mutual understanding
The Imperatives of mutual understanding, being the title of a speech presented by the
President of Benin National Congress at a Courtesy visit on the Edo State Governor,
Prof. (Sen.) Osarhiemen Osunbor,
Tuesday 6 May , 2008.
Your Excellency Sir, I wish to begin this presentation by expressing our profound gratitude to you for the immense contributions you have brought to bare in the governance of our dear State. As a very critical Organization, the Benin National Congress hardly award marks especially on political issues. As most Edo People have attested to, I wish to State unequivocally that you had done greatly well. A case in point is your recent approval of 15% pay rise for all workers in the State, which enjoyed very loud applause.
The Benin National Congress is a socio-cultural Organization that is committed to promotion and protection of the cherished values of Edo People. It has five chapters overseas-namely United Kingdom, The Republic of Spain, United State of America, Republic of Japan and Canada. It currently has two affiliate groups-the Benin Youth Council B.Y.C. and the Edo Youth Democratic Coalition E.Y.D.C. The Congress Bureau for Youths and Programs coordinates both groups.
The title of this speech was carefully chosen by the Congress Bureau of intelligence because, for the simple fact that we are all Edo indigenes, the need to promote peaceful co-existence amongst tribal groups, Political Parties and interest as well as the promotion of social justice cannot be over emphasized. I respectfully appeal that you synergize with every agent of positive change to move our State forward. This plea is crucial because in spite of abundant mineral and agricultural resource, Edo State infrastructures were begging for attention, before your swearing-in as Governor.
The contributions of B.N.C. to Edo State and Nigeria
Your Excellency, it is good to mention some of our contributions because, like the wise men will says “count your blessings {achievements} and name them one by one….”- following the speculation that our artifacts were missing since 1994 till 2007, the B.N.C. bother to articulate a petition to the House of Reps, which was presented and moved on the floor of the House on the 26 November, 2007 by Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon.
This culminated in a public hearing on the issue on the 12 December 2007 and by the grace of God and our ancestors, I led the Congress delegation and the minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation led the federal Government delegation to the House of Reps public petition Committee. As we speak, the speculations that the objects were missing have been laid to rest.
Worried by the lean revenues accruing to Edo State from the Oil derivation fund, in the spite of our Oil well potentials, the Benin National Congress relying on empirical evidence, again petitioned the House of Reps on “a case of appropriation of Edo Oil Well by Ondo and Delta States in connivance with the National Boundary Commission and the revenue Mobilization and fiscal Commission” through Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon on the 4 of March 2008. Again, the House of Representatives Public Petitions Committee was mandated to investigate the matter.
By the grace of God and our ancestors, if the struggle sails through, Ondo and Delta States will reparate to Edo State our legitimate revenues in excess of forty Billion Naira; we wish to place on record that the Land and Survey Ministry as well as the State Oil and Gas Commission have failed to compliment our efforts. That is the irony of a supposed joint effort. On the Niger Delta crisis, the B.N.C. after very wide consultation articulated a viable template for a summit that will arrest all aggrieved stakeholders and set the pace for a lasting peace.
This template, your Excellency will recall was forwarded to you about a month ago. For reference purpose it is christened, Niger Delta Good Governance summit Benin. Sir, we can go on and on recounting our effort at repositioning our State and ensuring that, the values of democracy are not lost on our people. Very recently, we petitioned the Speaker of the State Assembly, to employ its oversight functions in ensuring the teaching and assessment of Edo Language so that it doesn’t go extinct.
Our resolve to advance our cultural values and Heritage prompted the Congress to succumb to pressure by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments as well as the Benin Moat and Heritage Foundation {Benin City} in constituting the Benin Moat Protection Committee attached to this speech is a copy of the letter dispatched to the State Security Agencies for support.
The objective of the Committee is to save Benin Moat from sustained encroachments as a pre-condition for the UNESCO endorsement as a world Heritage site by the year 2009. We humbly solicit your support by way of a mobilization van {Toyota Hilux or a Bus} in this regard. We respectfully submit that you sustain your pace for developmental drive and at the same time embrace critical and very frank suggestions. We will continue to support the good administration of our very dear State.
Thanks for the audience and God bless you, Amen.
Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo — President.