Insurgency: Oba of Benin commends Buhari

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on Thursday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his fight against corruption and curtailing the activities of Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country. He gave the commendations while playing host to President Muhammadu Buhari in his palace in Benin City. The Benin monarch who took time to intimate him of his personal effort made to ensure a peaceful election is conducted across the states of the federation in the forthcoming election said politicians on their part should endeavour to be more patriotic and be concerned about the security and welfare of the people which of course is the primary purpose of government. “Politicians on their part should endeavour to be more patriotic and be concerned about the security and welfare of the people which of course is the primary purpose of government. “As the 2019 general elections draw near, it is pertinent to call on politicians to let the interest of Nigerian and Nigerians be uppermost in their mind. “Consequently, they should not do anything that would undermine our collective peace, unity and progress. They should not engage in acts that could truncate our democracy”, he said. Ewuare II while lauding the federal Government’s support to the state, appealed that effort should be intensified to ensure that the dualization of the Benin-Auchi-Lokoja highway is completed to ease the movement of goods and services as well as save lives of motorists and travelers on that ever busy road. The royal father also appealed to the president not to renew the licenses of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for its inability to live up to its responsibility to the people of the state but to support the state’s government quest in seeking an alternative sources of providing electricity to meet the demand of the people of the state. “Mr. President, I will not fail to mention the challenge of electricity supply in Edo State. Electricity supply is no doubt key to the development of any society. Unfortunately, over the years the people of Edo State have experienced inadequate electricity supply by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). “In fact, during one of the meetings of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, we issued a communiqué condemning the inefficient performance of BEDC, including its estimated billing method. “We also called for the withdrawal of the operational license of BEDC. In its place, Traditional Rulers appealed to the federal government to encourage and support the efforts of Edo State government in seeking alternative sources of providing electricity to meet the demand of the people”, he said. Responding, President Muhammadu Buhari commended the Benin monarch for his roles in stabilizing the nation’s politics. He assured him of never to relent in his fight against corruption and ensuring adequate security for the people of the country. He also promised to look into the request presented by the Oba of Benin. Titus Akhigbe, Benin-City