Senator Owie asks Benin Nation to transform culture into economics …

In a powerful speech at the Benin summit group, Senator Rowland Owie, Ksji, held a battle cry to the sons and daughters of the great Benin Kingdom on the reclamation of values ​​and investments in youth leadership.

Reflecting on the rich history and civilization of Benin, Senator Owie underlined the need for a renewal and collective action to recover their values, invest in youth leadership, build infrastructures and transform culture into an economy.

By unharging a lasting civilization, Owie said that the Kingdom of Benin, with his millennium of uninterrupted history, was a testimony of the resilience and determination of his people.

From the sophisticated city of moat, walls and bronzes to struggles and modern triumphs, the Nation of Benin has constantly demonstrated its ability to adapt and thrive, presented in its observations as a special guest of honor.

Senator Owie paid tribute to the monarchs and the main sons and daughters of Benin who contributed to the development and progress of the nation.

He also reflected on his journey, highlighting the importance of service, dedication and commitment for the Nation of Benin.

With a sense of urgency, senator Owie imply the people of Benin to face the challenges they face and work towards a common goal.

He proposed five imperatives for renewal, to argue:

Reclaim our values: teaching the history, language and heritage of the Benin to future generations.

Invest in youth leadership: authorizes and guide young people to innovate and guide.

Build our infrastructure: develop modern services that symbolize dignity and respect.

Transform culture into economics: exploit cultural resources to use young people, attract the world and pride for fuel.

Unit and development: forge unity and give priority to the principle on patronage.

Senator Owie invited the Popolo del Benin to make a pact to commit themselves annually in an act of service, put aside small rivalries and climb to innovation.

He declared that with courage and wisdom, “the Nation of Benin can rise, stronger, more proud and eternal”.

The text of his speech is published below the extension:

Observations of the distinguished Senator Rowland Owie, Ksji
Special guest of honor – The Benin Summit Group (BSG)

Your Real Majesty, Omo N’Oba n’edo.
Your excellences, estimated real fathers;
Distinct guests; Sons and daughters of the great Kingdom of Benin; Ladies and gentlemen:

I. The primacy of Benin civilization

There are nations and there are civilizations. Benin is not just a nation: it is a civilization.
A civilization that has endured, uninterrupted, for over a millennium. A civilization whose monarchy is one of the oldest continuous thrones on earth.
Many before many of today’s world powers emerged, the Benin people had built a city of moat, walls, bronzes and state states so sophisticated that European reporters described the city of Benin as “a place of grandeur and orders that rival with the best capital of Europe”.
We are not simply heirs of the story; We are custodians of fate.

II. Tribute to our real fathers

We remember with gratitude our monarchs of the last century that brought the torch through the storm and fire:

● Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, who, in challenge to British imperial pistols, was stopped until the end, a symbol of sovereignty.

● Oba Eweka II, who revived the arts, reassembled our scattered spirit and began the Benin Renaissance.

● Oba Akenzua II, whose diving of the shuttle gave Benins a place at the founder table of Nigeria and whose bold statesman ensured the Midwest region: a declaration of our right to self -determination.

● OBA Erediauwa, cf., the monarch of intellect and modernity trained in Cambridge, which anchored the creation of the Edo state and has set our trajectory for development.

III. A moment of silence

But before continuing, allow me – on a deeply personal note – to ask everyone to get up for a minute of silence.
For Lady Helen Noyo Owie, my beloved wife, my soul mate, my partner fighting, who returned from his creator on April 9 of this year. He modeled my perspectives in the shadows, sharpening my commitment to public service and for the Nation of Benin.

May his soul and souls of all the faithful disappeared, rest in peace. We also kindly observe a moment of silence for our deceased brother and Inspector General of the emeritus police, Arase Solomon. May his soul rest in peace.

IV. My journey as a metaphor

At 80, having spent 55 years of my stay in service in service – from Abu Zaria in 1968, to the education official in 1971, recorded in 1973, commissioner in 1983, member of the room of representatives in 1979 and pioneer head of the 4th Senate in 1999 – I saw our ascent, our decline and our Resilire.

While celebrating the permanent majesty of our civilization, it is right to honor the contributions for the path of the illustrious sons and daughters of Benin who, in different ways, brought the flame of relevance and service during their times.

We recall with reverence the towering leadership of his excellence Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, military governor and visionary builder; The constant public service of Hon. Amadasun there; the administrative acume of Eo Imofidon; Justice Ighidaro, Hon Barr Chirs Agbonwanegbe, Hon Dr Roland Ehigiamusoe, Hon Sunny Uyigue, Mr. D. Ehanire, Capo du edebiri The Esogban of the Kingdom Benino and the indomitable entrepreneurial spirit of the chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbininal, The Esama del Benin.

We remember the courage of principle of the head Idahosa: Akakasiaka; the faithful administration of the chief DN ORONSAYE; Hon’s parliamentary contributions. Osa Osifo; The intellectual brilliance of Prof. Sunny Iyahen, super permanent secretary emeritus and the first executive governor of the Edo state; and the statistics of the head of excellence John Oyegun.
We must not forget Prince Edoun Akenzua, custodian of our real legacy; Dr. Ada Homorogiuwa, tireless supporter of education; Dig Parry Osayande, Prof. Thomas Emokpae, renowned scholar; Head Ohamu; Capo Ben Edo Osagie; Hon. Equal ogida; Hon. Uwagboe; Bar. Eddy Osifo; Hon. Job Obano; Hon. Tony Iyen; Hon. Okungbowa; Hon. Robert Emokpae; Hon. Elema; Hon. Aiwerioghene; Hon. Edokpolo; Hon. EXEMUED; Dr. Hon. Omokaro Izevbigie; and Hon. Bar. IGHODARO – All which lent their voices, their hands and their intellects at the service of the Benin nation.

Dramatic as thieves tear the shepherd’s iPhone during Facebook prayer session in London

With the return to democracy in 1999, a new generation of Statists and Women of Benin emerged. We have to mention my brother, his excellence Lucky Igbinedion; My brother, his excellence Godwin Obaseki; My dear sister and sister -in -law, illustrious Senator Daisy Danjuma; My brother, his excellence Pio Odubu; His excellence Lucky Imasuen, illustrious senator ehigie Uzamere; The distinguished senator Matthew UGOGHIDE; The distinct senator Neda Imesuen; IGP EVENSItus Solomon Arase, Prince Steve Oronsaye, the first son Benin to be head of the service of Nigeria, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi; Dr. Ehigiamusoe, CEO of Lapo; Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi; Mr. Ede Osayande; My dear sister, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru; And the deceased captain Hosa Okunbo, whose generosity and vision have inspired many.

To these names, we add with deep gratitude Prof. Foods Greg Akenzua; The elderly Tes Sorae; the deceased colonel Paul Osa Ogbebor; and Hon. Charles Idahosa, whose devotion to the Benin cause remained firm over the decades.

These men and women, each in their own way, have assured that our people remained relevant, that Benin’s voice has not been silenced and that our place in the Nigerian and African conversation tough.

However, we clearly speak: while they kept us in the circle of relevance, it is necessary to do more. Their sacrifices give us a foundation, but the work of consolidation and transformation belongs to us. It is our accusation, our duty and our destiny based on their labors and bring Benin into the future with courage and vision.

The Benin nation, like Israel, is unique. Each family has its ancestral greeting: aroma, lagiesan, lavbieze etc. Make us as children of fate. But fate without discipline is wasted.

V. where we are today

We do not deceive ourselves: we have lost ground.

● In Edo Politics, our influence decreases.
● In the business of Nigeria, our voice is drowned.
● Our youth, instead of carrying bronze, transports despair too often.
● Our culture, once celebrated all over the world, is now fighting for survival.

We have to ask ourselves: how did we arrive here?

● Have we sold our birth right for political opportunity?
● Have we lowered ourselves rather than encouraging and lifting one and the other?
● Have we abandoned the ethics of the service, replacing it with personal gain?

These are uncomfortable questions. But nations do not get up avoiding questions, but facing them.

You. A call to renewal

My brothers and sisters, today they cannot be business as usual. Today it must be the beginning of the real renewal.

Here are five imperatives:

1. Reclaim our values: our children must be proud of who they are. Our schools must teach the history, language and heritage of the Benin. If we forget who we are, the world will forget us.

2. Invested in youth leadership: give young people not to the slogans, but to responsibility. Mentor. Enhance them. Let them innovate while they are on tradition.

3. Build our infrastructure: roads, markets and green spaces are not just physical projects: they are symbols of dignity. A people without modern services cannot command respect.

4. He transforms culture into economics: our festivals, arts, bronzes and heritage are not just memories; They are goods. We create a cultural economy that uses our youth, attracts the world and fuels.

VII. Food for thought

But let me try with this fundamental question:
Are we ready to tell us the truth?

● That unit cannot be falsified if we remain divided by envy.
● This development cannot arrive if the leadership is chosen by patronage rather than the beginning.
The elephant is in the room. The question is: will we face it or we dance around?

VIII. An alliance for the future

For us idle and non -agent, we are willing to give advice, wisdom and guide. But the task of rebuilding belongs to you: the average generation and youth.

Let this summit do not end with resolutions that collect dust. Let it end with an alliance:

● that every son and daughter of Benin will work every year in an act of service.
● That our leaders will put aside small rivalries and make a common agenda forge.
● That our young people will increase not in lament, but in innovation.

IX. Conclusion

Distinct guests, my people, history is looking at us.
At this moment, we must choose: will Benin be remembered as a fallen giant or like a nation that stumbled but that was raised again?

We dare to act. We dare to unite. We resist those forces, internal or external, who tend to divide us. We dare to reinvent the possibilities. Succeed and encourage the service to the community that fueled sustainable development.

If we have the courage, the God of our ancestors will guarantee us the wisdom and the nation of Benin will return again: strong, more proud and eternal.

To Jesus, we give up!

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