By Eseosa Ewere
International journalist, Don Pedro Obaseki, has conveyed a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun fdc, over his "unlawful abduction, assault, public humiliation and unlawful detention".
Pedro Obaseki, a global icon, was on Sunday, ambushed, dehumanized, manhandled by a group of State-sponsored thugs at Uwa Primary School, Benin City, the Edo State, during a football game which he was a participant—the thugs thereafter dragged Don Pedro Obaseki to Oba Palace, in continuation of the humiliation, attracting the intervention of some Palace Chiefs.
The iconic movie produce was thereafter transported to the Oba Market Police Station, only to have been released to members of his family after a 5-hour illegal detention.
The ugly incident has generated wide reactions within and outside the State, with many calling for justice for Don Pedro—shockingly, a section of observers has openly endorsed the attack on Don Pedro, criticising him for proclaiming "Edo hia gha t'kpere" (may Edo people live long and prosper), instead of the customary "Oba gha t'kpere" (may the Oba live long and prosper).
It is instructive to note that Don Pedro Obaseki remains one notable Benin man with a vast cultural and historical background, considering his unmatched propagation of the Benin traditional custom and culture across local and global destinations—Pedro is a bastion of cultural intelligence who has contributed extensively to strengthening the Benin cultural concepts more than any Benin man alive—it is said that intellectual property like Pedro Obaseki ought to be elevated, celebrated and honoured, not dehumanized by a handful of urchins with no reputable background in Benin.
And that the Benin Traditional Council and the Edo State government has not released a statement to condemn the madness, draws significant public concern—that people may begin to see these institutions as complicit in the matter, when deaf silence is consistenly maintained, especially as Don Pedro Obaseki was taken to the Oba Palace, having been dragged 5kilometres from Uwa Primary School, his regular footballing spot.
The last one year has seen Edo degenerate to a theatre of hooliganism, gangsterism and lawlessness, where residents, including women, have become victims of constant intimidation and antagonism—the Edo State government has come under wide condemnations for its open support and massaging of hooliganism in Edo, particularly in Benin, where the action is more prevalent.
Recent attacks on both locals and foreigners have gone unaddressed—the most recent being the attack on foreign envoys, attack on EBS female journalist, attack on a female hotel staff for demanding her salary, and the Sunday dehumanization of no less a person than Don Pedro Obaseki, all by thugs backed by the government of the day, yet no action taken whatsoever by the government, not even a statement released.
Don Pedro's unfortunate ordeal has drawn international reactions, as Amnesty International, notes that "the Palace of the Oba of Benin where he was dragged to in utter disregard for human dignity and the rule of law must distance itself from such bizzare impunity".
AI added, "what happened in Benin City on Sunday is unacceptable in a free society; it is also prohibited under international human rights law and standards aimed at safeguarding human dignity and protecting people from violence".
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