By Charles Pemu 
A newly surfaced video from a recent event in London has become the focal point of the violent confrontation involving veteran filmmaker Don Pedro Obaseki in Benin City.
According to eyewitness accounts and subsequent statements from the victim, the assault—which saw the filmmaker publicly humiliated and stripped was purportedly triggered by his choice of words during a public address in the United Kingdom. The assailants reportedly accused Obaseki of a grave breach of cultural protocol by allegedly prioritizing the collective prosperity of the Edo people over the traditional salute to the Benin Monarchy.
The central point of contention lies in a specific phrase used during the London speech, where the filmmaker reportedly stated, “May the Edo people live long and prosper.” Within the traditional and highly structured society of the Benin Kingdom, public addresses by prominent indigenes are historically expected to commence or conclude with the formal homage, “Oba Ghato Okpere, Ise!” (Long may the King reign).
The assailants contended that by opting for a generalized prayer for the populace instead of the specific exaltation of His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ewuare II, the filmmaker had signaled a subtle but profound act of defiance against the throne.
This incident is widely viewed by political and cultural analysts as a byproduct of the lingering tensions between the Benin Palace and the former gubernatorial administration of Godwin Obaseki.
During the previous administration’s tenure, disputes over the repatriation of looted artifacts and the management of traditional security structures created a polarized environment where linguistic choices are now scrutinized for political undertones.
While the filmmaker maintains that his words were an innocent expression of goodwill for all citizens, the interpretation by local loyalists suggests that in the current Edo political climate, neutral statements are increasingly being viewed through a lens of institutional loyalty or betrayal.
The video, which has now gone viral, serves as a stark reminder of the fragile balance between individual freedom of expression and the rigid expectations of traditional heritage.
As legal practitioners and human rights advocates review the footage of the London speech alongside the subsequent assault in Benin, the discourse has shifted toward the legality of enforcing cultural protocols through physical violence.
The Edo State Police Command has been urged to investigate the timeline of events, from the delivery of the London address to the coordinated attack at Uwa Primary School, to determine if the assault was a premeditated act of political intimidation masked as cultural defense.