The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akenzua

  • Akenzua’s memo on Aburi

    When on March 15, last year, the Secretary of the Benin traditional council, Frank Irabor announced that “the leopard is ill in the Savannah bush”, we knew exactly what has happened to the Omo N’oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa (CFR), the 38th Oba of Benin, who was born on June 22, 1923 and ascended the throne on March 23, 1979.

    The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler of the Edo people and head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire.

    The services of Oba Erediuwa are well valued and will not be forgotten. Before becoming an Oba, as Prince Samuel Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua, he was an outstanding civil servant. He in fact rose to become the Federal Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health before he retired in 1973.

    Along with others, he attended the Aburi meeting held at the Peduase lodge where the conflict of Nigeria was discussed from January 4-5 1967. Aburi is a town in Ghana. It is forty-five minutes’ drive from Accra, the capital of Ghana.

    Those who attended the meeting were Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Colonel Robert Adebayo,Lt-Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu, Lt-Col David Ejoor, Lt-Col Hassan Katsina, Commodore J.E.A. Wey, Major Mobolaji Johnson, Alhaji Kam Selem and Mr. J. Omo-Bare. Others are Prince S.I.A. Akenzua (Permanent Under-Secretary, Federal Cabinet Office.), Mr. P.T. Odumosu (Secretary to the Military Government, West.), Mr. N.U. Akpan (Secretary to the Military Government,East.), Mr. D.P. Lawani (Under-Secretary, Military Governor’s Office, Mid-West) and Alhaji Ali Akilu (Secretary to the Military Government, North.) The Chairman of the Ghana National Liberation Council, Lt-General J.A.Ankrah, declared the meeting open in his capacity as then the head of state of Ghana.

    The following was agreed upon – that Army to be governed by the Supreme Military Council under a chairman to be known as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of the Federal Military Government, establishment of a Military Headquarters comprising equal representation from the Regions and headed by a Chief of Staff, Creation of Area commands corresponding to existing Regions and under the charge of Area commanders, matters of policy, including appointments and promotion to top executive posts in the Armed Forces and the Police to be dealt with by the Supreme Military Council, During the period of the Military Government, Military Governors will have control over Area Commands for internal security, Creation of a Lagos Garrison including Ikeja Barracks. In connection with the re-organisation of the Army, the council discussed the distribution of Military personnel with particular reference to the present recruitment drive. The view was held that general recruitment throughout the country in the present situation would cause great imbalance in the distribution of soldiers. After a lengthy discussion of the subjects, the council agreed to set up a Military committee on which each Region will be represented, to prepare statistics which will show: Present strength of Nigeria Army; Deficiency in each sector of each unit; the size appropriate for the country and each Area command; Additional requirement for the country and each Area command.

    The Committee is to meet and report to council within two weeks from the date of receipt of instructions. The Council agreed that pending completion of the exercise in connection with re-organisation of the army, further recruitment of soldiers should cease. The implementation of the agreement reached on 9 August 1966, it was agreed, after a lengthy discussion, that it was necessary for the agreement reached on 9 August by the delegates of the Regional Governments to be fully implemented. In particular, it was accepted in principle that army personnel of Northern origin should return to the North from the West. It was therefore felt that a crash programme of recruitment and training, the details of which would be further examined after the committee to look into the strength and distribution of army personnel had reported, would be necessary to constitute indigenous army personnel in the West to a majority there quickly.

    As far as the Regions were concerned, it was decided that all the powers vested by the Nigerian Constitution in the Regions and which they exercised prior to 15 January 1966, should be restored to the Regions. To this end, the Supreme Military Council decided that all decrees passed since the Military take-over, and which tended to detract from the previous powers of the Regions, should be repealed by 21 January, after the Law Officers should have met on 14 January to list out all such decrees.

    The decisions at Aburi amounted to, in terms of political and military control of the country was that the country should be governed as a Confederation.

    Prince Akenzua along with top permanent secretaries including Alhaji Yusuf  Gobir, Phillip Asiodu, Eme Ebong, B.N. Okagbue and Allison Ayida deconstructed in Lagos, all that was agreed in Aburi.

    On arrival in Lagos, Prince Akenzua discussed with General Gowon and raised objections to what was agreed in Aburi. Gowon asked him to raise a memo which he did. I am sure a copy of the memo is with General Gowon today while a copy is in the archives in the presidency. Civil servants are to be seen and not to be heard and that is why Prince Akenzua never released a copy of the memo to the world. The memo dated January 8, 1967 began with “Your Excellency, in view of my discussion with you last night, I am raising this memo in the interest our fatherland-Nigeria”. Prince Akenzua traced the long hard road that Nigeria has travelled and stressed on the need to keep a United Nigeria.

    In his view, Gowon has given too much away in Aburi and that it will lead to the destruction of the country. He further added that Gowon has “legalised” total regionalism which “will make the centre very weak.”  Prince Akenzua alluded in his memo that a weak centre will lead to confederation and total disintegration of the country. The memo prompted Gowon to summon a meeting of the Secretaries to the military governments and other officials which was held in Benin City between February 16 and 18 1967. The minutes of the Benin meeting presided over by H. A. Ejueyitchie, Secretary to the Federal Military Government, was a total rejection of what was agreed upon in Aburi. The Benin meeting interpreted in its own way the agreement reached in Aburi. After the Benin meeting, Lt-Col. Ojukwu started the “on Aburi I stand” slogan. Thereafter the Federal Government promulgated Decree No. 8 of 1967 which gave total powers to the centre. It has been so since. We shall continue to argue and debate the full implications of decree 8 which was promulgated on March 10 1967. The ghost of that decree still haunts us today.

    On February 16 1967, Colonel Ojukwu wrote to Gowon: “At Aburi, certain decisions were taken by the Supreme Military Council – the highest authority of the land under the present regime. For my part, I became dedicated to those decisions, only to discover soon that you and your Civil Service advisers, along with selfish and disgruntled politicians in Lagos, and perhaps elsewhere as well, did not feel the same. As a result you have seen to it that the decision taken at Aburi are systematically vitiated or stalled.”

    In his own broadcast, the then military governor of Western Region, Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo on May 3 1967 said, “We tried at Aburi to find the basis for a solution but there was not enough confidence to build upon that basis. As a result, follow up action was slow and argument developed which further impaired confidence. When at last decree No. 8 was passed by the Supreme Military Council, we could not carry the Eastern Region with us.”

    In his broadcast to the joint meeting of the advisory committee of the Chiefs and Elders and the Consultative assembly of Eastern Nigeria on May 27 1967, Colonel Ojukwu said “In Lagos, the Permanent Secretaries there studied the recommendations and, to their credit, brought out clearly and unmistakably their meanings and implications. Having seen these, however, they unfortunately went beyond their rights and duty as civil servants to advice against the implementation of the Aburi agreements. From there our difficulties started and have taken us to our present stalemate”.

    Till today both sides (Gowon and Ojukwu till he died) interpreted what was agreed upon in Aburi in their own way. One of the problems at Aburi was that a portion of the meeting was not recorded. The military excused the civilians at a certain stage during the meeting and it was alleged that during this informal chat that Gowon made certain commitments to Lt. Col. Ojukwu especially on full regionalism.

    Even till today judging by the decisions reached at the last National Conference, we are still arguing on confederation or federalism.

    As long as Nigeria remain one under federalism, the memo of Prince Akenzua which was a wakeup call on General Yakubu Gowon and his efforts later will continue to be appreciated in no small measure.

    The nation remembers and the nation appreciates.

     

    • Teniola, a former director at the presidency, stays in Lagos.
  • Oshiomhole can’t impose candidate, says Akenzua

    Oshiomhole can’t impose candidate, says Akenzua

    Prince Edun Akenzua, the Enogie of  Obazuwa, Benin Kingdom, spoke with BEN OGBEMUDIA on the political situation in Edo State, zoning and the succession battle in the Southsouth state.  

    What is your  reaction to Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s move to support a governorship aspirant as candidate of the APC in Edo State?

    As a member of the Benin Leaders of Thought, and having been privileged to served as the chairman of that organisation, we have heard since last year that the governor has a preferred candidate. We discussed it as a rumour . I was mandated as the chairman  to seek audience with the governor to get a subpoena on it. We don’t believe the  governor will want to do what they are saying. We don’t believe because we don’t like godfatherism. The governor came to do his part . He didn’t like godfatherism . He said it everyday openly and since 2005, we have been fighting this kind of thing, until 2008 when he joined in. When people start talking, we wouldn’t believe because this kind of man who has been fighting this kind of thing. We heard it, but it is a rumour.

    Have you confirmed from the governor?

    Unfortunately throughout last year, from October to December, I wasn’t able to get his audience. Nevertheless, we will not act on what we consider a rumour, until he confirms the rumour. Politicians say a lot of things concerning themselves in a period like this. We will see the governor and confirm from him first to know if it is true or false.

    You have confirmed from him?

    We have. We wrote letters to Benin people because we want the proper person to succeed the governor. The Nine persons who showed interest for the gubernatorial race who honoured the letter by coming to us were surprisingly APC aspirantswho we screened because we want a proper person to succeed the governor. And a person was handed the results who would present it to the governor, before it is made public.

    How soon?

    As soon as the governor acknowledges our appointment that has been booked. Even, at a recent meeting, I presented another letter to him and he said it will be duly considered.

    What if it turns out that the governor’s move to impose is true?

    We hope to find out and know whoever is going to succeed him. I think we have to look beyond political interest and look for somebody that is competent. And since we are expecting him to be a Benin person, he must be someone we can be proud of at the end of the day, not one we will be ashamed of that he didn’t perform. So, because of that now, it is hypothetical. I will not answer that until we find out.

    What is your advice to others as it is only one political party that showed up for the exercise?

    It is all the same. Political parties will do their own. They are all going to the primaries. We will have our reports. We will see what happens when the general elections come up. The governor has done a lot for the state and it will be shameful, if the person coming cannot maintain the pace of the governor. It is also in the interest of the powers that be because whoever wins the primary will be supported by the Benin people. Edo cannot afford to be in the opposition. It was a miracle that Oshiomhole survived the period. We are lucky to have the APC at the federal and state levels and we must take advantage of it.

    Recently, you organisation met with Fulani herdsmen and farmers over the incessant killings and rape…

    I would say it was fruitful and I think it was very thoughtful for the governor to have summoned that kind of meeting. Herdsmen were represented, farmers were represented and the security people were also represented. Those present, including traditional rulers, agreed that there was need for co-existence between the two groups. The farmers who do the farms and the herdsmen who move the cattle, they need each other. So, that was the essence of the meeting and there was no doubt that the problems are there. Problems of killings, raping of women, rustling of cattle’s, killing of cows, problems of destroying the farms. There have been problems on both fronts. And what the governor wanted was the solution. It was decided that there will be committees in each local government, and another one at the state level, where farmers, herdsmen will be at peace because we need the famers and we need the herdsmen. The committees have not been set up yet, but the governor is going to direct the local government chairmen to establish these committees in their local government.

    Are communal clashes and killings in Edo South over landed property not alarming to the traditional rulers? council?

    It worries everybody; it worries the traditional institution. Benin has been known to be a very peaceful place long time ago. But ,the problem of community the development association that they are doing all over the place, I believe, is the cause of this upheaval in Benin. Before these things came up, there was the plot allotment committee set up by the Oba and plots where allocated. You could buy a piece of land, 50 by 50, and you would be in Lagos or wherever and you will be sending N5,000 or ten thousand naira to your parents or friends to help you mould block to build one small thing and it will be there for ten years or more and nothing will happen to it. But now, villages are being burnt, properties are being destroyed. I have watch people are being killed because of this development. And I think there is a misunderstanding about the purpose of this community development association set up by Babangida and the idea was for it to function as a co-operative society, whose members would mobilise their friends from wherever and to identify developments in that locality. ln the olden days, here in Benin, we used to have it. A community will levy members to raise some funds and when they have up to fifty thousand, at that time it was in pounds, They took it to the council and tell the chairman we have 50 thousand pounds; we want you to add some money to it to help us build a school or community town hall in our community.

    That was what it was for then. It was not put together to sell the lands to generate money. Babangida did not expect when he was doing that kind of thing that the Community Development Association he was proposing, members will be selling lands to find money to develop that community. The CDA was not supposed to develop that community. Because development of that community belongs to the council and the state government. For the CDA, it will be easier for Oba or government to listen to a group of people asking for whatever than to listen to an individual. So, that was the idea. If you have this kind of group, they can now identify what they can do in their place, if they have some friends and relatives abroad who are wealthy and well to do. They can beckon on them to come and do something at home. That was it. The royal family is quite worried about this; not only the traditional institution. The people, generally, are worried.

  • Akenzua: we can’t be in opposition

    Akenzua: we can’t be in opposition

    Benin Leaders of Thought Convener,  Prince Edun Akenzua, the Enogie of Obazuwa, has urged Edo people not  to heed the counsel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vote Edo State into mainstream politics.

    Prince Akenzua, in a communiqué at the end of an emergency meeting, said their decision was in line with the request by PDP chieftains that the state should be voted out of opposition to the Federal Government.

    He noted that it was time for the people to think more about the interest of the state than that of a political party.

    “Captain Hosa went on his knees, pleading fervently that the Enigie should recognise the imperative of getting out of the opposition to the Federal Government.

    “He said he was not interested in partisan politics but that it gave him pain to see Edo State, particularly Benin, not getting what it ought to get from the Federal Government because it is in opposition.

    “Benin Leaders of Thought calls on the Bini to heed the wise counsel freely given by Captain Hosa, Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Mr. Lucky Imasuen not to put themselves in opposition to the Federal Government.

    “We have to vote sensibly this time. We know how much Edo people suffered when the state was in opposition. They came to plead with the Enigie and we have decided to obey them,” Prince Akenzua said.

    The Enogie urged the people to vote for all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates so that the state does not find itself in opposition.

     

     

     

  • Prince Aven Akenzua’s long wait

    THREE years after the union between Omosede, the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s daughter and Prince Aven Akenzua hit the rocks, the charming prince, obviously not one who sought for undue attention, went out of limelight. Not much has been heard about him ever since. But the buxom lady seems to be enjoying life and moving on. Rumour mill is agog that she wants to give matrimony a second trial.

    Theirs was one of the weddings of the year. It was a royal wedding that drew many from all walks of life. But after two years, the residents of Edoyaye Avenue, off Osawe Street, Etete, GRA, Benin City, were thrown into panic when armed mobile policemen, said to be acting on the order of the Esama, stormed the palatial mansion of his in-law (Aven) in two lorries to evacuate his daughter’s belongings.

    Aven is a son to Enogie Uyieken Akenzua, the younger brother of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Highness, Oba Erediauwa, and had against the wish of the Benin palace forged ahead and got wedded to Omosede, the eldest daughter of Lady Cherry Igbinedion. The marriage produced a baby boy in 2009 and was widely celebrated by the house of Igbinedion in a grand style. Although the reason for the separation was kept a top secret, sources had speculated that the marriage probably crashed on the ground that the ancestors as epitomised by the Oba of Benin never gave their support and blessings as required by Benin tradition.

    In what appeared to be a total disregard for the apparent disapproval of the Benin monarch to the marriage, Chief Igbinedion and Enogie Uyieken gave their son and daughter out in an uncommon colourful royal traditional and church weddings on December 31, 2008 and January 5, 2009 respectively.