Ahead of the July 14 governorship election, President Goodluck had arrived the Edo State capital for the grand rally of the state PDP. After being received by the State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, he proceeded to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa where he revceived the shock of his life.
After having been made to wait for about 15 minutes a palace official announced to his delegation and the Bini chiefs that were also seated that the royal father would not be seeing him because of circumstances beyond his control. According to the official, “because of circumstances beyond his control, the Oba cannot receive the president, but the normal procedures of prayer for our guest will still be carried out.”
It was however reportedthat the Oba said that he would be seeing the President in private; but not in public.
This is very typical of the Oba who has proven himself to be a no-nonsense monarch. He was said to have once walked a federal minister from Edo State out of his palace because of the bad state of their roads.
However, in a statement later released by the PDP, they claimed that the Oba did see the president eventually – in private. According to the statement “Not many non-Benin sons and daughters, in the history of the palace of the Oba of Benin, can claim to have been received in the special section where President Jonathan had audience with His Royal Majesty”.
