Adams Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo North and former governor of Edo State, has shed light on his decision to kneel before the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
Oshiomhole, who is well-known for his political influence in Edo State, said his gesture was a mark of deep respect for the Benin traditional institution.
He made this statement during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today program on Monday.
The issue of his kneeling before the Oba of Benin came to the forefront after images surfaced showing Oshiomhole in a humble position before the revered monarch.
Oshiomhole explained that this act was not just a gesture but a reflection of his understanding of the cultural and traditional importance of the Benin monarchy.
Oshiomhole stressed that the Benin monarchy holds a significant place in the hearts of the Edo people, and as a former governor, he fully understands this.
He stated that during his tenure as governor of Edo State, he made it a habit to always kneel before the Oba and other traditional rulers in the state.
“A father is always a father,” Oshiomhole remarked during the interview.
He went on to say that even when the current Oba of Benin asked him not to kneel, he continued to do so because it was a way of showing respect to the traditional leadership of the land.
This gesture, he said, is a way to honor the cultural heritage of the Benin people and their leadership, which dates back centuries.
During the interview, Oshiomhole did not hold back his criticism of the outgoing Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, describing him as a failure.
Oshiomhole, who was instrumental in Obaseki’s rise to power, expressed disappointment with the governor’s performance during his eight years in office.
He accused Obaseki of not delivering on his promises and failing to complete even basic projects that would have benefited the people of Edo State.
Oshiomhole was particularly vocal about Obaseki’s failure to improve the state’s education sector.
According to him, the governor could not point to a single primary or secondary school that was built or upgraded during his tenure.
“During the campaign, you listened to us and Obaseki; you can’t say he pointed at this ultra-modern primary school that he built or there is this secondary school he built,” Oshiomhole stated during the interview.
The former governor also criticized the governor’s unfulfilled promises regarding infrastructure projects such as the proposed seaport and airport for Edo North, which, according to Oshiomhole, have remained on paper without any tangible progress.
Oshiomhole further emphasized that several grand projects announced by Obaseki and his administration, including a feasibility study for the construction of an airport in Edo North, had not seen the light of day.
“They assured the Oba of Benin that the great people of Benin will have a seaport in Ghereghere,” Oshiomhole recalled, adding that the groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects, attended by top government officials, had yielded no results.
He noted that the industrial park, which was meant to be a key project for the state’s economic development, remains an abandoned site, now overtaken by wild animals.
“If you go there, these places are occupied by lizards and snakes,” he added, in a critical jab at the lack of progress in the state.
Oshiomhole also expressed frustration with the state of drainage systems in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
He recounted how his administration had worked to tackle the problem of flooding in the city by constructing major drainage systems. However, he claimed that the current government had allowed these systems to fall into disrepair, leading to renewed flooding during the rainy season.
“Even the drainage I did to deflood Benin City, he compromised it, and this is rainy season. So the timing of this election was good for us and bad for the PDP because when it rains, nobody can step out of his house,” Oshiomhole remarked.
Reflecting on his role in bringing Obaseki to power, Oshiomhole admitted that many people blame him for Obaseki’s failures as governor.
“To some extent, not a few people believe that I should be blamed for Obaseki’s failures and woeful performance,” Oshiomhole said.
He acknowledged that he played a key part in Obaseki’s rise to the governorship, but he expressed regret over what he sees as Obaseki’s inability to deliver on the expectations of the people.
Oshiomhole highlighted the sharp contrast between his tenure as governor and Obaseki’s performance, pointing out the developmental strides he made during his own time in office.
“I understand the needs of the people,” he said, noting that he was familiar with the state’s challenges and worked hard to address them.
