The Obaseki family has condemned the alleged assault and public humiliation of former Managing Director of DAAR Communications, Dr. Don Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki, in Benin City on Sunday, December 28, 2025, describing the incident as “dehumanizing and unacceptable.”
At a press conference in Benin, the family declared its full support for Dr. Obaseki’s decision to seek legal redress, insisting that the matter must be pursued to a logical conclusion in order to uphold the rule of law.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the Okaegbe (Head) of the Obaseki Family Worldwide, Pa. Daniel Igbinovia Obaseki, said the incident had left the family in shock.
“No father, mother, brother, sister, or person of good conscience can witness such humiliation of a son of Benin a respected professional, cultural ambassador, and member of a front-line noble family without being profoundly shaken,” he said.
Pa. Obaseki stated that preliminary information available to the family suggests that those involved in the assault were “neither palace functionaries nor agents of the state,” stressing that the family has no evidence linking the Palace of the Oba of Benin to the incident.
He further emphasized the family’s non-partisan stance, noting that the Obaseki family accommodates diverse political interests, provided they are pursued with civility and respect.
“On these counts, Dr. Don Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki has conducted himself honorably, and we find no justification whatsoever for the violence visited upon him,” he added.
The family reaffirmed respect for the revered institution of the Oba of Benin, describing the palace as a unifying force for the Benin people and cautioning against actions by private individuals that could undermine that standing.
Calling for a transparent investigation, Pa. Obaseki urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“Accountability, pursued calmly and lawfully, is essential to prevent a dangerous descent into anarchy and to reassure law-abiding citizens that no one is above the law,” he said.
While urging their children and supporters to remain calm, he said the family stands firmly behind Dr. Obaseki’s resolve to seek legal recompense.
“We urge calm, restraint, and reflection. This moment calls for wisdom, not incitement; for justice, not vengeance; and for a strong resolve to restore sanity and reaffirm the finest values of the Benin people.”
The family expressed confidence that law enforcement agencies will “take up this matter to its logical conclusion,” noting that the Obaseki family name “has long been carved in gold through diligent service and sacrifice.”
