The weeks leading up to yesterday have seen a lot of tension in Edo state. This has led the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to call for a meeting between the key political actors of Edo state.
The meeting took place yesterday at the palace of the Oba of Benin to end the trend of violence in the state.
Shortly after the main attendees were seated, the APC and PDP candidates went to the Oba to pay homage. Of those in attendance were the immediate past Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, his predecessor, John Oyegun, the current governor and PDP candidate, Obaseki, the APC flagbearer, Ize-Iyamu, and the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
The Oba implored all the politicians to allow peace reign in the state before, during and after the elections.
“To me, they are all one family, and what cannot be resolved when you are all family? Family can quarrel but there must be a resolution. Today, that is what I want us to achieve; there must be a resolution,” the monarch said.
Reassuring the Oba, Obaseki said, “I want to assure you, Your Majesty, that in my role as the Chief Security Officer of the state, I am doing all I can, all within my possible best to maintain peace and safety in Edo State.”
Ize-Iyamu also responded in the affirmative. “Every campaign we do henceforth, we are going to spend some time to also talk to all of them (party supporters) about the need to keep to the peace, no matter what provocation they might talk about.”
To seal the assurances to the Oba, Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu then came together in an embrace.
