mutual understanding
Traditional and political bourgeoisies – bane of Nigeria’s economic and political liberation; being the title of a key note address presented on the occasion of an Intellectual Property Seminar held on 19th November 2008 at Motel Benin Plaza, Benin City.
By the grace of God almighty and the ancestors of our land, I salute the chairman of this august ceremony, Hon. (Rev.) M.U. Egharevba J.P; Chief Nosakhare Isekhure-the Isekhure of Benin; Chief Anthony Enahoro- the Adolor of Uromi; Senator Roland Stephen Owie- a distinguished trustee of Benin National Congress; distinguish guest paper presenters, distinguished guests, the management and Directors of Comandclem Nig. Ltd, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Traditional and Political bourgeoisies encompass the viruses and the cankerworm in our march to an enduring political and social Order. By my training as a political scientist, I know that human migration from the “state of Nature” to the sophisticated contemporary world we now live emerged by great sacrifices on the part of our departed and fallen heroes and heroines who proffered skills and “primitive” technologies (as in the days of old) at their disposal in solving emerging problems. These technologies or forms of solving problems were improved upon by successive generations leading to sophisticated approaches or paradigms.
In the days of old, our traditional systems especially in Benin Kingdom were greatly revered because of the transparency of leadership and service to the people. For example the cherished Benin Moat systems; Benin Bronze works; and the Network of roads in Benin City particularly were developed by our forefathers a century before colonial migration into the ancient empire. In those days, intellectual properties were hereditary, or passed onto beloved ones after years of valid dedication and loyalty. In most cases, royalties were paid to the initiators of these inventions in kind or material appreciation. I do hope Mobil Producing Nigeria Plc whom have been accused and indicted of plagiarism by courts of the land will appreciate the trends of history and resolve all impending litigations and disputes over royalties with their aggrieved petitioners which erupted shortly after a patented chemical (anti-corrosive special paint for Q.I.T. patent number RP 13522) initiative was allegedly plagiarized by Mobil.
At the dawn of colonialism which goes pari-pasu with imperialism, the Benin Empire’s development circle was altered. Traditional values denigrated with great velocity; extreme patriotism which most of our people were renowned for was replaced with monetary reward and quest for materialism. By traditional bourgeoisie, I refers to those who crave for extreme wealth at the expense of the masses through traditional institutions; usually under the guise of promoting traditional values. Although they are few in Edo State, but their negative actions portend grave danger for our people; we can recall the warped and disarticulated media attacks one of the entrepreneurs of violence whom is an unfortunate Chief, lashed at His Excellency- Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during the battle to reclaim his stolen mandate on the Print and Electronic media. We wish the selection (in – house) processes of choosing a chief could be better improved so that rogues, please I beg to apply Edokpoloism ROGGGUES (oppressive bourgeoisies) are screened from holding our cherished Chieftaincy titles. On the other hand; Political Bourgeoisies are those who benefit greedily from the commonwealth of the state (country) through political manipulation and other godfatheristic tendencies. They determine who gets What, When and How based on financial gratification. At the end of the day, their inactions give birth to various symptoms of misrule. It was in a bid to curb these excesses of traditional bourgeoisie that the Olubadan of Ibadan ordered some of his chiefs to either quite their traditional callings or anointing (special apologies to Pastor Chris) or quite politics as doing both contradicts the spirit of natural service. Late Alhaji Adedibu (the erstwhile political garrison commander of Oyo Politics) was one of the non-conformists of the traditional order in Ibadan. The Olubadan will continue to serve as a role model in our contemporary society because he sounded it loud and clear that an uncultured chief denigrates our traditional institutions and values, and this is most unacceptable. Traditional institutions must urgently purge out miscreants or social misfits parading as chieftaincy titleholders.
Ladies and gentlemen, under normal circumstance elected or appointed officials lives up to expectations so that tomorrow they are called upon to serve. In Nigeria, whenever the National or State Assembly sets to pass the appropriation Bill into law, people smell selfish interests; whenever they threaten to impeach a Governor or President; people see hidden motives. The concept of “social contract” as crafted by 17th century political philosophers like Jean Jack Rousseau; John Locke and others has been misplaced in Nigeria’s body polity due to the greedy and cleptocratic disposition of our political bourgeoisies whose stock in trade is the looting of our common wealth. It is abundantly clear that the masses now survive by the grace of western union (owing to their friends and relations who resides abroad) and activist groups who genuinely project their cause. One of the most remarkable inaction of the present crop of National Assembly members was the appropriation of over a hundred thousand Naira for their daily lunch; at a time, the minimum wage is less than Ten thousand Naira; what an irony and a grand-betrayal of the masses. The National Assembly must see the need to initiate bills that will checkmate the gruesome evil of plagiarism like the one allegedly committed by Mobil PLC; in our tertiary institutions there are cases of plagiarism here and there without proper investigations and judicial interventions. If we must achieve the Millennium Development Goals and vision 2020; intellectual property promotion and protection laws must be forcefully in-place and encouraged to succeed.
To every problem lies a solution; I am of the view that Nigerians must improve their culture of probity and accountability. We must hold our leaders accountable for their actions or inactions. At least we are all witnesses to how His Excellency, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole emerged as the Governor of Edo State. All apostles of miss-rule could not resist the express demand for the validation of his mandate. The Benin National Congress is grateful to the masses who were resolute and the judges of the Tribunals who were courageous and forthright. We seek this medium to challenge our political leaders to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the electorates because -you are secured when you have done well by serving the genuine interests of your constituency.
The anti-piracy laws should be strengthened and indicted persons or corporate bodies must be made to face the wrath of the law. We call on multi-national companies to seek people-oriented social responsibility measures to alleviate the government and multi-national companies –inflicted-sufferings of the mass of their host communities so that militancy will abate if not eradicated. Host communities on their part should initiate peaceful means of presenting their articulated demands to multi-national companies for prompt actions. It is common knowledge that the relationship between Host communities and Multi-National Companies ought to be like that of Rice and Stew; or symbiotic. But what we find is extreme demands by communities and extreme reluctance by multi-national companies. It is in a bid to foster this mutual relations that the legal committee of Benin National Congress was saddle recently to develop a memorandum to the Ledum Mittee led Niger Delta Technical Committee. And I can assure you that before the end of this month; we will make the presentation to the technical committee; and it will be publicized so that you all can see the resourcefulness and patriotism in our memorandum.
Finally, we appeal to our elected leaders to take proactive steps in addressing the issue of Intellectual Properties or patent rights violations. As we progress on this dialogue today, I do hope the repertoires will come up with a far-reaching communiqué on the way-forward on this subject for our dear nation.
I thank you for listening and God Bless. Oba gha t’ kpere, ise!
Elder Aiyamenkhue Enoyogiere Edokpolo,
Founder and President,
Benin National Congress.