Peller, the Nigerian TikToker, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent visit to the Benin Kingdom, following condemnation from the Benin traditional council.
The council had criticised the visit, describing it as
“unauthorised” and a breach of palace protocol.
It also summoned Peller to appear before a committee of
chiefs and warned that the queen involved in the encounter could face removal
from the palace.
In a statement released on Thursday, Peller’s management
clarified that the visit was properly initiated through official channels and
was never intended to disrespect Benin culture.
According to the statement, a formal request for a courtesy
visit was submitted to the palace on February 23. The visit was initially
scheduled for March 3 but was later moved to March 6. To substantiate their
claim, the team attached a copy of the submitted letter.
They explained that although they had been informed ahead of
time that the Oba would not be available, they were nonetheless welcomed into
the palace and received by chiefs, who guided them through its history and
traditions.
The team acknowledged that certain moments during the visit
may have been perceived as inappropriate but insisted there was no ill intent.
“We would like to sincerely address the concerns surrounding
Peller’s recent visit to the Benin Kingdom. First and foremost, we acknowledge
the deep cultural significance of the Benin Kingdom and extend our utmost
respect to its traditions, heritage and people,” the statement reads.
“Peller and his team, with the facilitation of Uyiekpen
Ogiefa, son of Chief Courage Uyi Ogiefa, the N’ozeben of the Benin Kingdom,
formally submitted a letter on February 23rd to the palace requesting a
courtesy visit scheduled for March 3rd, and it was later moved to March 6th
(letter attached herein).
“Ahead of the visit, the team was clearly informed that the
Oba would not be available. However, they were graciously welcomed to the
palace, with arrangements made for them to be received by Uyiekpen Ogiefa and
the palace chiefs, as well as guided through the palace while being educated on
its history, culture, and traditions.
“This was fully respected, and the visit proceeded
accordingly. That said, we understand that certain moments during the visit may
have been perceived as inappropriate. We sincerely wish to clarify that this
was never the intention. Any mispronunciations or actions were unintentional
and purely human, possibly influenced by excitement and the warmth of the
reception.”
The statement reaffirmed Peller’s commitment to promoting
Nigerian culture, stressing that he would never deliberately disrespect the
heritage he is passionate about showcasing to the world.
“Peller is deeply passionate about promoting Nigerian
culture, and it would never be his intention to disrespect the very heritage he
is committed to showcasing to the world. At no point was it the mission or
intention to offend or disrespect the culture in any way,” they continued.
“We, however, acknowledge that there may have been
misconceptions arising from the visit and sincerely apologize for any such
misunderstandings. We appreciate the feedback and the continued support.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com