President Buhari who spoke during their meeting, recounted how the immediate past Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa I was his “back bone of support” when he was Federal Commissioner of Petroleum Resources and the late Oba was a Federal Permanent Secretary.
The Nigerian President also disclosed how delightful he was with the stabilising roles the Eweka Dynasty of Benin Kingdom had been playing in the affairs of the country, and further said that Nigerians have reasons to be proud of the stabilising roles Benin chiefs had played right from the colonial era to the current period, not only in the Delta region but the entire country.
“I cannot hold back my emotions, talking about my relationship with your predecessor. After General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated, I was moved from the North-East as governor to Ministry of Petroleum. Your father was then Permanent Secretary. My relationship with him was very strong. I have lost count of the number of visits to his palace as Oba”.
For stabilising that part of the country because of his firmness. I must also commend the immediate past governor, Adams Oshiomhole for stabilising Edo State”
“I know and respect the traditional institution. I try as much as possible to understand why the authors of our Constitution kept silent about their role,” he said, noting however, that this was probably the best thing way to preserve their neutrality. “Your Royal Majesty, you are safe where you are,” the President added.
Oba Ewuare II, whose delegation was made up of chiefs from other parts of Edo State, including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, commended the President over the way he has handled security matters in the country, and further urged the Federal Government to establish industries in the rural areas to curb unemployment, rural-urban migration and human trafficking.