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EDO AGENDA: A paradigm shift for the overall development of Edo State. Being the title of a paper presented by comrade Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, President of Benin National Congress at Edo Convention, United States, 28th August 2008.
With humility and esteemed respect, I salute the chairman of this great occasion, the chairman- body of conveners of Edo Convention, representatives of Edo State Governor – His Excellency Sen. Prof.) Osareimhen Osunbor, representatives of His Royal Majesty – Omo n’ Oba n’ Edo Uku Akpokpolo, Oba Erediauwa CFR, Oba of Benin, distinguished guests, Edo Leaders of thought here present, ladies and gentlemen.
Joy flows in my mind and other concerned Benins at home like a river in view of the auspicious opportunity granted to the Benin National Congress to make a formal presentation before the gathering of Edo achievers and Patriots. Believe me, I am overwhelmed with joy. I bring you greetings “wa Obidolevbo”.
The title of this piece (Edo Agenda) was carefully chosen by the Congress Intelligence Bureau because in our view, it is high time we made a radical departure from tribal interests which has inadvertently set us against ourselves whom are from the same parents (based on indisputable historical accounts of the ancient Benin Kingdom). Before and during elections, it is a common phenomenon to find tribal-based organisations projecting the cause of their “beloved brothers and sisters” and not minding how such persons are perceived by other members of the state. By and large, we have by so doing reduced the bond of unity amongst us as a people. This, in our view should be the central point of a gathering of this nature because its implications have far reaching negative consequences on our socio- cultural and political live.
Edo Agenda by every commonsensical philosophy should imply an articulated piece of the primary concerns (germane aspirations) of Edo people which cut-across all divides i.e. tribe, class, creed and political interest. What we are saying is that the document should be all-encompassing in terms of inputs (short, medium and long term projects and programs) that have resounding benefits for our people and our state (within the comity of States in Nigeria). By way of interaction in fora of this nature, I have been privileged to be handed a copy of the Yoruba Agenda and the Arewa blue-prints by Chief Olu Falae and Alhaji Yerima Shettima respectively. The occasion was one of the meetings of the Ethnic Nationalities Movement spearheaded by the trio of Chief Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Olu Falae and Chief Anthony Enahoro precisely on 29th November 2005 at Chief Ojukwu’s 29 Queen’s Drive residence at Ikoyi, Lagos State. I was greatly impressed by the projections of the Yoruba nation and their dream for a prosperous Nigeria.
I recalled presenting a paper at one of the meetings of Benin Leaders of Thought- one of the most vocal tribal cum political groups in Edo State in the count-down to the 2007 general elections, precisely on the 8th of April 2006. In the paper which I titled- the Benin Agenda: a radical perspective; I charged the Enogie Edun Akenzua led Forum to consider first the articulation of socio-economic and political concerns of our people (into a document) through a well conveyed conference and may be christened Benin Agenda before spear-heading a political struggle of this nature because the under-pining interest remain doubtful to critical minds of Benin extraction. I maintained that such a document may be taken as a social contract which every good Government or Governoship aspirants will embrace. Other observations that I made include the need to involve all the registered political parties in Edo State (against the group's seeming adoration of the PDP) so that all are seen carried along; that representatives of all village groups in Edo South should be adequately represented. Not long afterwards, the steam of the forum fizzled out.
The point one is trying to make is that time is of essence, yet we must be very calculative or else the essence of the existence of this annual forum could become questionable if no concrete action-plan is made towards addressing the primary concerns of our people. Since the primary aim of this forum is to foster Edo unity and development, I wish to respectfully charge the leadership of this forum to explore ideas at coming up with Edo Agenda as a single documents that encapsulate the most crucial concerns of the ethnic or tribal groupings of Edo State. This way, the relevance of this body will be strengthened and an abiding faith in your organization’s ability to advance the good of all will be rekindled.
There is no doubt that with concerted efforts involving patriotic minds most of whom are present at this occasion, that Edo Agenda will receive an intellectual attention in terms of articulation and presentation to Edo people. The time has come for the conveners of Edo convention to play partisan roles in the affairs of our dear state. We appreciate that the political terrain still has some traits of crudity and mediocrity, but it is not enough to live the intrinsic leadership methodology (politics) of our state in the hands of charlatans and “Lumpen” petty bourgeoisie whose stock-in-trade is the subversion of laid down rules of good governance for their parochial interests.
My people asked me to appeal to you (the conveners of Edo convention) to kindly find a means of setting up monitoring instruments to verify claims loudly made by state and non-state actors in ceremonies of this nature abroad. We are amazed when we read some papers presented by government agents in this kind of forum, especially with reference to projects and Programmes put in place for the good of our state. Not only are some of the projects non-existence, in most cases, the government in place (then and now) is practically indispose to sitting such a project or program. You need to make discussions all encompassing by getting some groups who have been critical of government agencies and Programmes to make inputs to your discussions. That way you will have a facture account of the issue under-focus. For instance, an agent of the past State government could come up to the podium and say the Ehor Juice processing factory is (as at then) set to employ over 2000 youths as casual and management staff, you all could give a loud ovation for him or her, as we speak, that "factory" is an hospitality industry to rodents and reptiles, no thanks to agents of mise-rule.
I plead with you all to respond to the clarion call by our people- that you should take an active part in the socio – economic and political re-engineering of Edo state because those who are Ministers, Governors, Senators, House of representatives members, commissioners and local government chairman are not better or as credible as most of you whom have been using your hard-earned resources in propagating and projecting the image of Edo people. We should all focus more on the well being of the state more we are committed to our tribal issues. When we do this, Edo state will be better for it.
Thanks for the audience and God bless you all, Amen.