Oba Of Benin urges Youths to shun planned protest on Monday  

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has urged all youths and organizers of a planned mass protest in the state on Monday to drop their plans.

Several youths had planned mass protest in solidarity for the arrested, detained and remanded Benin Traditional Council Secretary, Frank Irabor by the Edo State government for alleged demolition of houses.

The royal father in a statement by the Palace Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, expressed that the issues that could have permitted such mass protest are already being handled.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Benin Traditional Council has been drawn to a planned solidarity gathering by the Coalition of Social cultural Organisations over the arrest and detention of the Secretary, Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor and some chiefs in the Benin Kingdom.

“While the Palace appreciates their concern, let it be known that the Palace of the Oba of Benin does not want such a gathering at this time and consequently directs that the organisers of the gathering halt the exercise immediately.

“The issue in question that led to their arrest is being resolved. In this regard, nobody or group of persons should gather in the Oba of Benin Palace or anywhere in the Benin Kingdom on Monday 5th September 2022.”

The Edo State government has accused the Palace Secretary of leading other chiefs to destroy and demolish over 60 houses in the Ulegun community in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, on the grounds that the developers built on Oba’s land.