The Oba, through his son and a chief in the Benin Kingdom, Ada Erediuwa, who led a delegation of princes and chiefs of the Benin Kingdom on a visit to a former minister of information and elder statesman Edwin Clark, assured Nigerians that Jonathan will win the poll.
Prince Erediuwa recalled that his father had met with the president three times, adding that while the first meeting was a private matter between the two leaders, the second meeting had a public purpose when the president went to Edo to commission the renovated Benin-Lagos expressway.
He said the third meeting on September 2014 was the most important because the Oba displayed a “red ododo” to Jonathan.
The prince clarified that the Oba purposely gave the president the material to pass a message. He said it was the highest Benin traditional attire and the Oba wore it when he had to go to court.
“He wore it and trekked to the court to show he meant business,” Erediuwa said. “In Benin Kingdom, the ododo represents success and it is a sign of victory. Whoever wears it to the battle field must return home.”
Recent reports had suggested that the Benin royal house was in conflict with the presidency. However, Erediuwa said the Oba had made it clear by his actions and words that he endorsed the president.
Meanwhile, he noted the “need for the Benin Kingdom to hold a private meeting with the president after the general elections to address all areas of concern.”
Clark said the president thought of Benin as home. He also promised to ensure that a meeting between the royal house and the presidency was held as soon as the polls were over.
He said the any misunderstanding between the president and the Benin Kingdom may have to do with the nomination of the ex-minister of aviation, Stella Oduah, apparently to substitute for her husband Christopher Ogiemwonyi, who was from Edo state.
Clark clarified that Mrs Oduah was appointed on her own merits, having served as the banker in the presidential campaign before 2011.
He said: “There was nothing the president did to spite Edo State. What happened was a normal thing in government.”
Clark added that to avoid a repeat of such an incident, the Benin royal house would be consulted “on the appointment of a minister from the state”.
He also pledged that after the election, which he said the president would win, “Bini will be accorded a pride of place in the government of President Goodluck Jonathan”.
It should be noted that the Prince of Benin Kingdom, Erediauwa, recently warned the Peoples Democratic Party to stop using his visit to President Jonathan to obtain votes ahead of the presidential election.
Erediauwa stated that he is not a member of the ruling party."
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