Oba Of Benin, Traditional Council Refute Death Rumour

The Oba of Benin, Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, has
dismissed rumours of his death as a rehashed tale that has been told
countless times.

The speculation on the revered monarch's demise had gone viral on the
Internet on Friday morning.

The rumour was given credence when it was pointed out that the Oba did
not personally receive President Goodluck Jonathan, during his
February 4 presidential rally in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Before Mr. Jonathan's re-election campaign rally in Benin, the report
also claimed that the Oba was not available to receive the
presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major
General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), because he had already passed away
about two days before the January 29, 2015 campaign rally date of the
APC.

But the Benin Traditional Council on Friday evening described the
reports as mere speculation, which had been on for over six months and
lacked no substance.

The Secretary to the council, Mr. Frank Irabor, explained that it was
the responsibility of the council to issue a formal statement, if such
a development did arise.

He said, "They have been peddling that rumour for more than a year
now, because the Oba has not been coming out.

"If there is anything like that, there is usually a statement from the
palace or from the Benin Traditional Council".

Although Mr. Irabor did not specify whether or not the Oba was hale
and hearty, he explained that inability of President Jonathan to see
the monarch, when he visited the palace, did not give credence to his
rumoured demise.

"The fact that he has not been coming out, even when the President
came last week, does not mean that there is anything like that.

"I don't bother about rumours. I believe in getting information from
the authentic source. For more than six months, they have been
carrying the rumour", he added.
--infonaija