Edo Crisis: Benin Monarch Cautions Politicians Against Violence

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa, has expressed worry at the rate of political thuggery and violent crimes across the country by supporters of various political parties.

Oba Erediauwa who in apparent reference to the recent attack and counter-attack on Edo State legislators’ and its quarters by suspected political thugs, “called on political leaders in the country to be mindful of the fact that only the living can play politics and not the dead.”

The monarch, in a statement signed by the traditional Prime Minister of Benin Kingdom (the Iyase of Benin), Chief Sam Igbe, said the recent violent attacks on political opponents in the country called for caution on the part of politicians, warning that violence was an ill wind that does no one any good.

“As political leaders, you are supposed to show good examples to the younger generations to emulate, rather than recruit them as thugs,” the Oba said.

While calling on politicians to refrain from politics of bitterness, Oba Erediauwa directed the Enigies, Chiefs, Igiohen and Edionwere in Benin Kingdom to pray for the country’s peaceful co-existence and also to move to their various dukedoms to sensitize political aspirants, political parties and their supporters in their areas, of the need to live in peace and harmony.

Meanwhile, Edo APC lawmakers on Monday recounted their ordeal at plenary, following armed thugs attack on their official residential quarters in Benin City, Saturday morning.

The member representing Uhunmwode Constituency, Hon. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie, urged that the state police commissioner be transferred from the state, having narrowly escaped being hit by the hoodlums bullet, while her Owan East counterpart, Folly Ogedegbe, narrated how his 85-year old mother was tormented by the sporadic gun fire of the attackers.

The lawmakers in a resolution passed under matters of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Owan East Constituency, Ogedegbe, also called on the Federal government to prosecute those they described at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hoodlums who allegedly invaded the quarters with the sole aim to kill.

Besides, the legislators carpeted the state police command for not being proactive having being informed of the planned attack a day before and urged that the operatives’ role in the attack be investigated.

At the end of the debate on the issue, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe directed that clean copies of the resolution be sent to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Others to be served with the resolution are the Oba of Benin, the State Commissioner of police and the State Director of Department State Security (DSS).