The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has berated the immediate past Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, for not extending the benefits of his ministerial appointment to the Benin people.
Responding to Agba’s stewardship as a minister during the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, the traditional ruler on Tuesday said it was gratifying for Agba to acknowledge his intervention in his appointment as a minister.
The Oba said, “Throughout your tenure, I can’t remember if we actually saw you more than two times. The first time, you came when you complained about the flood in Benin, and the second is after your tenure.
“I will want to keep certain things from the public domain. However, I am constrained to talk about some. It is true that my intervention to former President Buhari made you benefit from the office you held. We thank God for that.
“As a minister, I was wondering if any of our people also benefited from your office. I am saying that so that anyone who benefited can thank you,” the Oba said.
Agba was in the palace to inform the Oba of the efforts he made when he was in office to ensure that the Benin Royal Museum got an allocation from the Federal Government.
Agba thanked the royal father for his assistance in getting the ministerial appointment, noting, “I have come here with some of my friends and brothers to thank His Royal Majesty for his love for Edo State and Nigeria.
“You will recall that after the elections, a lot of people thought that the country would go up in flames, but His Royal Majesty continued to organise prayers to ensure that there is peace in our country.
“Your Majesty, you will recall that in 2016, Edo State had one minister in the cabinet of the immediate past President, but in 2019, His Majesty wrote to then Mr President to reconsider and let Edo have two Ministers.
“I became a beneficiary of that prayer and I happen to have become the first minister from Edo North since 1999.
“So, having completed my stewardship, I thought it wise to come back to His Majesty and thank you for your prayers; for your support and the advice throughout the three and a half years I was a minister.
“All of these could not have been possible if His Majesty did not write to Mr President for Edo to have two ministers. I would not have been appointed. So, I am indeed very grateful to His Majesty,” he said.
PUNCH
