…drag him half-naked to Benin Monarch’s palace
Suspected thugs on Sunday reportedly assaulted Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, a cousin to ex-Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The incident occurred while Obaseki was playing football at Uwa Primary School field on Igbesamwan Street, Benin City.
The thugs reportedly stripped Obaseki, accusing him of making disrespectful remarks against the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
A viral video footage shows the youths dragging him from the field before taking him to the Oba’s Palace.
In the viral video, the youths labelled the former governor’s cousin an “oghinoba” (enemy of the Oba).
They added that their action stemmed from comments he allegedly made in the United Kingdom, which they considered insulting to the monarch.
On arriving at the palace, the youths told the palace chiefs and guards that they brought Obaseki to answer for allegedly disrespecting the Oba.
The palace chiefs, who, however, intervened, noted that the Oba was at Holy Arousa Church attending a thanksgiving service to climax the end of the annual Igue Festival.
The chiefs urged the youths to avoid causing trouble in the kingdom.
”We don’t want any disturbance. If anyone considers himself an enemy of the Oba, leave him, and time will reveal the outcome,” the chiefs admonished.
The video also showed palace chiefs taking custody of Obaseki from the youths.
A Benin-based human rights activist, Marxist Kola Edokpayi, in a post on Facebook, condemned the attack, describing it as a violation of Pedro Obaseki’s fundamental rights.
Edokpayi stressed that the Oba’s palace would never endorse any act that violates human rights.
