Oba of Benin calls for ceasefire in Edo South Senate APC primary dispute

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has called on political actors involved in the Edo South Senatorial District All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election eligibility dispute to cease fire, saying that God will determine the final outcome soon.

The Oba gave the advice yesterday when he received Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, one of the contestants in the senatorial primary, and leaders of the party at his palace in Benin City.

He stressed the importance of collaboration and the need for aggrieved party members to close ranks and end ongoing hostilities in the interest of peace in the state.

The Benin monarch, who spoke in Edo language, stated: “It is the way God wants things to be that is the way it is. You do not argue with God.

“Everything has its own time. God’s time is the best. All of you (APC) should join hands with one another, cooperate, and work together.

“Those who lost should be calm and patient. God has plans for them. Those who are aggrieved and losers should also understand that God is preparing them for something.

“The way God and our ancestors want it, that is how the outcome will be.”

Addressing the Benin throne earlier, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who displayed his result sheet, informed the Oba that the national leadership of the APC had yet to issue a certificate of return to the winner of the primary election.

But he alleged that the result of the election conducted by the national body indicated that he won by a landslide.

He stated that, as a true Benin son, it behoved him to pledge his loyalty to the Oba of Benin and solicit the prayers of the ancient palace while awaiting the decision of the highest decision-making organ of the ruling party.

The leader of the delegation and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, former Deputy Governor of the state and Edo South APC senatorial leader, Pius Odubu, and the state chairman of the APC, Jarett Tenebe, as well as other leaders of the party, accompanied Ogbeide-Ihama to the palace during the visit.