COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE BENIN MEETING OF EDO NATIONALIST CONCRESS HELD ON THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY 2015
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE BENIN MEETING OF EDO NATIONALIST CONCRESS HELD ON THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY 2015,
AT TEMRO GUEST HOUSE, EVBORIARIA QUARTERS IN BENIN CITY
After serious deliberations by members on the agenda set by the ENC Diaspora and other matters arising, we agreed on the following:-
1) That, our aims and objectives should be well spelt out and to include reclaiming and restoration of our Great Benin Kingdom as a Edo Benin Nation with the former Midwest or Bendel area as target area.
2) That our constitution should be approved and signed by members, to become a working document/law
3) That the trustees should be elected/nominated and their names sent to the relevant committee to be mandated to register this body at Abuja
4) That, this body should be registered with the Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria
5) That, this body should have a office accommodation to serve as our secretariat with the address registered as our cooperate head quarters in the Region
6) That, this organization should not be seen as confrontational to governments of the day, and must not be partisan either, but rather to be more diplomatic in our approach even though we know what we want, hence members are advised to mind their use of words to avoid using seditious words
7) That, we should go on full sensitization, awareness and membership drive by organizing rallies, symposia’s, ward and community meetings
8) That, we should try to identify and work with other ethnic groups that fall within the old Bendel state area (the Ishans, the Isokos, the Urobos, the Oras, the Afemais, the Itsekiris, the Ilajes etc) for now, seek their co operations and encourage them to organize themselves into groups for proper harmonization
9) That, members should support the movement financially to enable the ENC have funds for its operations, to this end, it was agreed that every members shall contribute the sum of #200.= (two hundred Naira) monthly. Some members donated and some funds were raised today
10) That, there should be a way or system for other members to contribute their quota, either by way of donations or paying their levies and it should be through the banks or online. To this end, some members were delegated to open a joint account in one of the commercial banks in Benin to make payments easy for those who cannot attend meetings for now pending when the body will be fully registered and all the relevant organs will have been fully and graciously established
11) On the adopted name – Edo Nation, which we also discussed at the meeting, and after much debate, most members objected to “Edo” Nation but preferred “Benin” Nation, as according to them, Benin will be more sellable to the outside world. We finally agreed that this issue be left for a later day to allow more people to participate in the debate and that whatever name will be agreed upon must have Benin added to it.
12) The election of officers was deferred till the next meeting, but Nosa Andrew who acted as Secretary asked to act in that capacity with Mr. Ise-Egheghe Ekorowiro Jackson the facilitator till further dates
13) It was agreed by all present to continue with the present “Edo Nationalist Congress”, while we also encourage our brothers to keep the face book connection going, but to be watchful and careful on those they are inviting to join the Congress
14) Finally, members were advised to invite people with interest of taking Edo people out of the present state if marginalization, while the next meeting has be slated for March 14, 2015, at the same venue.
Signed by the following persons as co-sponsors;-
1) Ise-Egheghe Jackson Ekorowiro (Facilitator) 2) Osas Ayezuma, 3) Edherue Anthony, 4) Victor Obazee, 5) Uzzi Patrick 6) Johnson Igbinoba, 7) Nosa Andrew (protem sec), 8) Edema Freedom, 9) Barrister Festus Edogiawerie, 10) Aigbe Tongo, 11) Osakue Uyi, 12) Osazee Omorogieva, 13) Ekorowiro Osawe, 14) Sunday Enogieru
