Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba has taken the war back to those who felt he (Agba) was humiliated by the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II over his comment on lopsided representation while he was a minister and therefore tried to defend him through their write ups in the various platforms, to stop as he (Agba) never sent anyone to do so on his behalf.
He said the Oba whom he described as his father, has the right to chide him whenever he is wrong.
Truth Live News earlier reported that Ewuare II had, during Agba’s visit to the Benin throne on June 15, questioned the former minister about his stewardship in the state.
According to Oba Ewuare II, “I think, 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 now your tenure is completed.
“I will keep certain things from the public domain. However, I am constrained to talk about them.
“We interacted once in a while; it is true that my intervention to former President Buhari, made you benefit from the office you held. We thank God for that.
“But, I was also wondering about many things; as you were a beneficiary of that office, Budget and Planning, I was wondering if any of our people was also a beneficiary from your office.
“I am stating that they should thank you if anyone benefited from your
being in the office,” Oba Ewuare II said.
Agba, in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Benin, Thursday evening entitled: “Disclaimer Notice”, said: “I do not, I repeat, I do not, and I will not have any disagreements with His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin Kingdom, on any matter whatsoever.”
Agba’s statement read in part: “I would like to address some commentaries and articles that have come to my attention, purportedly in response to the questions I received from our esteemed Royal Father, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare ll, Oba of Benin Kingdom about my stewardship.”
He continued: “Let me make it clear, without any doubt, that the commentaries and articles that have surfaced are neither sought nor sponsored by me. It is not my nature to join issues in public. He is not only my father but also the father of all of us in Edo State.”
According to the former minister, unaware to the public, after the public meeting where the Monarch raised some questions about his stewardship, he later met with the Oba in private wherein he (Agba) clarified some of the issues raised by the Oba.
“However, unaware to most, later that evening, His Royal Majesty graciously granted me an opportunity to privately discuss and address those concerns, allowing me to provide clarifications and answers. Especially regarding how the provision for the storage of the artefacts was captured in the Budget, for which I apologized and clarified that was not my intention,” he stated.
He, therefore, advised “those who insist on writing articles and commentaries, attempting to politicize the situation” to “discontinue this fruitless pursuit.”