Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has explained why funds due to the Oba of Benin's palace and other monarchs in the state were temporarily withheld.

Obaseki issued the statement in reaction to insinuation that the state government had deliberately withheld the statutory allocation due the Benin palace to spite the revered Monarch.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, noted that the fund was withheld from July 2022 to July 2023 and all statutory payment was paid until April 2023, when it was agreed for the funds to be warehoused for the resolution of outstanding issues.

It added that the administrative issues have been resolved and the funds are being disbursed to the various traditional rulers across the State as well as the Benin Traditional Council.