IT all took place within the serenity of the Grand Hotel Asaba on the night of Friday July 23, when the people of the defunct Midwest region, nay Bendel State, despite the fact that they have now been divided into Edo and Delta States ruminated on their past and agreed that they had been left behind in the political equation of this country.
Having removed the scales off their eyes, the leaders of this part of the country called old Bendel drawn from both the political class, the business arena, the academia and top government functionaries collectively passed a verdict that there was no way the region could be relevant in the national political arena except they formed a formidable bloc that would be used as a vehicle to achieve the dream.
This idea of coming together of people of the old Bendel, the brainchild of the two-time governor, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, was first mooted in 2002, Ogbemudia however confessed that not much progress has been achieved and wanted the gathering which had assembled, courtesy of a grand reception hosted by the Committee of Friends of Ambassador Ray Inije, former Ambassador to the Phillippines that day, to join hands in reviving it.
Beginning from Ogbemudia, who was chairman of the occasion to the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Friends of Ray Inije, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is also the Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), to former Guinness boss, Chief Abel Ubeku, the message was same, all the speeches delivered with dexterity highlighted one fact: that there is need for old Bendel, despite the fact that it has been divided into two different states, to have a common destiny and should take it in their own hands by charting a course of relevance before it is too late.
Ogbemudia dressed in flowing agbada immediately he mounted the podium fired the first salvo as he stimulated the flow of thought. And with rapt attention the gaily-dressed guests seated at the massive reception hall of the hotel listened as the icon of old Bendel, spoke these thought-provoking words.
Said he: “the other issue this august gathering compels me to reflect on is the unity, mutual well-being and continued relevance of Bendel people amongst and between themselves and within the Nigerian state. Balkanisation and divide and rule have been successful strategies in the exploitation and subjugation of our people over the decades.
“In the First Republic”, he went on, “the Action Group and NCNC tore our region apart. The attempt of the Midwest Democratic Front to rally our people for its own identity, protection and projection was too feeble, too little and too late.
The A.G was back in the form of UPN in the Second Republic and, once again, the ‘‘foreign’’ agenda dominated our political consciousness. Our attempt in 1983 to wriggle our people out from the opposition into the mainstream of Nigeria politics proved again to be too late as the platform for the effort lasted only three months. Let us recall the gallant battles our leaders, many of them now departed, fought to ensure the creation of our region, which materialized in 1963 as the 4th, last and only region to be constitutionally and democratically created in Nigeria.
“In Nigeria’s contemporary politics”, he continued, “protection of ethnic nationality has assumed the greater proportion and approximation of protection of the interests of the former regions. Thus the North has Arewa Consultative Forum, the West has Afenifere; and the East has Ohaneze”, he stated.
How BDCC was born
He did not stop there, he went on to let the gathering into how he had tried in the past to set a platform that would enable the actualisation of this coming together he is preaching.
According to him “after a studied silence and considerable consultation, the response of the former Midwest region followed in the year 2002, I had the honour and privilege of convening the meeting of prominent Midwesterners/Bendelites who, on the 14th of June 2002 in the regional headquarters of Benin City voted overwhelmingly for the formation of the Bendel Consultative Council (BDCC).
“The BDCC received spontaneous response everywhere but it was of diverse nature. While our people were extremely delighted with the development, the authorities were either hostile or in the least, cynical. Tremendous pressure was brought to bear on the interim leadership of the BDCC”, pointing out that “the leadership of our two states was some what skeptical. It became obvious that a review, repackaging of the BDCC was necessary and this is where we are presently. Ambassador Ray Inije", he said, "is invited to resurge the struggle for survival of Bendel from here”, he stated.
As Ogbemudia returned to his seat after this speech, a deafening applause followed. Then entered the High chief Abel Ubeku. Ubeku on his part did not spend much time like Ogbemudia on the dais, but one thing was manifest as he was watched speaking. The grim on his face depicted worry, sadness that the people of old Midwest were not reckoned with when it comes to political power in the national front. One funny thing was that immediately he said that the members of the national assembly including Senator James Manager, Patrick Osakwe and other House of Representatives members on the high table became cynosure of all eyes.
However, in summary the High Chief appealed for collaboration and sincere heart in achieving the task ahead, which Ogbemudia had enunciated.
Unassuming, Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Dr. Uduaghan who was the anchorman of the occasion being the chairman of the Organizing committee did not mince words when he pointed out that the political terrain of Delta state had been hijacked by youths who parade themselves as the new breed. He noted it was not bad that the youths have dominated the terrain but that they are suppressing the voices of the elders and no longer accord them (elders) their due respect. "That is why this reception is necessary and apt to accord Ambassador Ray Inije a place of honour because a lot of us have benefited from him as our leader and an icon of our society.”
Elated, special guest of honour Ambassador Inije who was radiating in his cream dinner suit and sandwiched by his wife, the state deputy governor, Chief Benjamin Elue and other galaxy of dignitaries on the high take was very effusive as he responded to barrage of encomiums showered on him.
