The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has appealed to political gladiators and stakeholders in Nigeria’s presidential elections to eschew violence as the results of Saturday’s election continue to trickle in.
In a press statement by the Chief Press Secretary of the monarch, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Oba gave the advice when the delegation of the European Union Mission Long Term Observers Monitoring team paid him a courtesy visit in his palace at the weekend in Benin City, Edo State.
The ruler explained electoral offences like shedding innocent blood or getting involved in thuggery, acts of impunity, and other outrageous activities were pointless.
He said, “I urge the electorate, politicians, and other stakeholders in the elections to be well behaved, as I have been praying and working hard for peaceful polls in Nigeria.
“We are expecting politicians and the electorate to behave. We pray that the elections will be peaceful. We have been praying and working hard for peaceful elections. There is no point in shedding blood. So, we are optimistic.”
Earlier while addressing the Benin throne, the team leader of the European Union Mission Long Term Observers, Jeroen De Vries, thanked the Oba for the warm reception.
De Vries also expressed confidence that the outcome of the general elections would bring prosperity to Nigerians.
