The Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, Not Dead.

The speculation on the monarch’s demise had gone viral on the Internet on Friday morning.

The rumour also intensified with the claim that the Oba did not personally receive President Goodluck Jonathan, during his February 4 presidential rally in Benin, the Edo State capital‎.

But the Benin Traditional Council, told our correspondent on Friday evening that it was a mere speculation, which had been on for over six months and lacked truth.

The Secretary of the council, Mr Frank Irabor, explained that it was the responsibility of the council to issue a formal statement if such a development did occur.

He said, “They have been peddling that rumour for more than a year now because the Oba has not been coming out.

“If there is anything like that, there is usually a statement from the palace or from the Benin Traditional Council.”

Although the spokesperson did not specify whether or not the Oba was hale and hearty, he said that inability of the President Jonathan to see the monarch, when he visited the palace, did not give credence to his rumoured death.

“The fact that he has not been coming out, even when the President came last week, does not mean that there is anything like that‎.”

“I don’t bother about rumours. I believe in getting information from the authentic source. For more than six months, they have been carrying the rumour,” he added.