On Thursday, four All Progressives Congress (APC) governors ended their visit to Edo State with a courtesy call on the Crown Prince of Benin kingdom, Crown Prince Edaiken Erediuwa. The governors were Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbeshola (Osun), Alhaji Aminu Tambauwal (Sokoto) and Mr. Simon Lalong (Plateau).

If the governors were expecting something close to a direct endorsement from the incoming king as the APC seeks to secure the governorship of Edo State in September’s gubernatorial election, what they got was a taste of the diplomatic skills of the Crown Prince Eheneden (who himself has been Nigeria’s ambassador to several countries).

Speaking on behalf of the visiting governors, Rauf Aregbesola thanked the Crown Prince Erediuwa for his support of the development efforts of the APC and added: “We are equally here to reassure you that as we are looking towards the end of the tenure, two terms of our governor here, that our party is as committed as ever to continue the tradition of peace, progress, development and security that we are noted for. That is the summary of our visit.”

In response, Crown Prince Erediuwa emphasised that “the Oba of Benin is not partisan. We pray for everybody. My father, one of the greatest legacies he left with us is prayer mode that we should pray, and all the chiefs should pray to God almighty and our ancestors to please present, give us a governor that will remember the masses, that will do good, go right for the land, put food on the poor man’s table, respect traditional institutions. May the Lord God Almighty and our ancestors give us such a governor. My prayer for our governor here, my prayer has always been that he ends his tenure peacefully, without blemish. So, I want to thank you for all this again.”

People of the Edo kingdom are very loyal to the throne of the Oba and in election seasons, like the forthcoming Edo governorship election, the perceived leaning of the palace can have a huge influence on how Edo people vote.

•Photo shows Crown Prince Erediuwa in a handshake with Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

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