Candidate of the Labour Party, in Edo 2024 Election, OLUMIDE OSAIGBOVO AKPATA, has released a written statement on the unnecessary controversy over the clarification made by the Oba of Benin .

His statement reads:

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, the Labour Party held its flag-off ceremony for
the Edo State gubernatorial elections, an event that sent shockwaves
through the established political order in our great State. While this
occasion was a resounding success, the crowning moment for me was
the profound honour of being warmly received by His Royal Majesty, Omo
N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin,
alongside our leader, Mr. Peter Obi, and other members of our entourage.
The Oba graciously offered us royal blessings and well-wishes, a moment
that filled me with immense pride and gratitude beyond measure.

During my address to His Royal Majesty, I inadvertently referred to myself
as a “son of the palace,” which could be misconstrued as claiming to be
born a Benin Prince, which I am not and have never claimed to be.
However, in his usual candour, my royal father, the Oba of Benin, swiftly
and graciously intervened, correcting me with the more appropriate term
“an indigenous illustrious son of the soil.” His Royal Majesty then proceeded
to recount my antecedents and achievements and the numerous
occasions when he had personally made interventions on my behalf as a
“true son of Benin.”
As a humble and loyal subject of the Oba, who has nothing but utmost
reverence for the revered throne of His Royal Majesty, I promptly
accepted the Oba’s correction and rephrased my statement
accordingly. I am not too proud or arrogant to acknowledge my mistakes
or to accept guidance when offered, especially from the revered throne
of the Oba of Benin, a throne that commands the utmost respect and
deference from all true sons and daughters of the Benin Kingdom.

It is a well-known fact that I am not among those who delude themselves
into believing that they are above the authority of the Oba of Benin, a
mindset that has plagued some misguided individuals — we know who
these individuals are — who seem to have forgotten the sacred traditions
that bind us together as a people.

It is therefore with profound dismay that I must address the recent
attempts by certain irreverent individuals to distort the words of His Royal
Majesty and create unnecessary controversy through their warped and
self-serving interpretations. Furthermore, I am compelled to issue this
statement due to the utterly unacceptable reactions of some individuals
who claim to be acting in my defence. I categorically condemn any
conduct or language that could be deemed insulting or disrespectful
towards the Oba of Benin, the embodiment of our rich cultural heritage.
As I have repeatedly and emphatically stated, anyone who fights the
Oba of Benin is also fighting me, and I will never be party to any scheme
or ploy that brings disrepute to the sacred throne of the Benin Kingdom.

It is imperative that this deliberate misrepresentation of the harmless and
educational exchange between the Oba and myself ceases
immediately. All parties should refrain from twisting the Oba’s words to fit
their own narrow and self-serving narratives, as this only serves to
undermine the reverence and respect due to the throne, a disrespect
that strikes at the very heart of our cultural identity.
As we embark on this consequential journey of the 2024 Edo State
Elections, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to upholding the values
and traditions of the Benin Kingdom and the traditional institutions across
the state at large, a commitment that extends beyond mere words to a
deep-seated reverence ingrained in my very being.
The Labour Party and I stand resolute in our determination to bring about
positive change while preserving the rich cultural heritage that defines our

great state, a heritage that must never be tarnished by the actions of
those who have lost their way.
To the good people of Edo State, I call upon you to join me in collectively
rejecting any attempts to sow discord or disrespect towards our revered
monarch. Let us unite in our reverence for the throne and work together
to build a prosperous future for Edo State, guided by the wisdom and
blessings of His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin. Let us be the
embodiment of the values that have sustained our great kingdom for
centuries, values that must be upheld and passed on to future
generations, untainted by the misguided actions of those who are
inexorably fixated on their dastardly agenda to wit: the insidious
denigration of our revered monarch and the throne of his ancestors, upon
which he seats.