Oba of Benin backs Tinubu’s re-election, says ‘Let him finish the good work’

‘Let him finish the good work’ — Oba of Benin backs Tinubu for second term

Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, asking Nigerians to allow him to complete his “good works”.

The monarch spoke on Tuesday when the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council (PCC) visited the Benin palace to seek his blessing and support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The delegation was led by Abdulaziz Yari, director-general of the campaign council, and included George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF); Aliyu Wamakko, former governor of Sokoto; Abdullahi Ganduje, former national chairman of the APC, among others.

Speaking during the visit, Yari conveyed Tinubu’s regards and appealed for the Benin monarch’s support ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor of Zamfara listed the reduction in food prices, stability of the exchange rate, and construction of inter-regional roads among the achievements of the current administration.

In his response, the Oba of Benin thanked the president for the warm reception he received during his own visit to the State House in Abuja and welcomed the PCC’s decision to visit the Benin palace.

The monarch said the president deserves a second term in office due to his performance in his ongoing first term.

“For somebody who is doing well, it is our prayer that he gets a renewed mandate,” the monarch said, adding a Pidgin expression to underscore the point: “As e dey pain them, e dey sweet us.”

Referring to the Biblical passage in John 8:7, the Oba urged critics to let the president continue his work unimpeded.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” he said.

“If one is doing well, why not join hands with the president to do what he is doing well? Let President Tinubu finish the good work.”

While noting that not everyone would become Nigeria’s president, the monarch urged opposition parties to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.