Outrage as social media post attacking Oba of Benin is “traced” to Edo Govt House

▪︎Obaseki distances self from article

An article in the social media by a purported Canada-based supporter of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Osaro Omoruyi, which is critical of Oba of Benin, Ewuare II’s peace meeting with the leading governorship candidates and their party leaders, has been allegedly tracked to the Edo State Government House.

But in a swift riposte, the State Government dissociated itself from the offensive article.

Omoruyi had taken to the social media on Monday morning to launch a tirade against the revered Oba of Benin and the Royal throne.

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Adopting a pseudonym “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)”, in the post, he had hurled abuses on the Oba of Benin over his peace gospel ahead of the September 19 governorship polls, which gospel, ironically, has attracted praises for Oba Ewuare II across the state and the nation at large.

While hosting the peace meeting in the palace last week, Oba Ewuare II had enjoined both candidates of PDP (Godwin Obaseki) and APC (Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu) to ensure that peace reigned before, during and after the governorship poll.

The Royal father had specifically admonished the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, to rein in his thugs and ensure the polls held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Several media reports had earlier linked Shaibu to the recruitment and arming of thugs who have been terrorizing political opponents across the state.

Apparently unhappy at the outcome of the parley, which observers believe exposed Obaseki and his deputy as the aggressors and the chief promoters of violence, Obaseki’s agents decided to launch the attack against the monarch.

Interestingly, according to a claim, nimble computer software deployed in the social media soon after the post started trending seamlessly revealed the origin as Benin, not Canada, as falsely claimed by the author.

Specifically, the online thread, as claimed by a source, led back to Government House in Benin.

Apparently, Oba Ewuare‘s peace message did not go down well with the Obaseki supporter as he decided to launch the attack against the monarch.

While describing the Benin monarch in unflattering terms, Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” came close to insinuating that the Oba risked suffering the fate that befell the recently-deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Sanusi was controversially deposed earlier this year by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for not supporting his re-election in 2019.

Besides, “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” made an elaborate effort to launder the image of the governor’s grandpa, Agho Obaseki, often referred to in history as “traitor” for betraying Ovoramen to British invaders in 1897 despite being a beneficiary of the Oba (monarch).

The report by “Osaro Omoruyi (Canada)” would rather describe Agho Obaseki as the one who did Ovoramen a big favour in the episodic game of betrayal.

Reacting to the attack on Oba Ewuare II, prominent Benin sons and daughters condemned the act by the Obaseki supporter, describing it as a “taboo”.

In his reaction, Dr Odigie Obasuyi, a Lagos-based historian of Benin origin, said: “With this, Obaseki has crossed the red line. This is unacceptable. In my view, Oba Ewuare II acted like a true sage in that widely reported peace parley.

“Obaseki’s desperation for second term will lead him to a political ruin.”

Also speaking, Osasuyi Agbonifo, a Benin-based businessman said: “People don’t seem to learn from history. Recall that once upon a time in the 90s, one wayward Miitary administration of Igbo extraction tried to be rude to Oba Erediauwa over the king’s principled pro-democracy stand. He didn’t end well.”

Also reacting, a prominent palace chief condemned the media post, warning those trying to discredit the Benin Oba for his otherwise sagacious role, that they risked incurring the wrath of the ancestors.

But Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said that there was no connection between the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Government and a social media post attacking the Oba of Benin, HRM Omo N’ Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, authored by one Canada-based Osaro Omoruyi (real name or pseudonym).

According to Osagie, “The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government holds our Royal Father in very high esteem and will never be part of any unholy plot to attack or undermine him.”

He added: “We have studied the said article and the desperate efforts made by some persons to link the article to the Edo State Government.

“In the political season that we are in, some misguided people can go overboard to impress their principals.

“We wish to advise such persons to desist from such irresponsible acts and accord the Royal Family the respect it rightfully deserves. The name and palace of the Benin Monarch are not to be used for petty politics.”