Political Tension In Edo: Oba Of Benin Summons Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu

By Sir Ralph Okhiria

Piqued by the political tension occasioned by the ongoing electioneering campaigns in Edo State, the Benin Royal Father is to summon the two governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Godwin Obaseki and his opponent from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The meeting according to the revered monarch, is to discuss ways of engendering peace and tranquility before, during and after the Edo State governorship election.

The Oba of Benin, disclosed this at his palace in Benin City, when he played host to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who led a team of stakeholders in the conduct of the Edo election to the Oba palace.

He condemned the high level of violence and tension attached to the forthcoming governorship election in the state, saying “I will do my best to invite the governorship candidates for this election, particularly the two gladiators. I will call Ize-iyamu and Obaseki to tell them we do not want violence, we want peace”.

The Benin Monarch who said no life of an Edo man or woman is worth the election, appealed to the people to eschew election-related violence, and not to sacrifice their lives for greedy politicians.

“All those who want to turn the state into a battleground, the law of karma will visit them one by one,” the monarch added.

Oba Ewuare II, further called on all politicians and candidates contesting the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election scheduled for September 19, 2020 to shun violence, saying “no Election is worth dying for”.

He said Nigerians and politicians by now should have  learnt a lesson from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who said his election was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

The Oba, therefore urged the governorship candidates to imitate the decision of the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded defeat in the 2015 presidential election, so as to avoid political crisis and violence.

As a possible panacea to regular election related violence, the oba of Benin proposed a the adoption of a “six-year single term for all elective positions.

“Assuming it is a single term of six years, appraisal will be done every two years, and if they don’t meet up to standard after the evaluation performance, they will face impeachment”, the Oba added.

But in his remarks, the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed gratitude to the Oba of Benin for his kind gesture and assured the palace that the commission is fully prepared for the election.

“INEC is not a political party. The choice of who becomes the governor lies on the people,” he said.

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said the police are collaborating with other security agencies, particularly, the Nigerian Navy, to ensure a violence-free election.

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