Great Benin Descendants Cautions Against Ceding Of Edo Lands To Biafra
By Simeon OSAJIE
A group on the platform of Great Benin Descendants (GBD), has cautioned against an attempt to cede any parts of the Benin land to the Biafra, saying such a move will be resisted.
The group gave the warning during a stakeholder meeting with the theme: “Unity: A stimulus for our collective greatness” in Benin City.
The group in a communique with a 12-point resolutions read by it Coordinator General, Izoduwa Imasuen, said the Benin Kingdom, over the years, has been so magnanimous to strangers who came to settle in their land.
He said in recent times now, it seems that this act of kindness is being taken for cowardice as the settlers now claim ownership of the land.
Imasuen who listened to the various complains of marginalisation and intimidations against the various persons who have their ancestral roots from the Benin Kingdom that attended the meeting, together with them, came up with the following resolutions that will help address the issues and foster unity among them.
The statement reads in part “There is urgent need for total unity and backup from the center (Benin kingdom) through our royal father to all Great Benin People.
“There is need for Language Unification. All ethnic nationalities that migrated from great Benin are to henceforth imbibe the culture of naming their children great Benin names.
“Houses of assembly of all great Benin descendants states to pass a law to ensure the Edo Language is thought in all schools and Edo Language added to school curricular.
“To plead with the Oba of Benin to accommodate the ethnic nationalities from Benin for a royal visit to his palace and to be their voices especially as regards marginalization from the Igbos.
“No part of Benin land no matter the propaganda and threat will be ceded to the imaginary Biafra.
“Great Benin people are one and equal people.
“That henceforth, it is resolved that Great Benin Kingdom and any other nationalities that traced their ancestry to Benin will work as one and speak in one voice as injury to one is an injury to all.
“That going forward, there will be entertainment and sporting activities in all kingdoms that traced their origin to Benin as a sign of solidarity and affinity. These activities will be mixed with our culture.
“Great Benin Descendants -GBD to liaise and work with all social cultural groups of our sister kingdoms and groups that have same vision with her.
“Continuous and unending alliance the center -Benin Kingdom to all other ethnic groups from great Benin including their festivals.
“Continuous sensitization from GBD on who we are as a people by regular meetings, press briefings and circulars to enable our people have consciousness of where they came from.
“Visitation to the palace to let our monarch know what is happening in Rivers state and other ethnic nationalities from great Benin”.
Speaking also, the Rivers State coordinator of GBD, Mr. Kenneth Orgwu urged all those who could trace their ancestry to Benin to always learn to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Benin wherever they are.
He said such can be done by attending a function and dressing in the way and manner the Benin people dress so as to help drive the message of oneness further.
