My response to the Alluu MOB

Do not allow yourself to be a part of such crowd.

When we were much younger I witness a scene that has guided my ways ever since. It was immediately after the Nigeria civil war when there was poverty every where and the great influx of those affected by the war into Benin City. Then too in order to rebuild their lost financial base our brothers from the east would invent many things to sell.  Their inventions included but not limited tooth wash which was a combination of OMO powder detergent soap and sharp sand. Many people bought from them probably out of sympathy or in appreciation of the Ajasco dance troupe that entertained the crowd before introducing their product for sale. Another one that stood out was created by a man meant in the 1990’s in Lagos, He was a successful manufacturer. For those of you who are old enough, you will recall the picture of a very big snake with a human head. The story was that the wife of the man placed some “voodoo” in his bath water. That as the man poured some water on his body he changed into a snake. So that was why his head did not turn into a snake. When they are selling the picture in Benin they will say it happened in Calabar while when selling it in Calabar the will say it happened in Sagamu. These were some of the experiences of those times. However, one event that has guided me till these day happen on one Sunday afternoon after we came back from the church. We were sitting outside on the veranda with our parents when a truck pusher rolled by with a handicap man seated on the truck bed. He was begging for arms but instead of those ignorant people around to show understanding they were mocking him. A huge crowd gathered and started following them from street to street.  After about an hour of the hustle and when he saw that people were not responding with cash gift, they pushed the truck and parked in front of our compound.  My late Dad drove the crowd away. The man then sent his boy to ask my late Dad to give them water to drink.  As the youngest I was asked  to go and fetch the water while one of my sisters was ask to fix food for them.  As I approach the man with the water he said to my late Dad who was a pastor that the reason he stopped was that he noticed that none of the people from his household followed the crowd. He then said that all those people that mocked him today for no just reason will be mocked in their whole life. That none of them will ever  grow up to become some to reckon with in the society. It dawn on me that while all those that participated had gone their various ways yet they have been cursed.  I am not in anyway saying that all those people have been affected by the curse but while go look for trouble when you already have enough? The lesson is that you should always avoid being a part of the crowd that is perpetuating evil. Do not allow yourself to be counted as one of those who became the crowd. Do not be yoked with them, avoid it period. 

 The flooding in Nigeria was a disaster waiting to happen. The government and the citizens knew well in advance that there was going to be flooding yet they folded their hands, prayed and wished  it away in a form of miracle.  The government did nothing to mitigate the effects on the populace. I do not want to join all those that are lamenting the situation.  I want to proffer a way forward that is a win win situation.
It has been observed that the reason for the flooding was the release of water from some dam up there in Cameroon Republic. However the REAL and TRUE reason for the flooding is the lack of dredging of the River Niger from inception.  The Federal government  can get that going NOW by employing about 1000 dredging companies to pump those sand from the bed of the River Niger and hire people to turn those sand in blocks and coverts  that will be sold at a discount so that people can buy them cheaply and trucked to all over the country. Or better still the government can embark on housing projects with these sand and resultant blocks. In the process the government will  be creating jobs too.

In a paper ”titled WAKE UP BENINS, WAKE UP”  presented at a seminar on Benin Nation Yesterday, today and the future at the Oba Akenzua Cultural  Centre on Airport Road in Benin City on October 1^st, 2012 Nigeria Independence day, Squadron Leader Ehi Ighile (rtd) made the following recommendations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

a.       ENIGIE Our Enigie must all live in their domains this way our villages and towns will not perish.

b.      LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN. ALL Local Government Chairmen (councillors) should live in the areas that they govern with immediate effect. They should build their houses there. They should also build hospitals, markets, cemeteries, recreation grounds, commercial vehicle parks and hpusing estates. It is possible. It demands creativity and patriotism. Our brothers are doing it in the North and Central (Senatorial District). We can also do it.   

c.       ODIONWERE- Our Odionwere (Village Heads) should not fear to administer with truth. If the villages are doing well we will be progressing.

d.      CHIEFS – Our Chief should uphold their exalted positions with honour and truth. You are the eyes of the palace. It is what you tell the palace that it acts on. The whole Kingdom relies on you so play fair games.

e.      OUR WOMEN - Mothers you have tried but don’t give up. We are your children. We need more Queen Idia and Queen Iden.

f.        BENIN YOUTHS – Please stop destroying yourselves. The children of the people who encourage you to kill your brothers have their children abroad schooling in good institutions. Stop being used by politicians. Ask them to bring their children to join you in the fights. I know things are hard. Stop holding prospective investors to ransom. Their investment will bring progress and jobs opportunities to your area.

g.       BENIN ELDERS – Benin Elders stop driving Benin Youths from your offices and businesses. Accept them, teach them and reform them. This is what will need for progress.

h.      PREACHERS – Preachers stop preaching superstition and witchcraft which is dividing our families. Teach our people to love one another. Teach them honesty, respect for Elders and to tell the truth always. Motivate the children to study Mathematics, Sciences and Computer Technology. Teach them to work and pray.

i.         OIL AND GAS – We are an oil and gas producing state but we seem irrelevant in the politics of oil in Nigeria. We must wake up to claim the gains of oil. The government of Edo State is trying. We must join hands to build our state.

i.  We must all unite tp build Gelegele port. It is the closest port to the Eastern and Northern Nigeria.

ii.  We must build rail line from Gele gele to Abuja.

iii.  A dual carriage way must be built from Gelegele to Abuja

iv.  A standard Airport must be built in Benin City. The current one is an Airstrip.

v.  We must woe Chinese investors to Edo State

My Brothers and Sisters the children of Kings and Queens, our ancestors did it. We too can do it.  So wake up all Benins, wake up. Thank you

The Benin Nation Seminar; Yesterday, today and the future held today at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre. We had a great time and we were honoured by the presences of some of the greatest minds from Edo South. I want to thank all those that came. I especially the Esama of Benin who was with us through out the program. I also want to thank the representative of the Oba of Benin for coming. Again, I thank you all.
Ehi Ighile one of those that presented a paper recommended one of the first way to start development in our villages and towns is to drive all the Enegie, that is Dukes to their various communities. He also said the Local Government Chairmen and Councillors should also relocate to their various local government headquarters.

My response to Kemi Omoloyo's article in today 29/09/12  tribune saying she is a Muslim;  Kemi, welcome home. It took your deportation back to Nigeria for you to remember that you are a Muslim. It is nice to believe in something. I am a proud Christian. In Islam it is required that if you can afford it that you visit mecca at least once in your life time. So i am at a loss as to why the custodian  of the religion in mecca will turn down Nigerians who have toiled for years to save their money for the trip? Why another plane that landed in Medina with the same passengers, that is women without husband were allowed into Saudi Arabia.  These inconsistency in islam is responsible for the violent nature of its followers. What with western education and infants,7 years old  marrying 75 years old alhajis? Kemi I wish you well and I hope you get a residency in Bahrain so you can compare living in Canada, a free and christian society.

As the election tribunal sitting in Benin City, Nigerians most be able to read the signs or the hand writing on the war when issues like the case before the tribunal is mentioned. When yesterday I saw the governor, his Deputy and all of ACN apparatchik in  the court, I new the case was going to favour the Comrade. GC like Osunbor before him did not attend the court sitting when the final results came in. The question now is where some people privil to the Judges decision? Did they already know that the judgement was not going to favour them? If they did something is sightly wrong with our Judicial system.

In Nigeria when you tell people that they need life insurance they will say are you praying for me to die? God for bid, I bind it, I reject it. That is the attitude that we have extended to life and can not prepare for any emergency. We do not have the commonest of emergency preparations. As important and common as fire fighting most state do not have fire truck. Even the one Edo State has that is always packed at ring road na push and start. But I do believe we can do better. A new fire truck can not cost much. Please let our governors invest in emergency preparedness and Constitute a boys and girls brigade as emergency army. 

I am inviting all to a SEMINAR that will hold on Monday October 1st 2012 @ THE OBA AKENZUA CULTURAL CENTRE, along Airport Road, Benin City. The Time is 10am. The THEME is BENIN NATION YESTERDAY,TODAY AND THE FUTURE 
Also, we will honour four of our people who are trail brazers in the area of community development. They are Chief G.O Igbinedion for the development he brought to Okada, Rev Dr, Felix Omobude for siting a Polytechnics at Evbobanosa along the Benin-Agbor Road close to Abudu. Dr Iyayi Efionayi for bring development to Egba, off the Benin-Auchi Road and lastly, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi for bring development to Ugbighele of the Benin-Abraka Road. 
The distinguished Chairman of the day is Chief Sam Igbe, while the special guest of honour is Dr. Roland Ehigiamose while the Key note Address will be delivered by Chief Solomon Edebiri. The Lead Paper Presentation is by Prof Patrick E. Igbinovia, Uniben, other Speakers include Squadron Leader Ehi Ighile, Vice President BCHC, Dr. Osaretin Aigbovo, Senior Lecturer Falcuty of Law, Uniben.
Come and let us jaw jaw. Lets us ask ourselves why have will neglected our villages and communities. Why is it that we do not have any other economic centres in Edo South and how can we change the situation. BE THERE.

Edo State is flooded and the governor of the state went to visit the disaster areas.  Someone from his party posted the picture of the visit and praised him to high heavens. Here is my response to the post; …. For some months now the whether forecasters warned of impeding flood along the Niger river bank. My question is what did the state government do? As the flooding was predicted to be very serious did the state governor deem it fit to even visit these areas?  Not to talk of setting up structures to prevent what we are now experiencing. Every area in Edo State is important therefore the Governor should endeavour to be proactive. All these publicity stun non do am at all. It is medicine after death.