenzua said the cold war among royal chiefs over comments by the Esogban of Benin Kingdom and chairman of the Benin Forum, Chief David Edebiri, that the Binis’ would not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan was an abomination.
He noted that it was against the rules of the palace for Chief Amos Osunbor, the Eson of Benin Kingdom, to openly castigate the Esogban since the Eson was lower in rank to the Esogban in the hierarchy of the palace chiefs.
Hinting that Chief Osunbor might be court marshalled according to palace rules over his comments, Akenzua explained that “the disturbing aspect of the whole episode is the indiscipline and disloyalty to the Benin cause, and our revered institution. In order to comprehend the gravity and implication of Eson’s act, it is important to explain briefly the organogram of Benin chieftaincy.
