Oba of Benin to Olumide Akpata: You are not a child of the palace
As the race for who succeds Godwin Obaseki as Edo State Governor hots up, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate in the September 21, 2024 election, Barrister Olumide Akpata, has been disowned to his very face by the Oba of Benin during a courtesy visit he made to the Oba’s Palace.
Accompanied by LP Leader, Mr. Peter Obi, Akpata had in the course of his presentation to the Oba on Saturday, June 15, 2024, claimed several times that he was a son of the Oba’s Palace.
In his remarks, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, said he had heard the claims previously, and had asked one of his chiefs to verify; because he was not aware that Olumide was a child of the Palace. His chief confirmed his suspicions that, indeed, Akpata had no direct or distant links to the Palace.
“You are an industrious son of the soil, but to say you are a child of the Palace…I am not aware that any of my children is contesting or is a politician. So I need to make that clarification for the sake of the public and the fourth estate of the realm”, the Oba said.
“I hope you don’t mind that clarification. You are an industrious, indigenous son of the soil, but you are not a child of the Palace.”
In response to Oba Ewuare II’s correction, Olumide Akpata said: “I am grateful for the correction. It was a mistake on my part. I’m a true son of the Benin Kingdom. I hope His Royal Majesty will forgive me”.
Barr. Akpata and his entourage left soon after.
