By John Mayaki
A video is currently generating an uproar on social media – it’s around the visit of Edo state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to the Oba of Benin’s palace, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, and the direction is both unnecessary and misplaced because when you break it down, you will see the place of culture, tradition, protocol, ignorance and mischievous politics.
We all know that kneeling before the Oba of Benin is not only a tradition, it’s the culture of the Benin people; a deeply symbolic gesture of respect, humility, and acknowledgment of the sacred authority the Oba represents. And, let me add that this is a time-honoured practice that has been adhered to by presidents, governors and other dignitaries including the natives, no matter how highly placed.
The President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his predecessors, Mr. Peter Obi, Chief Lucky Ogbinedion, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Mr. Godwin Obaseki, among several others have all knelt before the revered monarch during their visits and no one is exempt, and I have also not seen any controversy about that.
Now, in this trending video in question, Governor Monday Okpebholo initially knelt at the appropriate distance, and in line with protocol. However, the Oba beckoned on him to come closer – the full video says it all, but mischievous politicians won’t post the full video.
Of course, as a mark of humility and respect, Okpebholo immediately obeyed and moved forward to repeat his greeting. This is standard practice. I learnt the Oba engages visitors at his discretion, and his request to have the governor come closer for a conversation is nothing unusual. The governor who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Justice, Rt. Hon. Dr. Samson Osagie, followed due protocol throughout. The palace was pleased with the visit but mischief makers were displeased Okpebholo is at peace with the palace.
What Okpebholo did wrong is simple: he followed the same cultural protocols observed by those who visit the Oba’s palace and even got closer to him – for his detractors, he shouldn’t have gone closer or he shouldn’t have knelt down twice, as if it was their knees. It was the King’s decision to invite him even more closer and that was his personal choice and prerogative to engage with visitors more intimately when required. This interaction necessitated proximity, and the governor adjusted appropriately. What’s the fuss about that?
These ignorant commentators argue that the governor should have knelt closer from the start. However, I think that would ignore the flexibility of palace traditions, where the Oba’s directions take precedence and Okpebholo was quite aware of this. And so, I see the criticism to be more about politics then protocol, as detractors appeared determined to find faults regardless of the circumstances that prevailed at the palace during that visit.
The hypocrisy is this. One of the persons who posted the video and which garnered thousands of comments was an “Obidient” but anti-Okpebholo. Here today, he is condemning the same act of kneeling before the Oba, after he celebrated the one performed by his leader, Peter Obi, when he visited the palace; he’s here ridiculing another one done by someone he didn’t support to become governor. Neither did Okpebholo received my support but I cannot shy away from the facts. It is this double standard that exposes the bias and political motivations of those fueling the controversy that is shocking. If kneeling is a tradition for all, why single out Okpebholo? And if the King needed him closer, why do you want him to do otherwise?
Okpebholo’s humility and reverence from that video cannot equate to incompetence or ignorance. What I see is an attempt to undermine our cultural institution by the same people who claim to defend it, just to discredit a leader. This is about politics and sensationalism.
Okpebholo is the governor and his visit wasn’t just about tradition; it was about governance, dialogue, and engendering a stronger relationship with the revered monarch which, of course, he promised this, during the electioneering campaigns. Thankfully, the outrage about this video over ceremonial gestures does nothing to improve governance, infrastructure, security, economic growth, or the well-being of the citizens.
If you ask me, it was that very discussion the King had with the governor and his commissioner that I didn’t get to hear that worries me most in the video. I am interested in that very tete-a-tete. What discussions were held? The outcomes of Okpebholo’s visit to the Oba’s palace is the next thing I will watch out for since I missed that expensive gist between the trio. What benefits could arise for the state? All these are the questions that deserve attention, and not the unnecessary hate and biles over ceremonial protocols.
I appreciate objective criticism when I see one. It is the hallmark of democracy but disparaging leaders over non-issues does more harm than good. Okpebholo, as it stands today, is the elected governor of Edo state, and regardless of my position against him during the electioneering campaigns, his office demands respect. I won’t reduce governance to social media banters and thereby undermining both leadership and the collective progress of our state, especially putting food on the tables of our people through his agricultural policies and programs. I am particularly interested in that because our people are hungry. We are hungry.
Elections have come and gone. It remains for me to refocus my energies on productive ventures, meaningful discourse that is capable of advancing the development of our dear state. At the end of the day, and in all climes, governance is judged by impact and not harmless palace tradition and protocols.
