The Director of Protocol (DoP) at the Edo Government House, Osayande Aisagbon, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Culture and Diaspora Affairs for embarrassing Governor Godwin Obaseki during a recent visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin.
Obaseki who was accompanied by Nyesom Wike, the National Campaign Chairman of the PDP in Edo State, had visited the Oba of Benin for royal blessings as part of his reelection campaign.
The Oba had reportedly asked for kolanut and gin as required by tradition for blessings, but none could be provided.
The Governor was visibly angry and embarrassed, he consequently, directed that Aisagbon be redeployed and be with immediate effect replaced with Mosis Obakpolor, a staff of the same ministry.
A source in the Government house was quoted to have said that: “The governor and his visitors were embarrassed over the development and such matters ought to be handled by the protocol department, so somebody has to take responsibility. What happened was unfortunate. It’s not as if the kolanut was not bought. The kolanut was brought in late when the Oba was already seated with his guests and according to tradition, nobody comes in when the Oba is seated.”
Those in the Governor’s entourage include:
Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta),
Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto),
Seyi Makinde (Oyo),
Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
Agboola Ajayi, Deputy Governor of Ondo State
Uche Secondus, National Chairman of PDP
Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications.