Oba Ewuare II of Benin has publicly supported President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, urging Nigerians to let him continue his “good works”.

The monarch made this declaration on Tuesday during a visit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign team, which came to seek his blessing and support for the upcoming 2027 election.

Abdulaziz Yari, the campaign’s director-general, led the delegation, accompanied by notable figures such as George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; former Sokoto governor Aliyu Wamakko; and Abdullahi Ganduje, ex-national chairman of the APC.

Yari carried Tinubu’s greetings and requested the Oba’s backing, highlighting the current administration's achievements, including lower food prices, a stable exchange rate, and inter-regional road projects.

In response, the Oba expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received during his earlier visit to the State House in Abuja. He welcomed the campaign team’s visit to his palace and praised the president’s performance in his first term, advocating for a second term to continue the progress.

“For somebody who is doing well, it is our prayer that he gets a renewed mandate,” the monarch said, adding a Pidgin expression to underscore the point: “As e dey pain them, e dey sweet us.”

Referring to the Biblical passage in John 8:7, the Oba urged critics to let the president continue his work unimpeded.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” he said.

“If one is doing well, why not join hands with the president to do what he is doing well? Let President Tinubu finish the good work.”

While noting that not everyone would become Nigeria’s president, the monarch urged opposition parties to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

ASA