The Historical evolution of the Edo’s the People Who live in Benin City and the seven local government councils of present Edo State and descendants of ancient Igomigodo (Not to be confused with Edolites or Edo Citizens) have a prominent place in the making of Nigeria. Mindful of the relegation of the subject of history in our school system, one cannot but be suspicious of the knowledge of history by the computer age generations. Whether we admit it or not, those who do not know their history cannot be proud of themselves. Because they least appreciate their identity.
It is on record that when parts of Nigeria came under European influence in the fifteenth century, the powerful Bini Empire established one of the earliest formalized relations at the highest diplomatic level with the Portuguese. In 1931 Annual Report on The Social and Economic Progress of The People of Nigeria to the colonial office, only ten main ethnic nationalities were recorded and recognized as follows: Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, Fulani, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Edo, Nupe and Ijaw. That was seventeen years into Nigeria as an emerging Nation. Today, eighty-five years down the line, the Edos seem to have lost her relevance and her voice to conterminous groups whose identities were merely subsumed under Edo. By whatever criteria, be it merits, historical exploits, population, contribution to the national pulse, what the Edo people have suffered, particularly in the last two decades amount to humiliation and robbery in equal measure. Consequently, in Edoland, pervasive feeling of powerlessness to exercise influence over the Nigerian political space and social direction is evident. Yet, they are recipients of the exercise of power by other parts of the entity, more painfully, by elements who were once their subordinates and inferior to her in pre-colonial Nigeria.
In contrast, the first republic was built on a firmer footing and would have steadily delivered on the vision and aspiration of Nigerians had the self-righteous military been a little more patient with the challenges of forging a nation out several pre-colonial entities. Sadly, when the military dabbled into politics in 1966, they dismantled the federal structures, rolled back the gains of self-government at the regional level and imposed a retrogressive unitary command structure where powers were exercised like garrison commanders. States like local governments were created without recourse to enduring principles and criteria. Rather, mere sentiments, insouciance and frivolities reigned supreme. Few illustrations will drive the point home; when Delta state was created, the choice of Asaba as the State Capital was solely determined by the sentiments of the moment. In Edo State, when virtually every village, at the risk of exaggeration, became a Local Government council by military fiat, the decision were not based on any logic or criteria other than opportunism. The Military high command, who by twist of fate ruled over Nigerians, later contrived a post-military quasi federal structure, inherently snookered by bobby-traps for the civilians successors to wrestle with. That amorphous caricature has continued to be the harbinger of unresolved crises of confidence in our democratic match till date. Thus, Nigeria as an amalgam of pre-colonial ethnic nationalities has been consigned to the limbo of endemic distrust and suspicions, still unable to evolve into a nation. The sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo described Nigeria as a mere geographical expression in 1947.
The arbitrary and capricious style of government continued under civil administration and destroyed time tested principles and policies consequently, sycophants and people who paid casual attention to diligence and self-esteem opportunistically flourished. But the Edos, proud and urbane bore the brunt and suffered. Unfortunately, the few Edo indigenes who fought their way like orphans into highly coveted positions of responsibility at the national level have coincidentally retired in the last couple of years and regrettably, leaving behind tenuous participation of the Edos in national governance.
An example of such stellar sons of the Bini nation is Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, a well-rounded scholar and administrator who trod the oil and gas industry like a colossus and exited after 34 years of unblemished national service in 2009 as Group Executive Director of the NNPC. Without any doubt, he ranked among the few stars in the public service of the federation at the time. In him, the Edos had a sense of belonging and relevance in the national equation.
If the Edos are desirous and determined to fast track the development of their 56% land space in Edo State which has suffered a long history of abandonment, and if they are desirous of increasing her visibility at the center, they must find a way to engage HIGHLY TRAINED, EXPERIENCED and COMPETENT hands, with a vast network to attract and influence high yielding investors in the governance of the State. Fortunately for this generation of Edos, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi has indicated interest in providing leadership at the gubernatorial level. Not a few are excited at his willingness to bring his enormous experience, capacity and competence to bear on the governance of the State. It is indeed, a call to the Edos to honour someone that has a reputation for exercising conscientious judgement and commitment to principles at critical junctures of decision making in the NNPC. Within the corporation, he is better known as Mr. LOCAL CONTENT in appreciation of his patriotic zeal in pushing the local content policy to reality. Today, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL CONTENT POLICY HAS OPENED NEW VISTAS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG NIGERIAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INDUSTRY.
We as an enlightened race must recognize the fact that our relatively young and strong retirees are assets in terms of capacity and should find ways of harnessing their skills and expertise, as well as their influence in the development of the State, as they too, must be ready to accept the responsibility of counseling and mentoring young Edo graduates on how to navigate their way through public service career at the national level in particular. More importantly they should be ready and willing to participate in mainstream political and economic running of Nigeria. In this regard, one is enthused at the decision of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi to bring his wealth of experience to bear on gubernatorial governance of the State. Having served in the recent past as Minister of State for Works of the Federal government in which he laid the foundational frame work for the development of viable projects that Edo State enjoys today albeit under a very short tenure, he can be said to be sufficiently exposed to the political dimension of public administration. Without solicitation, it is hard to gloss over the pedigree of this proud Edo son and pretty difficult not to extol his solid qualities. Only few Nigerians possess such tall credentials.
The emergence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as national chairman of the ruling party could not have happened at a better time. This in a way poses challenges that must not escape the consciousness of the Edos; that of electing someone that has the strength of character and humongous influence at the national stage to join forces with Chief Odigie-Oyegun in order to push forward the real Edo agenda at the State and national level. The combination of forces shall doubtlessly unleash a positive force that will precipitate the political renaissance of the Edos. With the vast network of local and international contacts of Chris Ogiemwonyi, the possibilities of Edo ethnic nationality is immense. His experience and understanding of the high politics of patronage and the skills to navigate through the labyrinth of geo-politics and ethnic diversity in terms of power relations at the center will be an asset. Without bias this synergy between state and center to provoke positive change in the land falls short in the other candidates vying for the coveted seat at Osadebe. From every indication, the odds are overwhelmingly in favour of Chris Ogiemwonyi.
The Edos are on the verge of achieving a new dawn, a new re-awakening and the resurgence of Edo spirit and prosperity. The emerging scenarios on the horizon are promising. But for this to happen, all active players in the polity must have their hands on deck and act with a sense of unity and purpose in the larger interest of the people, down with nepotism, self-seeking intuitions and short-sightedness.
Let it not be said of us that we were so close to the diadem but lost it to crass self-interest and the blind pursuit of mammon. Let it not be said also, that our present leaders saw the Promised Land but could not take the people there! Let the descendants of the great empire builders RISE NOW to build a modern empire within the construct of democratic ideals, never aspiring to dominate or marginalize any, but to flourish under the principles of equity and fair play. 2016 beckons on all the THINK RIGHT and ACT RIGHT.
