admin – Page 7 – Edo Global Organization

PROJECTING EDO CULTURE IN DIASPORA

by admin on August 3, 2004 History

The above assertion has been in the mind of a large majority of Edo in the Diaspora for a long time and many have discussed it on numerous occasions. Edo culture is unique and a source of pride to many and many more are putting up props to prevent it sliding even amongst Edo in the Diaspora. As Albert Schweitzer said, ‘’I am proud of my color for any who isn’t proud of his/her color is not fit to live’’ The extension of this is the popular saying that ‘’our culture is our lives, we should not kill it’’ rather we should sustain it.
Gone are the days when our people would only wear suits in a traditional Edo gathering when buba and Sokoto would do; or better still agbada, buba, and Sokoto adorned with coral beads to the amazement of the non -Blacks onlookers. What is important is being happy and comfortable with your traditional Edo wear.
The Indians in the United Kingdom for example have now made curry and rice a national menu from the traditional fish and chips in the UK. Rice in the UK many years ago used to be the meal for those regarded as not ‘posh’; not anymore as it is regularly served in most important gatherings considering the new phrase ‘multiculturalism’
It is for being a true Edo man that I serve Edo traditional cuisine of ‘ema and ogbono or egusi soup’ and the traditional pepper soup as the after to my guests. (more…)

Education

POVERTY

by admin on July 3, 2004 Education

I would like to thank the organizers of this convention for this opportunity to share my thoughts on the issue of health services and the state of health of the people of Edo State so that we may proffer solutions on how the situation can be improved. As more than one speaker is dealing with the issue of health, I would try to limit myself to the health of women and children and occasionally dabble into health for all.
The WHO’s Constitution defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Let us limit ourselves to the aspect that states “social well-being’’ What is social well-being?
The synonyms for social include collective, shared, communal, community, societal, and common. Whereas the synonyms for well-being include security, safety, health, comfort, and happiness.
Social well-being therefore implies collective, communal, or community safety or security or health or comfort. You know, and I know and we all know that these are rare features amongst our people, especially our women and children in Edo State and Nigeria.
Good health is a major resource for social, economic, and personal development and an important dimension of quality of life. Good health can be favored by political and economic policies, social, cultural, and environmental, as well as behavioral and biological factors.
The reverse is also true. If economic, social, and political policies are poorly implemented or non-implementation can be harmful to people’s health. The numerous civil wars in sub-Saharan Africa, poor governance of the people, selfish and inoperable governmental policies, and nonpayment of salaries, all add to the woes of the poor state of health of our people. (more…)

Uncategorized

BENIN Lagos expressway

by admin on August 3, 2002 Uncategorized

POST VACATION REPORT TO EDO GLOBAL ORGANIZATION.

Dear All, Expressway indeed! That’s how a visitor to Nigeria will sum it up. The appellation express-way to Benin-Lagos road is not only a joke but a source of ridicule to serious-minded Nigerians who dare to invite their foreign friends to Nigeria in a bid to improve our tourist trade. It is a misnomer.
The Lagos -Benin expressway was opened with so much fanfare that it was regarded as the best thing that has happened to road transportation in Nigeria since independence. This road is important as it links several Nigerian states to the then-federal capital city of Lagos. It is regarded as the gateway to all of the old Midwestern and Eastern Regions and parts of the Western and Northern Regions of Nigeria. It is a vital link that deserves regular attention.
The road was so good, so smooth and so straight that drivers used to press so much on the accelerator as to run the Speedo-meter to its’ limit. The frequency of ghastly motor accidents then was so much that the Road Safety Corps outfit was introduced under the leadership of Wole Soyinka to stem the death of able-bodied Nigerians, a task he performed creditably well as the death due to road traffic accidents (RTA) were reduced on Ibadan and Lagos-Benin expressways. Those were the days. They are gone and may never return. (more…)

Education

BETTER TO BE A SUCCESS THAN A WINNER

by admin on June 3, 2002 Education

(A CONTRIBUTION TO DISCUSSION ON EDO FORUM)
Everybody loves a winner. Winning connotes that a prize has been taken; a contest has been won thereafter the winner takes all.
You can win a beauty contest, a football match, or a wrestling bout after taking part in a contest where there are other parties. To be a winner implies you have done better than the others in the opposing group, the other person, in the said contest. Success is different. Success implies an achievement, scaling an obstacle, a hurdle, overcoming a burden, or a hindrance to progress.
Success is also sweet and has a long savory after all is said and done and success lasts forever. To be successful is to attain the required goal, and reach the required standard. The ‘successful’ can celebrate without any hindrance or thought of hurting someone else. This; the winner cannot do as there is a loser who is the other side of the coin. The loser is sad, unaccomplished, a failure.
In the spirit of sportsmanship, humility should prevail after winning a contest. In the time of success, there may be failures that may not have made the mark, but they do not pose a problem as there was no contest, merely an assessment of each individual or group on their own merits.
Success brings lasting joy as success can succeed success not so for winners.

The call to serve EDO LAND is a call to duty. A call to make sacrifices that include professional, financial, material, and time sacrifices to achieve desirable results. It is not a contest.
There will be no winners as there will be no losers as well. We can either succeed or not succeed in our quest.
We should therefore pray for SUCCESS in our efforts to serve our people. Edo State is not a prize to be won. It is made up of people to be served as our people are in dire need of assistance.
In this quest, I pray to GOD to bless our efforts so that we are SUCCESSFUL.
Thank you all for reading.
SEO OGBONMWAN.

Politics

A PRELUDE TO THE NATIONAL CONFAB

by admin on May 27, 2002 Politics

The complete list of all those attending the National Confab on constitution review has been finally released by the office of the President. As we all acknowledge, it is impossible for all Nigerian to attend and those attending must be well prepared to represent our Edo State interest to the fullest to this end I call on the Governor of Edo State Gov. Lucky Igbinedion to use his office to facilitate a plenary session for all Edos attending the National Confab so as to streamline their position before going to Abuja. This exercise should be carried out with the Blessing of His Royal Highness the Oba of Benin as the custodian of our culture and tradition.
The National Confab is starting in earnest so all hands must be on deck to make this prelude meeting a success. Money spent in hosting this meeting will be money well spent as the contributions from all representatives can be resource material in articulating Edo viewpoint in the future.
A critic may say these representatives were selected, some by the governor and the others by the Office of the President. That may be true; in spite of the glaring fact that they were not democratically elected, the three senatorial districts are well represented. Secondly, they are the recognized representatives of Edo State.
Our duty as citizens is to ensure that they are adequately prepared for the confab so that they represent our interests fully.

The list released by the government of Edo State includes the following:

Admiral Mike AkhigbeTom Ikimi
Eghobamien SAN
Dr Tunde Lakoju
Prof. Anao
Mr. Sam Iredia
Chief Abebe
The list from the office of the president of invited Edos representing other interests includes:-
Dr Sam. Ogbemudia
Chief Anthony Enahoro
Chief Mike Azekhomeh
Prof Christie Okogie
Chief Fidelis Oyakhilomhe

Those selected by the office of the president to represent other interests should remember that first and foremost they are Edo and as such should talk like an Edo citizen should do in such a gathering, that is protect the greater Edo interest. It is so apparent that they were Edo before becoming party chieftains or labor leaders, human rights activists,s or successful practitioners of their trade. To be able to articulate the Edo viewpoint or what some of my colleagues call the Edo Agenda at the confab, it is pertinent that all Edo attending the confab meet in Benin City as a matter of urgency facilitated by the Governor and the Oba of Benin. This meeting should be a plenary session, a prelude to the Abuja Confab during which these nominated delegates will come to agree on what we can describe as Edo viewpoints that will benefit all Edo people. Some individuals have been involved in the struggle for this conference for a long time under various guises; they too should be invited to give their opinions on pertinent issues and in doing so enrich our nominated delegates with more information to enable them to perform more creditably for the good of Edo State.

Individuals like Dr Asemota SAN, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, Chief Tony Momoh, Enogie Edun Akenzua, Dr Obayuwana, and those who have been in government and know the way the machinery of government works like Admiral Aikhomu and Chief Odigie –Oyegun
should all be invited to give their honest opinion on the agenda as released by the Office of the President of Nigeria.
Constitutional reform, Political party reform, Electoral reform, Judicial/Legal reform, Civil society reform, Constitution and consensus building, Police/Prison systems reform, Reform of the Structure of Governance.

It is true that what may be best for Nigeria may not be best for Edo State and the converse is also true that what may be best for Edo State may not be the best for Nigeria. In such issues, Edo delegates going to the Confab will be guided by the decision taken at the plenary session and so will act in consonance with the best interest of Edo State in a united
Nigeria. It will also be stressed that our representatives should distance themselves from those clamoring for secession and balkanization of our dear nation Nigeria. Instead, Edo should forge ways and means of forging the links between the geographically and politically opposed major ethnic groups in the country. The work of our delegates should be in addition to protecting Edo State interest, work to enhance Nigeria’s unity. The size of Nigeria presently in spite of all the woes in the country is a source of pride and a deterrent to our neighbors whereas a balkanized Nigeria will produce weakened original components parts. Edo Global Organization therefore calls on the governor of Edo State Gov. Nosakhare Igbinedion to facilitate this plenary session in Edo State before the Abuja conference.

Other States are embarking on such ventures and Edo State should not be left out. If successfully done, it may constitute a forum for resolving Edo State issues effectively in the future as it has full representation of all the senatorial districts although they may not have been democratically elected.
It will also create a forum for the Diaspora Edo to send their viewpoints rather than the present situation where memoranda have been sent to individuals. The time may be short but with the machinery of government as we know it, it is possible to slate a 10-hour prelude conference spread over two days with ample time for informal discussions. The decisions produced will be the bedrock for future Edo unity and development.
Finally, this is not the time to discuss the selection process. This is the time to make the best use of the opportunity as presented.
Thank you! Signed SEO OGBONMWAN KSC President EDO GLOBAL ORGANIZATION

Unity

EDO-ONE IN UNITY

by admin on August 31, 2001 Unity

Edo, They were one in origin, Yet they are one in Diversity. Softly and tenderly we rehearse and remember; That Edos came out of one quiver. There was a center, from where they rallied; Scattered they became, ‘kos of no boundaries. From Benin, later called a city; Unto Ogbese, and Udo, beyond Ovia. From Urhokuosa, and Eho to Uromi Unto Auchi, Ibillo beyond Irua. From Oka, and Sokponba to Evbokabua, Unto Ugo, Orogho, Obagie near Ethiope River. Igueben, Evbohimwin, Ososo, Ora or Irrua, And Owan, Agbede, Afuze, too near to forget our kingdom once touched Idah, Kwara, Jebba, And dominated Owo, Ifon and Igbo country. Edo people were one in origin, and Edos are still one in diversity.
Nigerian territories cannot confine Edo, for thousands have migrated within West Africa.

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