Nigerians have called on Charles Oputa well known as Charly Boy and other social media users that it is an unacceptable act to insult, use derogatory words and unguided utterances against the throne of Benin Kingdom.

The call came yesterday after the veteran entertainer, Charly Boy used words in a derogatory manner to react to the comment of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II that God Almighty ordained Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency.

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu became Nigeria president after facing and overcoming a lots of challenges to clinch the Presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He later faced a more popular candidate, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP who appeared to get the support of larger Nigerians for the presidency.

But after the February 25, 2023 presidential election, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu winner. The controversy sparked a reaction with many claiming INEC rigged the election in favour of the the current Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Thus, aggrieved political parties approached law courts with different allegations. The Presidential Election Tribunal thrown out the allegations of the aggrieved parties and affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the true winner of the election.

Not satisfied with the judgement of the lower court, the aggrieved political parties took the case to Supreme Court of Justice, the apex and final court decision body in Nigeria. The Supreme Court in its ruling affirmed Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria President.

On Sunday, the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II in continuation of his royal visits to States most especially states of the Bini historical ancestral events of the past like Calabar, Port Harcourt among other states; the new Oba has visited since he ascended the throne of Benin kingdom, visited Lagos State government house in Marina like he had visited other government houses in Port Harcourt, Calabar among others in 2020 and years after in line with Benin traditions and culture.

The Benin Monarch received by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said during the visit that God ordained the presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and there is the need for all aggrieved parties to come together as one to promote one Nigeria.

The monarch noted that the victory of Tinubu in the 2023 presidential poll and his emergence as the incumbent President of Nigeria showed God ordained him to rule the country, “hence, the need for all Nigerians to support him to achieve the greater Nigeria of our dreams.”

Oba Ewuare II, emphasized on the need for peaceful coexistence in the country for Nigerians to achieve sustainable development in all areas of the nation’s economy.

According to the Oba; “Diversity is good for Nigeria, so our people should iron out their differences and live as a family in peace, unity and harmony with one another.

“God has ordained that Tinubu would become President of Nigeria. We are all one. I am for peace and tranquillity. We must live together as one. Nigeria is big. We must iron out our differences and learn to live together as one, big family.”

Veteran entertainer, Charles Oputa known as Charly Boy while responding to the comments of the Benin Monarch, said in quotes: “Which kain nonsense talk Oba of Benin dey yarn? God ordain Tinubu as Nigerian President? Come ooo, who dey sponsor the Oba, dis one leave him palace to come yarn nonsense for Lagos, e get why. Nobody get time for useless talk like dis. APC dem don tampern with him sense. Make we shine our eye well-well before dem turn our tradition into political playground. Na serious matter I dey talk!. Nonsense everywhere🧐. Dia fathers”.

Responding, former presidential spokesperson, Reno Omokri said: “The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, is a most revered monarch to the Bini and Itsekiri people, from where the first Olu of Warri, Ogiame Iginuwa, came from. I am not sure it is perhaps impossible for those not in the know to understand how we respect the Oba of Benin. We would not even dare to speak to him unless he first speaks to us.

“You may or may not agree with what he said, but to insult him is unacceptable.

“That you do not understand or appreciate authority and (you) are shallow, having nothing you hallow, does not give you the right to refer to His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II in such irreverent terms. You may not respect authority where you come from, but we do. Oh yes, we do!

“You need to learn your history, and do not provoke me and others to tell you your history at our hands. Those days are gone, but our respect for the Oba of Benin has not gone and is not going away.

“I am not for or against what His Royal Majesty Ewuare II said. I am just for His Royal Majesty Ewuare II.

“We do not say you should agree with him. But even if you must disagree, do so with the utmost respect. This is not some warrant chief created by the British. This is the scion of a dynasty that created the greatest civilisation in Black Africa. Show some respect!”

Others cautioned against using offensive words against the Oba. And urged the entertainer to be careful with words.

In another comment by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, the monarch said that the Binis founded Lagos State and the comment has since sparked debate on social media.

Oba Ewuare said: “It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos. When some people will hear it now, they will go haywire, what is the Oba saying there again? But it is true. Go and check the records. Maybe not all over Lagos as we know it now but certain areas in Lagos, maybe the nucleus of Lagos, was founded by my ancestors. The Oba of Lagos will say so.”

A Lagos Chief, the Balogun of Eko, Abisoye Oshodi, disagreed with the monarch, stating that Lagos was not founded by the Binis.

Chief Balogun said: “Point of correction Sir, Lagos was never founded by the Binis. I am glad that you said some parts of Lagos, not the entire Lagos. You are right, your ancestors settled on a small Island that was called Eko then, before the creation of Lagos. On this very Island, they never created it.”

Comedian, Seyi Law, said on X: “The distortion of our history in the South West will never cease to amaze me. What is the sin of South-westerners that make some tribes want to revise our history? Maybe we just have to revisit our liberalism.

“The same way some Itsekiri warriors settled in Epe was the same way some Benin warriors settled in Isale Eko of Lagos Island. The journey of the Binis to Lagos was a joint war of the Binis and Itsekiris against my ancestor, the King of Mahin Kingdom, Oba Alagwe.

“Oba Alagwe of Mahin Kingdom had terriorised the Itsekiris and Binis so much they joined forces to kill him which led to search teams to the interior of Lagos. The fierce battle between the Binis and ilaje mahin led to the drowning of the Benin Oba which weakened their warriors and caused them to settle in Lagos.

“Oba of Benin is 70. Oba of Lagos is 80. There are certain things you wouldn’t say to your 70 years old father or 80 years old grandfather. Please control your emotions, moderate your language and disagree in a civil manner. It’s the right thing to do,” OgbeniDipo said on X, warning social media users about their comments on the issue.

According to Punch Newspaper, the agelong controversy on the founders of Lagos State has always sparked debate among the Yorubas and the Binis.

“A prominent Lagos Prince, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, in 2019 stated that the Binis were the first settlers in Lagos, adding that Lagos was part of the Bini Empire.

“This came after a former Chairman of the Island Club, Lagos, Chief Musiliu Anibaba, claimed that the Aworis were the first persons to settle in Lagos”.