By Austin Ogwuda
FORMER National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Olumide Akpata, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has disassociated himself from what he described as “utterly unacceptable reactions of some individuals who claim to be acting in my defence”, following what transpired during a courtesy visit to palace of the the Oba of Benin few days ago.
To drive home his point, Akpata issued a press statement in that regard, warning that people with dubious intentions should stop escalating the incident by taking steps further to disrespect the Oba.
The statement reads, “I am compelled to issue this statement due to the utterly unacceptable reactions of some individuals who claim to be acting in my defence. I categorically condemn any conduct or language that could be deemed insulting or disrespectful towards the Oba of Benin, the embodiment of our rich cultural heritage.
“As I have repeatedly and emphatically stated, anyone who fights the Oba of Benin is also fighting me, and I will never be party to any scheme or ploy that brings disrepute to the sacred throne of the Benin Kingdom.
“It is imperative that this deliberate misrepresentation of the harmless and educational exchange between the Oba and myself ceases immediately”, the statement added.
Recall that during that ill-fated visit last Saturday, the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, after listening to Akpata’s opening speech responded thus, “You (Akpata) are an industrious son of the soil, but to say you are a child of the Palace…I am not aware that any of my children is contesting or is a politician. So I need to make that clarification for the sake of the public and the Fourth Estate estate of the Realm.
“I hope you don’t mind that clarification. You are an industrious, indigenous son of the soil but you are not a child of the Palace”, the Oba emphasized.
Akpata on his part expressed no qualms as he replied the Oba, “I am grateful for the correction. It was a mistake on my part. I am a true soon of the Benin Kingdom. I hope His Royal Majesty will forgive me”.