The governor of Edo State’s chief of staff, Osaigbovo Iyoha, recently released a statement opposing a contentious statement made by the former governor, Adams Oshiomhole. The remark, which centered on Governor Godwin Obaseki’s wife Betsy Obaseki’s lack of children, caused a stir in the political community. However, Iyoha’s response placed more emphasis on cultural values and respect for one’s own dignity than on political mudslinging.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
While drawing from his personal life, Iyoha revealed his own upbringing by a disabled mother. He shared how his experiences growing up had shaped his understanding of respect in the Benin culture, where it is considered highly inappropriate to demean someone based on their personal or physical circumstances. He stressed that the values of their community teach respect for all individuals, regardless of their challenges or conditions.
Iyoha condemned Oshiomhole’s remark, stating that such an insult was not only inappropriate but also deeply offensive to the values upheld in Edo society. He pointed out that personal attacks, particularly those related to conditions beyond a person’s control, violate the community’s traditional norms. In Benin culture, he emphasized, respect for others is paramount, and attacking someone’s condition is seen as crossing a moral line.
Despite the provocation, Iyoha stated that the governor’s team would not engage in a prolonged response to the insult. Instead, their focus remains on addressing the core issues facing the people of Edo State. He noted that distractions like these only serve to derail attention from the important work of governance and development.
Rather than allowing personal attacks to dominate the discourse, Iyoha reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to serving the people. He highlighted the need for political discussions to center on the real concerns of citizens, such as infrastructure, education, and economic growth, rather than resorting to personal insults.
He recalled his own experiences as a child and how, despite his mother’s condition, no one had ever tried to demean him or his family, reflecting the deep-rooted respect that should be extended to everyone in the society.
In his remarks: “I was born by a disabled mother, in Benin it is forbidden for you to insult somebody with a condition. Growing up as a boy I knew that all along and nobody ever tried to insult me with my mom’s condition”.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
