Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, oba of Benin, has stated that he is having sleepless nights over the upcoming governorship election in the state.
He expressed worry over the spate of violence in the lead up to the polls.
The monarch, while speaking during a peace meeting he initiated for critical stakeholders in the gubernatorial contest, warned politicians against setting the state on fire over the forthcoming governorship election.
He said;
“The warning is especially for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),”
“We are doing our bit internally; traditional prayers are being offered so that there will be peace during the election.
“I want to appeal to politicians to control the youths. I want the politicians to assure us that there will be peace. You do not kill yourselves over an office.
“This is the worst scenario of all the politics that we have seen in Edo. Edo politics have been in the news for quite sometime now for all the wrong reasons.
“I have had sleepless nights over this. My mind is burning up over this violence and shooting all over the state. Let the shooting stop and let there be peace and quiet in the state.”
The Oba of Benin added that election is not a do-or-die affair, urging the political leaders in the state to give peace a chance.
“Don’t kill yourselves over an office. Don’t kill yourselves over votes. Let us have the working relationship that President Muhammadu Buhari had with Goodluck Jonathan; It is not a do or die affair,” he said.
“The two candidates must tow the line of peace just like Jonathan did when he willingly announced his acceptance of defeat in 2015.
“This singular act changed the prediction of international community that Nigeria will break up as a result of that election.
“We are begging you politicians, particularly the two political gladiators. You must all do your bit to calm down the tension in the state.”
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