The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has charged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to allow governor Godwin Obaseki discharge his duty freely without external influence.
He made the call when five governors elected on under the platform of PDP paid a courtesy call on him, Tuesday.
PDP governors; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Aminu Tanbuwal of Sokoto, and and Seyi Makinde of Oyo were part of the delegation to the monarch.
The Monarch appealed to governor Obaseki to run an all-inclusive government in the interest of development of the state.
He said, “I want to on this occasion plead with the PDP to guard against godfatherism and not to allow unscrupulous members kill your party. I will tell the PDP governors not become hidden godfathers that will be controlling Governor Obaseki.
“I appeal to the governor to let bygone be bygone, all are gone now and I have told him that he should stretch out the olive branch for all sides to work with him. All hands should be on deck to work for Edo state and Edo people everywhere they may be.
“The whole world is watching Edo state and I said, don’t worry it is not what they think will happen that will happen. Come the election, there will be peace and I begged my ancestors and that if it is only that we can achieve, I will thank our God.”
Obaseki, who thanked the traditional ruler for his role in ensuring a peaceful election, promised to rededicate himself to serving the people.
He said, “You are our Oba and it behooves on all of use to preserve the traditional institution. You have kindly received us today; I want to assure you that as the governor of Edo State, I have heard your admonitions and I want to promise that I will rededicate myself in my next tenure to the full service of the state and the people of the state,”
Also speaking, governor Wike acknowledged his effort in ensuring a peaceful election in the state and assured him of the party’s respect for traditional institutions.
He said, “As it is our tradition in PDP, we will always respect the traditional institution and whatever promise we have made, we will always fulfil.
“You made a promise to us that as a traditional ruler, you are apolitical and so, that you will not canvass for votes for anybody but what you preach is that there should be peace, there should be free and fair election.