A deepening rift within the Benin royal family has come into public view following an emotional press statement issued by the Crown Prince of the Benin Kingdom, in which he appealed for reconciliation, defended his mother, and addressed lingering controversies surrounding his relationship with his father, the Oba of Benin.
In the statement, the Crown Prince disclosed that he had received numerous messages in recent weeks expressing concern about the welfare of his mother, prompting him to speak out to counter what he described as false narratives surrounding her absence from the palace. He assured the public that his mother is safe and well cared for, stressing that she committed no wrongdoing.
According to him, events that led to her leaving the palace stemmed from an incident six months earlier involving his youngest brother, who allegedly gained access to the palace in a manner that displeased their father. He said the situation was misinterpreted and unfairly redirected at their mother, leading to her being asked to leave the palace.
The Crown Prince used the statement to make a direct and public plea to his father, whom he addressed as “Domo,” urging forgiveness and reconciliation among the senior children of the royal household. He called for unity rather than division, noting that time was precious and that the family should move forward together.
He also addressed comments previously made by the Oba during a public event, where references were allegedly made to him in connection with issues surrounding royal artefacts, legacy restoration, and claims that he was co-opted by external interests. The Crown Prince rejected those claims, stating that his involvement with the Legacy Restoration Trust was done with full awareness and prior approval of his father.
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He explained that it was only after travelling to Germany that he was informed his father had changed his mind about his role, a development he said left him shocked and confused. He maintained that he would never have associated himself with any matter of such magnitude without receiving clear consent from both his father and the ancestors of the kingdom.
The Crown Prince further revealed that efforts to clarify the situation were frustrated by communication barriers, including his inability to reach his father directly before travelling. He said the strain between them worsened after he overheard his father make unflattering remarks about him to a public figure during a phone call while he was abroad, an incident that led to an emotional reaction he described as deeply regrettable.
He disclosed that he apologised repeatedly over a four year period through letters and personal appeals, but forgiveness was not forthcoming. Expressing pain over the matter being aired publicly, he said the decision to raise private family issues during an official event contradicted the values of discretion and dignity he was raised with, and caused him emotional distress, particularly seeing his senior sister present during the episode.
In a passionate closing appeal, the Crown Prince pleaded that regardless of how he is treated, his mother should not be mistreated or excluded. He described her as a devoted wife and mother who stood by the Oba for decades and raised the royal children with care. He appealed for her return to her home in the palace, stressing her age and wellbeing.
As the year draws to a close, the Crown Prince also extended a broader message, calling on leaders and citizens to embrace unity, peace, and positive representation of Edo State as the region heads into 2026.
The statement has since sparked widespread reactions across social media and among observers of traditional institutions, with many calling for reconciliation within one of Nigeria’s most revered royal households.
