Alltimepost.com Sincerity of Purpose
By Idahosa Musa
The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has firmly dissociated the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, from the recent incident in which Dr. Pedro Obaseki was reportedly manhandled, describing the act as unauthorized and completely alien to the values of the revered throne.
In a public announcement issued from the Oba of Benin Palace on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the Council stressed that the unfortunate incident was neither sanctioned nor could it ever be sanctioned by the Oba, noting that violence and mob action are contrary to the character and principles of the monarch.
According to the statement, the Oba of Benin remains a peace-loving father to all, committed to harmony, justice and the preservation of law and order within the Benin Kingdom and beyond.
The Council emphasized that any action suggesting royal approval of violence is false and misleading.
The BTC used the opportunity to strongly caution youths across the kingdom against taking the law into their own hands, regardless of the level of provocation, warning that such actions threaten public peace and undermine established legal processes.
“Youths are advised to always respect the laws of the land in their actions and utterances, and to allow appropriate security agencies to handle all matters,” the Council stated, reaffirming its confidence in lawful institutions to address grievances.
The Council also admonished social media users to exercise restraint and responsibility, urging them to verify information properly before sharing, in order to prevent the spread of falsehoods capable of inflaming tensions or tarnishing reputations.
As the year draws to a close, the Oba of Benin extended goodwill messages to the people, wishing them a happy and peaceful New Year, while reaffirming his commitment to unity, peace and the wellbeing of the people.
Recall that Pedro Obaseki was attacked by some thugs at Uwa Primary School, Benin , where he went to play football
The incident occurred in broad daylight on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and involved suspected individuals who, according to the Obaseki’s family, were neither palace functionaries nor agents of the state.
Dr. Obaseki, a renowned journalist and media executive, was accosted on Sunday morning at the popular Uwa Primary School football field in Benin.
The former Managing Director of DAAR Communications was allegedly beaten, intimidated and forcefully taken away in what eyewitnesses described as a commando-style operation, a development that has sparked widespread outrage and strong public condemnation.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the assailants, reportedly armed with dangerous weapons, brutalised the victim before marching him toward the palace of the Oba of Benin.
It was against this backdrop that the Obaseki Family, Former Governor Governor Godwin Obasek, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and other stakeholders in Edo issued strongly worded statements, condemning the act as barbaric, shameful and a gross violation of fundamental human rights.
