Crisis hits Benin Forum over Edebiri's support for Buhari

Concerned members ask him to step aside as steering committee chair

Concerned members of Benin Forum have passed a vote of no confidence in

the chairman of the Steering Committee of the Forum, Chief David Edebiri,

the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, for his inability to properly manage the

affairs of the Forum in accordance with its constitution.

This was sequel to Edebiri's campaign that Benin people should not vote

for President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office, contrary to

the position and direction of His Royal Majesty, the Omo N'oba Erediauwa

They have asked Edebiri to step aside as chairman of the steering

committee within 72 hours beginning from Monday, February 16. The

ultimatum expires today, Wednesday, February 18, 2015.

These positions, taken at a meeting in Benin last Sunday convened by

Prince S. Ebuwa, Prince (Dr) Francis Omo-Osunde Iyasere, Colonel Edward

Igbinidu (who represented Benin Retired Military Officers), Lawrence

Igbinosun and Lucky Osahon, were contained in a press statement signed by

the Director of Media of the Forum, Barrister Osamwonyi Osagiede.

According to the statement: “Chief David Edebiri should be reminded that

some months ago, our revered Benin monarch, Omo N'oba Nedo

Uku-Akpolokpolor, Oba of benin, who appointed him and twenty-three other

prominent Benin sons and daughters, who are members of different political

parties to oversee the affairs of the Forum, sent the crown prince

(Eheneden Erediauwa) to President Jonathan to express his support for the

re-election of Mr President and his constant prayers for his victory at

the polls.
“Therefore, it is odiously mischievous and rude for anyone for that matter

to assume another position.
“The concerned members of the Benin Forum rose from an emergency meeting

on Sunday, 15th February, 2015 in Benin City to re-emphasize the

importance of the Forum and its undiluted role is supposed to play for the

entire Beni people. The members salute the Founder of the Benin Forum,

His Royal Majesty, Omo N'oba Nedo, Oba Erediauwa, CFR.

“The concerned members reviewed the journey and activities of the Forum

since inception; and specifically, the dragging of the Bini Forum to

political arena by the steering committee under the chairmanship of Chief

David Edebiri, who always uses the organisation to enrich himself to the

detriment of the Benin people.
“Right from time, he has single-handed used our most revered Benin

monarch's name to score political points for his selfish interest.”

The Forum said that Edebiri's push that Benin people should not vote for

President Jonathan “is totally unacceptable as it amounts to undermining

the sanctity and authority of the Benin monarch. To every Benin man, the

pronouncement and direction of the Benin monarch is sacrosanct.

“Chief Edebiri's reaction to Patrick Eholor's position that he (Edebiri)

was speaking for the gods is most amusing and funny: when has he become

the chief priest of Benin Kingsdom or Ohen?”
The Forum reminded Edebiri about how Buhari truncated the tenure of the

democratically-elected civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari and the

governorship mandate of a prominent son of Benin Kingdom, Dr Samuel

Ogbemudia, three months into office in 1983
It said if the gods have asked Edebiri to tell Benins to vote for the same

man (Buhari), “then there is more to it than meets the eye; and it is

hoped that he is not lying against his gods.”
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