bnc
BENIN NATIONAL CONGRESS – AN EMERGING INSTITUTION OF BENIN NATION; BEING THE TITLE OF A PAPER PRESENTED IN HONOR OF MR.SOLOMON EDEBIRI M.O.N., GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE OF PROGRESSIVE PEOPLES PARTY. DURING A COURTESY VISIT TO THE BNC SECRETARIAT.
May I formally and most respectfully welcome you Mr. SOLOMON EDEBIRI M.O.N., Members of Progressive Peoples Party here present and gentlemen of the press to the Congress secretariat for this august occasion that will immensely contribute to the political behavior of Edo people in the count down to the April elections. Let us seize this medium to register our deepest felicitation to you on your recent nomination and elevation to the status of M.O.N. by President Olusegun Obasanjo G.C.F.R., President of the Federal Republic. Once again you are welcome.
The title of this paper was carefully chosen because of the need to put on records some of the achievements of the BNC since its formal flag-off few years ago. As the apex youth organization of Edo people, the BNC has sustained its clamor for the redress of the various patterns of marginalization of our people. Our resolve to embark on this noble crusade is not because we cherish activism or populist struggles but because the erstwhile leadership groups of Benin Nation covertly abdicated their responsibilities largely because they politicized their resolve. So when in 2001, the Benin Youth Congress, an affiliate of the B.N.C. under my leadership challenged the royal reception organized in honor of the governor at the Oba’s palace, the good people of the Nation rose in support of the BYC and prayed for its sustenance as a vocal and uncompressing network of Benin Nation. Ever since, particularly three years ago when the umbrella group of Benin Youths (the BNC) was formed, issues of Benin interest have never seized to be articulated.
We no doubt appreciate the tasks ahead of us. We are inspired by the succinct words of Prof. Wole Soyinka, “the man died when he keeps silence in the face of tyranny”. As youths, we know that nature and generations unborn, expects a lot from us because we have the energy, the zeal, mental ability and articulative ingenuity as added advantage over our fathers and therefore everything must be done to keep the cause of liberation and hope alive.
We appreciate the fact that the polity has been over heated by the actions and inactions of political actors. And we believe that the militancy of the youths especially in our region (Niger Delta) is caused largely by the dis-service perpetuated by the ruling class over the years. In reconciling the aforementioned beliefs, we advocate that the process of electing representatives of the people must be free, fair and credible. In a nutshell, only those that are freely elected by the people can deliver the desired goods to the people and in which case, peace and harmony will reign. This is an ideal situation, which the good people of Nigeria have been craving for. And when one looks at the country “back 30” when we had surplus in our balance of payment and now when government’s slogan REFORMS is nothing to write home about in terms of concrete poverty reduction, the result is psychological confusion because Nigerians deserve a better economy and environment than what is presently on ground. And rather than convening a sovereign conference of sound minds to articulate a meaningful template that will cause economic revolution, the ruling class prefers to hand pick their friends most of whom have nothing to offer. What we get is below expectation and when it’s reasonably manageable, the government will not appreciate it. As we speak, the Federal Government is yet to implement the Pius Okigbo and Justice Oputa’s reports. Is this fair?
In this part of Nigerian, (Edo State) militancy is near zero because, the youths believes that with some more patience and peaceful disposition, the social system (our environments) can be developed. But rather than appreciate this rare disposition, some professional politicians and other ungrateful elements masquerading as leaders have continued to marginalize the Edo South people and thereby taking our calmness for stupidity. This is most unfortunate and condemnable. This account for the BNC resolve to offer itself as a platform for sound and novel discussions which will ultimately advance the cause of Benin Nation.
As you have set out to canvass for votes in the April elections, we urge you and other candidates to make the campaigns issues-oriented rather than name-calling. The Congress believes that with the array of personalities put forward by most political parties, the season of deceptive campaign is over. We expect critical evaluation of the near eight years of democracy and the right steps needed as way forward. The Congress and the entire people of Edo State would not tolerate the deployment of our Youths as thugs. Any thug-wieldy politician must put his biological children in front and not the situation where the children and wards of the poor masses are mobilized to rig elections. To this end, a Committee has been set up by the BNC to monitor the pre and post elections exercise.
We are glad for taking time out of your busy schedule to honor us and we pray that God almighty and the Ancestors would support your aspiration, Amen.
Thanks and God bless.