Suspected thugs reportedly stripped and humiliated Don Pedro Obaseki, Chief Executive Officer of Hosamudia Farm and cousin of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, in a shocking incident captured on video and circulating online on Sunday.
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According to reports, Obaseki was attacked at Uwa Primary School, where he had gone to play football. The assailants allegedly dragged him to the Benin Kingdom Palace, forced him to kneel at the palace gate, and publicly accused him of being an “Oghionoba,” a term used to describe an enemy of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. Palace guards were reportedly informed that Obaseki was presented as an adversary of the monarch.
In the viral video, Obaseki is seen stripped to his boxers, kneeling, and walking on his knees within the palace grounds. He was later escorted inside by individuals dressed in white and adorned with beads, believed to be palace chiefs or officials, while the mob remained outside. Palace chiefs reportedly intervened to prevent further escalation, noting that the Oba was on his way to the Holy Arousa Cathedral for a thanksgiving service marking the end of the Igue festival.
One chief reportedly warned, “Today is Thanksgiving Day at the Holy Arousa. We don’t want any trouble. If there is anybody that counts himself as an enemy of the Oba, allow him and see how he will end up.” Despite the thugs’ protests, Obaseki was admitted into the palace by the chiefs.
The incident is widely believed to be connected to a long-standing feud between former Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin over cultural heritage, administrative power, and the management of Benin artifacts. The conflict became publicly prominent around 2021, with the repatriation of Benin Bronzes looted by British forces in 1897 forming a central flashpoint. Oba Ewuare II had insisted the artifacts belonged in the Palace and should be stored in a Royal Museum, while former Governor Obaseki had planned a private Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) as part of a broader cultural district initiative.
The Palace also accused Obaseki of attempting to weaken its authority by supporting independent traditional councils and withholding statutory monthly allocations. Furthermore, portions of the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre, intended for artifact storage, were reportedly converted into a motor park during Obaseki’s tenure.
Since the inauguration of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, relations between the Palace and the state government have improved. The new administration has restored statutory allocations to the Palace and distanced itself from Obaseki’s museum initiatives, with Oba Ewuare II publicly expressing relief at the change in administration.
The attack on Pedro Obaseki reignites concerns over the enforcement of traditional authority, public safety, and the lingering effects of political and cultural disputes in Edo State.
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