Fix Benins in your Government- BNC tells Jonathan

By Edo Benin

Arising from an emergency meeting on the state of the nation, Benin National Congress sincerely condemn the seeming blackout of Benins from the Jonathan"s Presidency; and seize this medium to canvass Presidential reward for our people for their disposition to peace and hospitality. It is a well known fact that most ethnic groups in Nigeria attracts national relevance or attention of Government by violent actions and tendencies; but the people of Edo South who voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan are yet to be rewarded with significant appointments of our worthy sons and daughters.

It is a well known fact that under President Musa Yar Adua's Presidency which President Jonathan completed falling Yar Adua's demise, we had Gen. Godwin Abbe, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okaeru, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Crown Prince Erediauwa; Steve Oronsaye amongst others holding viable appointments; but currently, these people have been removed or eased-out from Public offices, and there is non in sight.

These former appointees used to be source of pride to our people and a sense of belonging to us on account of human and natural resource endowments; and it partly accounted for our people's overwhelming votes for the Peoples Democratic Party in Presidential election. Its our believe that powerful centrifugal forces may have blackmailed our eminently qualified indegenes to the President; or how else do we explain this glaring marginalization?

Mr. President should urgently address this issue to avert misgivings from the mass of the Benins who may be feeling deeply worried by the non-acknowlegement of our people for viable federal service. As a socio-cultural organization, our secretariat is awashed with complaints from well-meaning Edo people who believes that our group has a far reaching medium to public institutions of Nigeria. The Benins constitutes more than 58 percent of Edo state's population, over 5o pecent of the landmass, accounts for 100 percent of state's oil and gas resources.

We have eminently qualified party men and wome as well as technocrats who can handle critical and viable tasks for the nation. Above all, our people have been ranked by Tourists associations as the most hospitable and nationally minded in Nigeria. Mr. President should intervene to set a positive integration for all Nigerians.

Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo- President. 16th January 2013.