The Making of Edo Nation

The Making of Edo Nation: An Explanation

The essence of my well considered opinion expressed in The Making of Edo Nation was not to fan the embers of a non existent inter ethnic feud. Neither am I anti-any-group. Stating a fact would not and should not turn me into a hater. I do not hate nor encourage hatred in any form. A couple of rejoinders missed the point deliberately or otherwise but were full of guttersnipe language. Most unfortunate. The point of The Making of Edo Nation is that Edo State as presently constituted consists of a diversity of ethnic groups. Period. The incidental mention of Prof. Ambrose Alli was to refer to an era in the recent past when Edo was Edo, that is Bini and nothing else. Then, those who did not see eye to eye with the late Governor argued that common ancestry was not synonymous with homogeneity. In other words, Alli was not one of them.

While we are trying to assimilate the import of that line thinking, we are today hearing a different tune: homogeneity. The mere mention of the name of the only non-EDO civilian governor to have governed out of Benin City drew so much venom from their royal mouthpieces. Prof. Ambrose Alli was a morbid pathologist. He does not need a post mortem campaign to orchestrate his performance or nonperformance, against all odds. If your masquerade had danced well at the village square, you do not need to return to the square to beat your drum when no one is there. In more recent times, when Bendel State was split into Edo and Delta States, the homogeneity of the people of Edo State was best demonstrated in the military administrator not being able to appoint civil commissioners. We are so 'homogenous' that appointments to certain positions could not come from some geographical areas of this same State. The military officers posted to Edo State ended up functioning as sole administrators. Meanwhile, the people of Delta State accepted their heterogeneity and moved on. Every now and then, someone bemoans the colonization of the then Bendel State by non-Bendelites during the military era. Did Bendel State have sons in the military who could not govern from Benin City? Do we have the courage to address the issues that created the unfortunate situation where Edo State tops the list among States whose daughters, sisters, mothers and wives have taken to streets of Europe? The rest of the country is moving forward on issues. But in Edo State , we must rebuild an ancestral 15th century kingdom where only the wealthiest and bloodiest buy into governing position and damn the peoples consequence thereafter.

The people of Edo State lack good water supply and good roads. There is heightening insecurity, a crumbled educational system and a general lack of focus. But , first we must find homogeneity as euphemistic explanation for the sustenance of deprivation, denial and marginalization. We need mutual respect among the different peoples of EDO State, not homogeneity and preeminence. An Edo Nation cannot be complete without the descendants of Prince Ohengbuwa (right?) and the Edos (or -Ados) who migrated eastwards. The era of assimilation and integration to produce homogenous societies are over worldwide. Recent events in the Anglican Dioceses of Benin where the church is split along Bini and non-Bini lines is shameful. Christianity is not indigenous to our people, yet we are the ones who must first homogenize membership of a Christian church. Ever thought of a Heaven that will hold just our clans men alone? The attitude of those who want to leave (us) are free to go or we are the only ones aka we are first and last, is why some kingdoms have dwindled and continue to shrink. History does not tell us of so many wars fought and lost.

The rainbow is beautiful so is diversity and multiplicity. Nigeria needs a National Sovereign Conference to come to terms with her diversity. What is good for Nigeria is good for Edo State. No one group of people are ordained and predestined to rule and lord it over others. Those who must lead should be able to accept the leadership of others. The peoples of Edo State are one to the extent that they have been grouped into one geopolitical unit within the Federation of Nigeria. To this end they are bound to seek the promised land together. Those who can make the difference should be given the opportunity in the interest and to the benefit of us all. They do not need to first deny themselves. It is time to accept and celebrate our diversity. God save Edo State, and Nigeria too.

Osilama Osime