His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, has instructed Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming Edo state gubernatorial election, to refrain from referring to himself as a “child of the palace.”
The monarch made this statement during a meeting at his palace in Benin City, where Akpata, accompanied by former presidential candidate Peter Obi, repeatedly referred to himself as a “son of the palace” in both English and the local dialect.
However, the Oba promptly dismissed these claims, revealing that he had tasked one of his chiefs to verify Akpata’s assertions, only to discover that the candidate had no familial ties to the palace, either direct or distant.
“You are a respected member of our community, but claiming to be a child of the palace is inaccurate. I am not aware of any of my children being involved in politics or contesting for office. This clarification is necessary for the public and the media,” remarked the Oba.
The Oba’s clear denial of Akpata’s self-proclaimed status as a “child of the palace” visibly unsettled the Labour Party candidate.
In response, Akpata acknowledged that while he may not be of palace lineage, he undeniably considers himself a son of the kingdom.
One of Akpata’s associates later expressed disappointment over the Oba’s public correction, suggesting it should have been handled privately rather than in the presence of the press.
“Nevertheless,” the Labour Party member added, “as our revered Oba, his word carries great weight.”
“We are not entirely pleased with how our candidate was rebuked by the Oba for claiming to be a son of the palace. In my view, every Benin or Edo person can rightfully claim to be a son of the palace, as we all originate from the same heritage,” the associate concluded. “The Oba could have handled it privately rather than in front of the press and our guest, but ultimately, he is our respected leader and his decisions hold authority.”
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