AUSTIN
ILENRE EMUAN, Chartererd Architect, Distributive Development Expert,
Environmentalist and Moral Economist is full of praises for the newly coronated
40th monarch of the Benin Kingdom, Oba Ewuare N’Ogidigan II, for his
swift moves to better the lives of the Edo people. EMUANharbours such motivating
and revolutionary views for the spectacular and upscale movement of the Nigerian
nation from the valley, particularly Edo society, which brings him to the same school
of thought with the new Oba of Benin. In this interview, as with some others he
had with our reporters. ARC. EMUAN, is also a Neo-Structural Scholar, Bi-Cultural
proponent and former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) political party, in the most recent election in Edo State, talks mostly
about the prospects of the Edo people, amongst other issues.
Que: The coronation
of the 40th Oba of Benin was concluded about a week ago. What are
your impressions about it?
Emuan: Indeed,
the very colourfulcoronation of the Oba Ewuare N’ Ogidigan, the 40th
Oba of the Great Benin kingdom has come and gone, but a memorable impression
has been left with peoples of the world that the Bini Empire of the old, now
Edo State,remains the cradle of sustainable culture that earns its respect and
originality around the globe.Behold the coronation, following its meticulous
planning and pageantry, is akin to the usual ascension to the throne of Queen
Elizabeth, the monarch of the Great Britain. Witnessing it is a lifelong
souvenir for me, because I was very young to grasp the depth of similar
experience in 1979, when the last Oba Erediauwa was installed.I dare say that
with the display of such cultural supremacy, I am proud to be an Edo Man!
Que: What is your
take as the Oba Ewuare the II, shortly after the coronation events, started
actualizing some of the pre-coronation promises he made to his people?
Emuan: I thank
His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare N’ Ogidigan II,for not only professing such
remarkable and public-uplift policies, but without taking a break after the
rigorous and tiresome coronation process; embarked on the delivery of his
promises to the Edo people. This definitely speaks boldly that our dynamic Oba
Ewuare II is ready to serve his people and bequeath to them and the Nigerian
societyat large, a legacymuch better than the one he inherited. Intrestingly,
he is already living up to his title of Oba Ewuare N’ Ogidigan II, continuing
and upscalingthe commendable reformed works of the old Bini Empire, as once carried
out by the monarch of all time;Oba Ewuare N’ Ogidigan I, who reigned from 1440 to
1473 A.D., and whose great works he seeks to take after,and even surpass. With
the thorough grooming and exposure of our current Oba, Edo would witness great
innovations than that of Oba Ewuare I, who till date is unarguably regarded as
the greatest Oba in Edo history.
Que: Could you tell
us some areas of reformation you think the new Oba has begun to make the
desired impacts?
Emuan: I was
very touched by his humble pleadings with government to make life bearable for Nigerians
through the provision ofgood quality governance. He also passionately and
courageously told the Nigerian ruling class that Nigerians are hungry and
impoverished and that something urgent has to be done to remedy the ugly
situation. This will enhance speed in the implementation of people orientated
programs of Buhari/APC government.
That shows that he has the true royalty and
the milk of human kindness flowing in his veins. It demonstrates that he has a
very soft spot for the poor and needy. His appeal to government to develop the
Gelegeleaccess road and river port, in Edo, was very apt. This Project has and is
still close to my heart and having strived to bring some Japanese investors to
develop the river port some years back, I know the importance of the project
and what government must do tobring such laudable projects into reality.
Que: What about his
suspension of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the seven local
government areas of Edo South zone?
Emuan: It is the
best and justified decision to take particularly when the CDAs are mainly
implicated in going against some of the very principles for which they were
established. To me, it is a calculated step towards achieving a sustainable
peace in Edo and the people are very happy with the decision. And without
prejudice to the purpose for which the CDAs were set up, the Oba in his wisdom
has directed that there activities be overseen by Edionweles and Enogies so
that He can adjudicate over issues more effectively. This stand, I advise
should permeate the rest zonesof Edo State and a further and proper framework
worked out for traditional institutions, Government and non-governmental entities
to work harmoniously for the betterment of the Edo people in such areas as
Security, Coordinated community development, Social and Cultural Integration
etc.
Que: But often, the
functions of government clash with that of traditional institutions?
Emuan: With the
ascension to the throne of our erudite Oba, those grey areas are bound to be
sorted out for the grassroots people to benefit. An item of my governorship
agenda pursuit, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), in last primary election,
is Biculturalism which is: A Strategy of theintegration of homegrown norms with
that of other selected good impacting Cultures with the sole intent to deploy them
for a holistic and dynamic development boost. Even then, with the memorable
reign of Oba EwuareI several centuries ago, bi-cultural policy transformation
had brought Bini to greater leaps and global prominence, because Oba EwuareI combined
native intelligence and external policy strategies of foreign climes like
Britain, Portugal, Spain, Dutch etc., which the old Bini Empire shared
relationship with. Like I expressed before, our present Oba is more equipped to
reinvent Edo, in the current vogue of globalization.
Que: As a man from
the Esan speaking area of Edo state, how come you speak so authoritatively
about Benin? Are you a historian?
Emuan: I am not
a historian but only have a good sense of our history. Again, I will remind you
that there is no difference between a Bini, Esan, or people from Etsako, Owan,
Akoko Edo etc. Of course, all the people from here are children of the same parentage.
Benin City is our common centre and capital of the state and a home to all. As
it is usually said, Benin City is the sitting room of the home,where everybody
sits and relates, while the different Edo towns are the bedrooms of the same home.
We are all chips from the same ancestral stock. Edo Is One! Like I always and
still opine in my political campaign mantra.
Que: Is that not wonderful?
Emuan:‘Edo Is One’,
happens to have been the slogan of my governorship campaign outfit. By the way,
it would interest you that I was born and given early upbringing in Auchi, Edo
North, whereas Egoro Kingdom, in Edo Centraldistrict of Esan LGAis my origin.
Benin City is a place where I had a very great orientation, under the
mentorship of the Late Rev. (Fr.) Theophilus Uwaifo. And my setting up and
sponsorship of the Oba Erediauwa Green Award is in honour of our last Obas, who
had joined our ancestors. We as Edo people must NOT see Edo as different tribes and divisions.
Que: Really?
Emuan: Edo is
homogenous. Unfortunately, it is people with selfish tendencies that try to
create big gaps between the co-joined units that make Edo because they want to unduly
benefit from a divisiveness that is virtual. That is why we should all work
together to make Biniwith extracts from other dialects in Edo, a common
language spoken throughout the state. Here, I task our Linguists to blend that
and develop a lingua-franca for Edopeople.The promise of the choice of Bini
language to be taught in elementary and secondary schools in the state,
alongside other dialects, is a good step to promoting unity amongst the Edos.
The clamor to re-introduce indigenous history in our school curriculum by our
new Oba would also give a sense of knowledge of indigenous history, patriotism
and nationalism to our younger generations, who do not know much about their
culture and history.
Que: But, can Bini
history spur the love for the Edo society and Nigeria?
Emuan: Indeed,
Bini history is very rich and as a matter of fact, Edo pre-colonial and
pre-independence history is known to be richer than that of the whole Nigeria
put together. Edo, before the colonial era was the greatestempire in Africa and
also well known as the cradle and Centre of black civilization. Our generations
of young and adult Edos and Nigerians would find as mentoring examples in great
kings like Oba Ewuare I (who was actually very great) and others whose manlike
exploits like the Octopus, stretched the influence and sovereignty of the old
BiniEmpire within and beyond the Nigeria country of today. Everyone marvels how with bare hands and manual labour
ancestral Binis were able to excavate the deep and gigantic Bini moat work that
is over 6,000 kilometers distance, which is regarded as the largest manual
earthworks, on earth with the famous Chinese walls next to it? The knowledge of
indigenous history could motivate our today’s people to excel the feat of the
Bini moat, which is still very difficult to achieve today, even with the
deployment modern bulldozers and other earth moving equipment.
Que: Perhaps, this
is what some group of thought means by the choice of Oba Ewuare II by the new
Oba, as having been inspired by the great feats of the Oba Ewuare N’ Ogidigan I?
Emuan: Absolutely
so!
Que: With all these
already said, what other areas of reformation would you recommend for the new
Oba, so that his era would be first in Benin history?
Emuan: That his
reign should strive to unite all Edo people at home and in the Diaspora, with
him as a father to all. He would do better to help match-make the tiers of
government with the Traditional Council of Edo State, in which he permanently presides,
in order to attune the Edo public to his truly reformed agenda to help the
people.
Also
desired is a move to influence Edo traditional rulers and traditional
institutions to abstain from partisan politics, as it stalls even development
and cause division amongst the people. I also advocate for the development of the
entire Edo rural area, particularly in Edo south senatorial district, where
villages are abandoned for urban centres, for non-Edo indigenes to take over. In
future,if not now, original ownersof the lands usually find it difficult to
retrieve their lands from the settlers. This if not taken serious is a
potential source of conflict waiting to happen. My policy
trust on this was an approach I christened EDO ECONOMIC VILLAGE RENEWAL aka
‘YOURS EVER’. This was a strategy to ensure that our communities become the
core and driving arm of distributive development from where authentic
development radiates and permeates to other parts of the State.
Que: Prying into the
future, how would you describe this new era of our Oba?
Emuan: First of
all I think the choice of the title, Oba Ewuare N’ Ogidigan II, is indicative
of the factthat he will be up in tandem with the great exploits of his
progenitor Oba Ewuare I. Secondly, the new Oba has set an unusual precedent by
proving historians wrong that he is not the 39th but 40th
Oba on the list. There is an Oronmiyan, the first Oba who we may interpret to
mean that a Greater Bini era has just begun, since it is universally believed
that “Life actually begins at 40”. To me “Oba Ewuaren’Ogidigan II is the veritable
symbol of a greater and modern Edo.”I congratulate the whole Edo people on been
blessed with our OBA in THRONE! OBA TOKPEEA!!, ISE!!!
